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Experimental Study of Mechanical Behaviors and Failure Characteristics of Coal Under True Triaxial Cyclic Loading and Unloading and Stress Rotation

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Abstract

The top coal of extra-thick coal seams is susceptible to irreversible failure under cyclic loading and stress rotation caused by longwall top coal mining. To ensure efficient mining and avoid wastage of coal resources, the failure evolution process of coal under cyclic loading and stress rotation must be investigated. Hence, true triaxial conventional loading, true triaxial graded cyclic loading and unloading, and true triaxial main stress rotation path tests were conducted to reveal the mechanical behaviors and failure characteristics. First, the evolution of deformation, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and peak strength were analyzed. Then, the fracture volumetric strain, dissipated energy, and failure modes were characterized. Finally, the relationship between the fracture evolution of top coal under cyclic loading and stress rotation was studied. The results showed that the mechanical characteristics of top coal are complex. The deformation and expansion characteristics under three paths were different. Additionally, the elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio showed negative correlation. Moreover, the internal coal damage was more severe and the failure was more violent under the true triaxial graded cyclic loading and unloading path. The failure mode of coal was dominated by shear failure and supplemented by tensile failure. The failure mechanism of top coal under true triaxial cyclic loading and unloading and stress rotation was revealed. Compared with static loading failure under conventional conditions, the longitudinal fractures caused by cyclic loading and the transverse fractures caused by stress rotation penetrated each other, affording the crushing of the top coal.

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Acknowledgments

This work is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52174166 and 52074041), the graduate research and innovation foundation of Chongqing, China (Grant No. CYB21026), Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing, China (cstc2020jcyj-msxmX0836) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2020CDJ-LHZZ-002), which are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Yunpei Liang, Qican Ran, Quanle Zou, Bichuan Zhang & Yang Hong

  2. School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China

    Yunpei Liang, Qican Ran, Quanle Zou, Bichuan Zhang & Yang Hong

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  1. Yunpei Liang
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  2. Qican Ran
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Correspondence to Yunpei Liang or Quanle Zou.

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Liang, Y., Ran, Q., Zou, Q. et al. Experimental Study of Mechanical Behaviors and Failure Characteristics of Coal Under True Triaxial Cyclic Loading and Unloading and Stress Rotation. Nat Resour Res 31, 971–991 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-022-10022-1

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