Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Water Saturation Pressure on Crack Propagation in Coal under Uniaxial Compression

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Resources Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Geofluids exist extensively in coal seams and affect greatly the mechanical behaviors of coal. To study the effect of water saturation pressure on the evolution of microcracking and ultimately the macrofailure, the mechanical behaviors and acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of coal treated at saturation pressures of 2–6 MPa were researched by performing uniaxial compression and direct tension tests. AE parameter analysis was utilized to identify cracking in the deformation stages of coal. The characteristics of AE parameters (AF and RA) during uniaxial compression and tension experiments were revealed. The results show that the average compression strength of coal sample decreases by 60.89% as the saturation pressure increases from 0 to 6 MPa. Moreover, the failure modes of coal change from mainly inclined plane shearing to tensile macrocracking. The mechanism of strength weakening and failure modes is that a higher saturation pressure (≥ 4 MPa) contributes to tensile microcracking more than shear microcracking in the unstable crack growth stage. As a consequence, tensile failure planes are the main macrofailure mode. In contrast, a lower saturation pressure (≤ 4 MPa) contributes to shear microcracking more than microcracking in the unstable crack growth stage, leading to inclined shear macrofailure. Therefore, the failure modes of coal can be predicted by the evolution of tensile and shear microcracking in the unstable crack growth stage. This study provides the basis for research on engineering issues such as underground coal pillar design in coal mines and the mechanisms of crack damage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12
Figure 13
Figure 14
Figure 15
Figure 16
Figure 17

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aldahdooh, M. A. A., & Muhamad, B. N. (2013). Crack classification in reinforced concrete beams with varying thicknesses by mean of acoustic emission signal features. Construction and Building Materials, 45, 282–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, Q., Li, B., Li, J., Gao, Z., Yuan, M., Yao, C., & Duan, S. (2022). A Study of the dynamic changes in wet coal’s water film and permeability under stressed conditions. Energy and Fuels, 36, 1547–1564.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grosse, C. U., & Ohtsu, M. (2008). Acoustic emission testing basics for research-applications in civil engineering (pp. 42–43). Heidelberg: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-69972-9

  • Guo, W., Tan, Y., Yang, Z. L., Zhao, T. B., & Hu, S. (2018). Effect of saturation time on the coal burst liability indexes and its application for rock burst mitigation. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 36, 589–597.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutenberg, B., & Richter, C. F. (1955). Magnitude and energy of earthquakes. Nature, 176, 795.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He, Q., Liu, Z., Li, Y., & Li, D. (2021). Laboratory investigation on microcrack fracturing behaviour of granite under quasi-static combined compression and shear. Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources, 7(3), 1–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, G., Yan, D., Zhuang, X., Zhang, Z., & Fu, H. (2019). Implications of the pore pressure and in situ stress for the coalbed methane exploration in the southern Junggar Basin. China. Engineering Geology, 262, 105305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, X., Wang, X., Wang, E., Kong, X., Zhang, C., Liu, S., & Zhao, E. (2017). Effects of gas pressure on bursting liability of coal under uniaxial conditions. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 39, 90–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, X., Xue, K., Luo, Y., Long, K., Liu, Y., & Liang, Z. (2022). The effect of pore pressure on the mechanical behavior of coal with burst tendency at a constant effective stress. Sustainability, 14, 14568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, X., Zhang, Z., Ge, Z., Zhong, C., & Liu, L. (2021). Brittleness evaluation of saturated coal based on energy method from stress–strain curves of uniaxial compression. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 5, 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  •  Liu, Y.,  Lebedev, M., Zhang, Y., Wang, E., Li, W., Liang, J., Feng, R., & Ma, R. (2022). Micro-cleat and permeability evolution of anisotropic coal during directional CO2 flooding: An in situ micro-CT study. Natural Resources Research, 31(5), 2805–2818

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y., Wang, E., Jiang, C., Zhang, D., Li, M., Yu, B., & Zhao, D. (2023). True triaxial experimental study of anisotropic mechanical behavior and permeability evolution of initially fractured coal. Natural Resources Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-022-10150-8

