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Effects of water intrusion and loading rate on mechanical properties of and crack propagation in coal–rock combinations

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Abstract

Tackling the problems of underground water storage in collieries in arid regions requires knowledge of the effect of water intrusion and loading rate on the mechanical properties of and crack development in coal–rock combinations. Fifty-four coal–rock combinations were prepared and split equally into groups containing different moisture contents (dry, natural moisture and saturated) to conduct acoustic emission testing under uniaxial compression with loading rates ranging from 0.1 mm/min to 0.6 mm/min. The results show that the peak stress and strength-softening modulus, elastic modulus, strain-softening modulus, and post-peak modulus partly decrease with increasing moisture content and loading rate. In contrast, peak strain increases with increasing moisture content and fluctuates with rising loading rate. More significantly, the relationship between stiffness and stress, combined with accumulated counts of acoustic emission, can be used to precisely predict all phases of crack propagation. This is helpful in studying the impact of moisture content and loading rate on crack propagation and accurately calculating mechanical properties. We also determined that the stress thresholds of crack closure, crack initiation, and crack damage do not vary with changes of moisture content and loading rate, constituting 15.22%, 32.20%, and 80.98% of peak stress, respectively. These outcomes assist in developing approaches to water storage in coal mines, determining the necessary width of waterproof coal–rock pillars, and methods of supporting water-enriched roadways, while also advances understanding the mechanical properties of coal–rock combinations and laws of crack propagation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mines, Key Laboratory of Deep Coal Resource Mining of Ministry of Education of China, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Tian Chen  (陈田), Qiang-ling Yao  (姚强岭), Fei Wei  (卫斐), Zhao-hui Chong  (种照辉), Jian Zhou  (周健), Chang-bin Wang  (王常彬) & Jing Li  (李静)

Authors
  1. Tian Chen  (陈田)
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  2. Qiang-ling Yao  (姚强岭)
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  3. Fei Wei  (卫斐)
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  4. Zhao-hui Chong  (种照辉)
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  5. Jian Zhou  (周健)
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  6. Chang-bin Wang  (王常彬)
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  7. Jing Li  (李静)
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Correspondence to Qiang-ling Yao  (姚强岭).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(2014QNB31) supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China; Projects(51674248) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Project supported by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD), China

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Chen, T., Yao, Ql., Wei, F. et al. Effects of water intrusion and loading rate on mechanical properties of and crack propagation in coal–rock combinations. J. Cent. South Univ. 24, 423–431 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-017-3444-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-017-3444-6

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