The analogous simulation experiment is widely used in geotechnical and mining engineering. However, systematic errors derived from unified standard curing procedure have been underestimated to some extent. In this study, 140 gypsum-cemented similar material specimens were chosen to study their curing procedure with different relative humidity, which is 10%–15%, 40%, 60%, and 80%, respectively. SEM microstructures and XRD spectra were adopted to detect the correlation between microstructures and macroscopic mechanical strength during curing. Our results indicated that the needle-like phases of similar materials began to develop in the early stage of the hydration process through intersecting with each other and eventually transformed into mat-like phases. Increase of humidity may inhibit the development of needle-like phases; thus the compressive strength changes more smoothly, and the time required for the material strength to reach the peak value will be prolonged. The peak strength decreases along with the increase of humidity while the humidity is higher than 40%; however, the reverse tendency was observed if the humidity was lower than 40%. Finally, we noticed that the material strength usually reaches the peak value when the water content continuously reduces and tends towards stability. Based on the above observation, a curing method determination model and experimental strength predication method for gypsum-cemented similar materials were proposed.
The efficient and safe extraction of ultra-thick coal seam in the Xinjiang East Junggar Basin has been a major focus in the future of mining in China. This paper systematically studied the overburden strata fracturing process and the structure evolution characteristics based on a typical ultra-thick coal seam condition in Xinjiang, using both physical and numerical modeling studies. The interactions between shields and the roof strata were also examined, from the perspective of ground support. The results indicated that roof structure was mainly in the form of voussoir beam at the early mining stage, where overburden stability was affected by the rock mass properties and mining parameters. The support load mainly included top coal and immediate roof gravity load and the load caused by main roof rotary consolidation. As a result of mining disturbance and strata movement, the overlying strata re-fractured in the later mining stage. The roof structure changed from beam to arch gradually and propagates upwards with the increase of multi-layer mining times. The support load was mainly the gravity load of the friable rock mass within compression arch. The results will provide a guideline for the improvement of roof stability under similar mining conditions in Xinjiang.
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