  • Long, K., Zhang, Z., Ring, U., Faulkner, D., & Gamage, R. P. (2021). Microcracks development and porosity evolution in sandstone, Sichuan Basin, China, an experimental approach. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 80, 7717–7729.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meng, Z., Zhang, J., & Wang, R. (2010). In-situ stress, pore pressure and stress-dependent permeability in the Southern Qinshui Basin. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 48(1), 122–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noorsuhada, M. N. (2016). An overview on fatigue damage assessment of reinforced concrete structures with the aid of acoustic emission technique. Construction and Building Materials, 112, 424–439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nor, N. M., Ibrahim, A., Bunnori, N. M., & Saman, H. M. (2013). Acoustic emission signal for fatigue crack classification on reinforced concrete beam. Construction and Building Materials, 49, 583.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohtsu, M. (2006). Quantitative AE techniques standardized for concrete structures. Advanced Materials Research, 13–14, 183–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohtsu, M. (2010). Recommendation of RILEM TC 212-ACD: Acoustic emission and related NDE techniques for crack detection and damage evaluation in concrete: Test method for damage qualification of reinforced concrete beams by acoustic emission. Materials and Structures/Materiaux et Constructions, 43, 1183–1186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohtsu, M. (2018). Prospective applications of AE measurements to infra-dock of concrete structures. Construction and Building Materials, 158(15), 1134–1142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perera, M. S. A., Ranjith, P. G., & Peter, M. (2011). Effects of saturation medium and pressure on strength parameters of Latrobe valley brown coal: Carbon dioxide, water and nitrogen saturations. Energy, 36, 6941–6947.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poulsen, B. A., Shen, B., Williams, D. J., Huddlestone-Holme, C., Erarslan, N., & Qin, J. (2014). Strength reduction on saturation of coal and coal measures rocks with implications for coal pillar strength. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 71, 41–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sampath, K. H. S. M., Perera, M. S. A., Elsworth, D., Ranjith, P. G., Matthai, S. K., & Rathnaweera, T. (2018). Experimental Investigation on the mechanical behavior of victorian brown coal under brine saturation. Energy & Fuels, 32, 5799–5811.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen, R., Qiu, L., Zhao, E., Han, X., Li, H., Hou, Z., & Zhang, X. (2019). Experimental study on frequency and amplitude characteristics of acoustic emission during the fracturing process of coal under the action of water. Safety Science, 117, 320–329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulusay, R. (2015). The ISRM suggested methods for rock characterization, testing and monitoring: 2007–2014. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 74, 1499–1500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Eeckhout, E. M. (1976). The mechanisms of strength reduction due to moisture in coal mine shales. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences and Geomechanics, 13, 61–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, K., & Du, F. (2020). Coal-gas compound dynamic disasters in China: A review. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 133, 1–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y., Deng, J., Li, L., & Zhang, Z. (2019). Micro-failure analysis of direct and flat loading brazilian tensile tests. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 52(11), 4175–4187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wasantha, P. L. P., & Ranjith, P. G. (2014). Water-weakening behavior of Hawkesbury sandstone in brittle regime. Engineering Geology, 178, 91–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xue, K., Zhang, Z., Hao, S., Luo, P., & Wang, Y. (2022). On the onset of nonlinear fluid flow transition in rock fracture network: Theoretical and computational fluid dynamic investigation. Physics of Fluids, 34(12), 125114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yao, Q., Chen, T., Ju, M., Liang, S., Liu, Y., & Li, X. (2016). Effects of water intrusion on mechanical properties of and crack propagation in coal. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 49, 4699–4709.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yao, Q., Chen, T., Tang, C., Sedighi, M., Wang, S., & Huang, Q. (2019). Influence of moisture on crack propagation in coal and its failure modes. Engineering Geology, 258, 105156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yao, Q., Tang, C., Xia, Z., Liu, X., Zhu, L., Chong, Z., & Hui, X. (2020). Mechanisms of failure in coal samples from underground water reservoir. Engineering Geology, 267, 105494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan, R., & Shi, B. (2018). Acoustic emission activity in directly tensile test on marble specimens and its tensile damage constitutive model. International Journal of Coal Science and Technology, 5, 295–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H., Wang, Z., Song, Z., Zhang, Y., Wang, T., & Zhao, W. (2021). Acoustic emission characteristics of different brittle rocks and its application in brittleness evaluation. Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources, 7, 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, X., Ranjith, P. G., Ranathunga, A. S., & Li, D. (2019). Variation of mechanical properties of bituminous coal under CO2 and H2O saturation. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 61, 158–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Z., Xie, H., Zhang, R., Zhang, Z., Gao, M., Jia, Z., & Xie, J. (2019). Deformation damage and energy evolution characteristics of coal at different depths. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 52, 1491–1503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, X. G., Cai, M., Wang, J., & Ma, L. K. (2013). Damage stress and acoustic emission characteristics of the Beishan granite. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 64, 258–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong, C., Zhang, Z., Ranjith, P. G., Lu, Y., & Choi, X. (2019). The role of pore water plays in coal under uniaxial cyclic loading. Engineering Geology, 257, 105125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, X., Liu, X., Wang, X., Liu, Y., Xie, H., & Du, P. (2022). Acoustic emission characteristics of coal failure under triaxial loading and unloading disturbance. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-022-03104-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51674047 and 51911530152), the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. 51625401) and the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (IRT_17R112).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

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

    Xiaobo Liu, Kun Long, Peng Luo & Yong Luo

  2. Geofluids, Geomechanics and Geoenergy (3G) Research Group, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China

    Xiaobo Liu, Kun Long, Peng Luo & Yong Luo

  3. Xinjie Energy Company Limited, China Energy Investment Corporation, Ordos, 017000, China

    Xiaobo Liu

  4. School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400044, China

    Kun Long

Authors
  1. Xiaobo Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kun Long
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Peng Luo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yong Luo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kun Long.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, X., Long, K., Luo, P. et al. Effects of Water Saturation Pressure on Crack Propagation in Coal under Uniaxial Compression. Nat Resour Res 32, 673–690 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-022-10157-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-022-10157-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation