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Evolution Characteristics of Bulking Factor in the Multi-field Loading of Broken Coal: An Experimental Study

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Abstract

From the perspective of spontaneous combustion control in coal mining, this study conducted a progressive axial loading test of broken coal using a self-designed multi-field coupling oxidation test system. The evolutionary characteristics of the bulking factor under different loading conditions of stress, stress–temperature, and stress–moisture were obtained. Subsequently, factors affecting the bulking properties of broken coal in the synchronous compression and deformation stage were analyzed theoretically using the four-particle accumulation model and Hertzian contact deformation principle. The research results are summarized as follows: (1) in the process of axial loading, the bulking factor of broken coal generally decreased, but showing three stages; (2) under the stress-moisture coupling effect, when the axial force was 0 kN and the external water content increased from 0 to 6.75%, the water wedge effect increased the bulking factor of broken coal by 2.17%; (3) under the stress-temperature coupling effect, when the axial force was 47.1 kN and the temperature increased from room temperature (23.3 °C) to 100 °C, the bulking factor of broken coal decreased by 5.08%; and (4) in the synchronous compression and deformation stage (at the axial stress of 94.2 kN), the theoretical analysis revealed that the bulking factor decreased gradually with increasing stress, temperature, and external water content, which was consistent with the test results. The abovementioned test results established the basic theory and provide practical support for subsequent recognition of the spontaneous combustion of confined coal.

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Abbreviations

\(\varepsilon_{i}\) :

The axial strain of the coal samples

\(\Delta h_{i}\) :

The axial displacement of the coal samples

\(h_{0}\) :

The original stack height of the coal samples

\(K_{{\text{p}}}\) :

The bulking factor of the coal samples

\(V_{i}\) :

The volume of the coal samples at various axial force conditions

\(V_{0}\) :

The volume of the coal samples in the whole state

d :

The diameter of the coal samples room

\(\rho_{0}\) :

The coal real density

\(m_{0}\) :

The amount of coal used in a single test

\(\partial_{i}\) :

The compaction degree of the coal samples

\(V_{s}\) :

The volume of the coal samples in the original loose state

Es:

Secant modulus of coal samples

a :

The radius of the contact surface between the two coal particles

F :

The force acting on the coal particles

\(\mu\) :

The Poisson's ratio of the coal particles

E :

The elastic modulus of the coal particles

R :

The particle size of the coal particles

\(\sigma\) :

The effective stress on the coal particles

b :

The radius of the coal particles after deformation

\(S^{\prime}\) :

The void area after deformation

S :

The void area before deformation

\(P^{\prime}\) :

The porosity after deformation

P :

The porosity before deformation

\(K_{{\text{P}}}^{\prime }\) :

The bulking factor of the coal samples after deformation

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Acknowledgements

This work was carried out with funding from the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant Nos. 2018YFC0807900, 2018YFC0808103), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51774114, 51574111).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China

    Xinlei Yang, Minggao Yu & Liang Wang

  2. School of Safety Engineering, North China Institute of Science and Technology, Yanjiao, 065201, Hebei, China

    Tingxiang Chu

  3. State Key Laboratory of Gas Geology and Control-Cultivation Base, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454003, Henan, China

    Minggao Yu, Jiangkun Chao & Xuefeng Han

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  1. Xinlei Yang
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  2. Tingxiang Chu
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  5. Jiangkun Chao
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Correspondence to Tingxiang Chu or Minggao Yu.

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Yang, X., Chu, T., Yu, M. et al. Evolution Characteristics of Bulking Factor in the Multi-field Loading of Broken Coal: An Experimental Study. Rock Mech Rock Eng 54, 1481–1499 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-020-02333-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-020-02333-7

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