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Mechanisms of Coal and Gas Outburst Experiments: Implications for the Energy Principle of Natural Outbursts

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Abstract

Coal and gas outbursts in underground mines are the result of dynamic rupture propagation along coal seams, starting from localized instability caused by the sudden release of gas and strain energies. Although physical simulations have facilitated quantitative studies of outbursts, and rupture processes have been investigated both experimentally and theoretically, the underlying mechanisms responsible for triggering outbursts remain poorly understood. This lack of understanding seriously limits our ability to prevent gas hazards. Here we systematically analyze the essential characteristics and energy principles of outburst experiments over the past 70 years and explore the onset of natural outbursts. The results show that although laboratory experiments and natural events are dynamically similar, their triggering mechanisms are fundamentally different. Specifically, actual outbursts depend highly on stress conditions and gas desorption; in contrast, experiments can be performed under stress-free conditions or even entirely dominated by free gas, often with low threshold pressures (< 0.7 MPa). Energy analysis indicated that the high porosity of the experimental briquette resulted in much higher free gas energy than in the actual coal seam (up to ~ 40 times), enabling the simulated outbursts to overcome mechanical barriers easily and, in turn, to be stress independent. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the triggering process of a natural outburst is unlikely to be transient. Instead, the development of fractures and the consequent enlargement of free gas energy are essential processes for initiating ruptures and generating potential precursors. Our results highlight that understanding the role of gas and stress is crucial for accurately interpreting outburst mechanisms.

Highlights

  • The essential characteristics and energy principles of outburst experiments were systematically analyzed.

  • Outburst experiments are fundamentally different from natural events in triggering mechanisms.

  • Outburst simulations are essentially free gas-driven dynamics.

  • Fracture development and increased free gas energy are necessary processes to initiate ruptures.

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Abbreviations

\(K_L\) :

Geometric similarity constant

\(K_\rho\) :

Density similarity constant

\(A_1\) :

Elastic energy of coal (J)

\(E\) :

Elastic modulus (MPa)

\(P_0\) :

Gas pressure in coal seam (MPa)

\(\xi\) :

Gas compression factor, \(\xi = 1\)

\(E_f ,E_d\) :

Energy contributions of adsorbed gas and free gas (J)

\(\sigma_x ,\sigma_y ,\sigma_z\) :

Triaxial loading pressures (MPa)

\(E_{d_1 } ,E_{d_2 }\) :

Desorbed gas energies of experimental and natural outbursts (J/m3)

\(W_1\) :

Energy consumption of outburst coal transport (J)

\(W_2\) :

Energy consumption of crushed coal (J)

\(R_{f_1 } ,R_{f_2 }\) :

Ratio of free gas energy to total gas energy in experimental and natural outbursts

\(E_{th}\) :

Threshold energy required for an outburst (J)

\(T_1\) :

Temperature of the isothermal adsorption test (K)

\(\varphi\) :

Porosity (%)

\(a,b\) :

Langmuir constants

\(V_1 ,V_2\) :

Volumes of coal seam and briquette (m3)

\(\rho_1 ,\rho_2\) :

Apparent densities of coal seam and briquette (kg/m3)

\(A_s\) :

Gas expansion energy (J)

\(\mu\) :

Poisson's ratio

\(P_a\) :

Atmospheric pressure (MPa)

\(\gamma_n\) :

Adiabatic coefficient, \(\gamma_n = 1.31\)

\(V_f ,V_d\) :

Volume of free gas and adsorbed gas participating in outburst (m3)

\(V_d^t\) :

Total adsorbed gas stored in coal (m3)

\(\delta\) :

Ratio of the adsorbed gas involved in the outburst (\(V_d\)) to the total adsorbed gas stored in coal (\(V_d^t\))

\(E_1\) :

Elastic energy of unit coal mass (J/m3)

\(E_s\) :

Gas expansion energy of a unit volume coal (J/m3)

\(E_{f_1 } ,E_{f_2 }\) :

Free gas energies of experimental and natural outbursts (J/m3)

\(T,T_0\) :

Temperatures of the gas before and after the outburst (K)

\(P_{th}\) :

Threshold pressure required for an outburst (MPa)

\(\varphi_{th}\) :

Threshold porosity corresponding to \(P_{th}\) (%)

\(n\) :

Coefficient that depends on the gas pressure, usually \(n \approx 0.02\)

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 52034008 and 51874294) and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Gas and Fire Control for Coal Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Ministry of Education, Xuzhou, 221116, People’s Republic of China

    Yang Lei, Yuanping Cheng, Liang Wang & Qingyi Tu

  2. School of Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Yang Lei, Yuanping Cheng, Liang Wang & Qingyi Tu

  3. National Engineering Research Center for Coal and Gas Control, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Yang Lei, Yuanping Cheng, Liang Wang & Qingyi Tu

  4. School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

    Yuanping Cheng & Ting Ren

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  1. Yang Lei
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Correspondence to Yuanping Cheng.

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Lei, Y., Cheng, Y., Wang, L. et al. Mechanisms of Coal and Gas Outburst Experiments: Implications for the Energy Principle of Natural Outbursts. Rock Mech Rock Eng 56, 363–377 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-022-03093-2

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