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Time series dynamic prediction of surface deformation in mining areas can provide reference data for coal mine safety and production, which has important impacts. The combination of interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technology and the probability integral method (PIM) is commonly used for predicting deformation. However, most surface subsidence prediction in mining areas is based on the static PIM parameters, failing to achieve the three-dimensional (3D) dynamic deformation prediction. This paper proposed a 3D deformation dynamic prediction model (InSAR-3D-CTPIM) between InSAR deformation observations and dynamic coordinate-time PIM (CTPIM) parameters, which can realize the prediction of east–west, north–south, and vertical series deformation caused by mining. The method has been validated by simulation experiments and real experiments in the mining area of Jiansheng Coal Mine in Baisha Reservoir, Henan Province, China. The results showed that the modeling accuracy was improved by 34.3% compared to the traditional multi-rate model, and the accuracy was improved by 28.5% compared to the vertical deformation obtained by the traditional static PIM method. The InSAR-3D-CTPIM model can be used to predict the evolutionary history of basin-wide surface deformation dynamics in coal mining areas, and provide a reference for the early warning and prediction of geological hazards in coal mining areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, for the engineering problem of tunnel deformation damage caused by a tunnel–landslide orthogonal system landslide in northwest China, based on similar theory, a variety of materials and their ratios were explored to make similar models according to the physical and mechanical parameters of the site engineering rock, indoor physical model tests were constructed, and monitoring techniques, such as speckle displacement strain measurement, strain acquisition, and pressure sensors, were used to test the macroscopic deformation characteristics; through the detailed analysis and law summary of the test macroscopic deformation characteristics, displacement, anchor cable axial force, and strain data, it was finally found that under the orthogonal system of tunnel and sliding surface, the damage form of tunnel lining is mainly compression damage and shear damage, and the cracks are mainly tension cracks, and the effect of tunnel primary lining on the surrounding rock support is extremely limited under the action of huge sliding force; combined with the analysis of the model deformation characteristics and the axial force curve of the anchor cable during loading, it was found that the axial force change curve is consistent with the NPR Newton force curve can be used to evaluate slope stability and predict the occurrence of landslide disasters. Highlights: This paper focuses on the tunnel and surrounding rock damage evolution characteristics under tunnel–landslide orthogonal and tunnel crossing sliding surface conditions. The evolution of displacement field, NPR anchor cable axial force, and strain field were revealed using indoor large similar physical model test. The mechanism of tunnel–landslide interaction within the slope and the deformation and damage characteristics of the tunnel surrounding rock were analyzed to reveal the slope deformation law under different loads. The stress change law of constant-resistance large deformation anchor cable (NPR anchor cable) is explored, and a landslide warning mechanism based on constant-resistance large deformation anchor cable is established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the condition of weakly cemented soft rock in Western China, the surrounding rock deformation of gob-side entry is obvious, especially under the influence of fault, and the problem of surrounding rock control becomes increasingly prominent. To solve this issue, this paper firstly studied and obtained the evolution law of the ground pressure appearance of the gob-side entry in the fault area, then put forward the concept of surrounding rock control in the fault area of the gob-side entry, put forward a targeted pressure relief + increase preload + passive reinforcement parallel to the roadway surrounding rock strengthening control scheme, and carried out field applications. The results show that the roof subsidence and mining side heave of the roadway in the fault area increase significantly, accompanied by the characteristics of broken cables, the length of the broken cable is 0.2 m–0.6 m, and the breaking process is divided into multiple breaks. The stress evolution of gob-side entry in fault area presents a stage characteristic of "rapid growth-stable." The surrounding rock control effect is improved under the bolt cable high pre-tightening support, and the roadway deformation is effectively controlled under the pressure relief + active + passive support, with a good application effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deformation can effectively reflect the structural state of concrete dams and, thus, establishing na accurate concrete dam deformation prediction model is important for dam health monitoring and early warning strategies. To address the problem that the spatial coordinates introduced in the traditional multi-point deformation prediction model of dams not being able to accurately and efficiently reflect the spatial correlation of multiple-measuring points, a 2D-1D-CNN model is proposed which expresses the spatial correlation between each measuring point through spatial feature vectors, replacing the spatial coordinates in the traditional multi-point model. First, the spatial feature vector is extracted from the historical spatio-temporal panel series of deformation values of measuring points via a Two-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (2D-CNN); second, the vector is combined with the environmental impact factor of dam deformation to form the final input factor of fused spatial features; and, thirdly, this vector is combined with the environmental impact factors of dam deformation to form the final input factor of fused spatial features, and the non-linear linkage between the factors and the measured displacement values is constructed by the efficient feature processing capability of a One-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (1D-CNN) to obtain the prediction results. Finally, the actual monitoring data of a concrete dam in China are used as an example to verify the validity of the model. The results show that the proposed model outperforms the other models in most cases, respectively, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed model in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the popularized application of underground cable tunnels in China, various structural defects such as cracking, deforming and material deteriorating also emerge. In cable tunnels that have been poorly maintained for a long time, there is always a coexistence of several kinds of defects, and with the current methods of monitoring, it is difficult to identify the major defect affecting the load-carrying capacity and resolve it. However, the finite element method (FEM) can better solve this problem by analyzing the effect of a single defect parameter separately. In this paper, four different types of cable tunnels, namely the circular, rectangular, arched and trenched sectional tunnels, are modelled and analyzed with FEM. Defect parameters, including crack dimensions and concrete deterioration, are considered as variables, which are controlled and studied respectively. The results of the simulation indicate that the impact of crack propagation on the residual-bearing capacity of cable tunnels is much larger than that of concrete deterioration, especially the deepening of cracks. Works in this paper have the potential to be further referenced for cable-tunnel structure estimation and defect prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In excavation engineering, most of the retaining structures are subjected to asymmetrical loads, including in asymmetrical excavation and asymmetrical overloading. However, a theoretical solution to, and deformation-controlling method for, this problem has remained elusive to date. In this work, a semianalytical solution for determining the deformation of retaining structures subjected to asymmetrical loads was derived based on the principle of minimum potential energy. The retaining structures were viewed as flexible, and the overall deformation of the retaining system was evaluated by our proposed theoretical model. This model was verified by comparing it with practical monitoring data. Subsequently, the theoretical solution was applied to analyze the stress and deformation characteristics under the conditions of asymmetrical excavation and asymmetrical overloading, which can be controlled to ensure the safety of a project. Finally, because of the requirement for a small amount of deformation in the foundation pit retaining piles, the earth pressure on the retaining piles is close to the static earth pressure. Reducing the length of the retaining pile on one side had a greater influence on the deformation on that side, but less of an influence on the other side. Thus, the proposed model can be used for optimizing the asymmetrical design of a retaining structure in order to balance the economy and safety of a project. Our design theory can be applied to a variety of engineering projects. A typical case is the Guangzhou Baiyun District Comprehensive Transportation Hub Project in China. The method was used to analyze the status of the subway foundation pit, offering a new design scheme to reduce the design length of the retaining piles, which resulted in great economic benefits in its practical application. The findings provided in this paper can be applied to the engineering of any long, narrow foundation pit that can be simplified into a two-dimensional plane–strain calculation model, being used to realize more accurate deformation control over the foundation pit envelope. The core of this calculation method is that it can accurately describe the magnitude of the earth pressure. The distribution of the earth pressure is worthy of further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, numerous ancient landslides initially triggered by historic earthquakes on the eastern Tibetan Plateau have been reactivated by fault activity and heavy rainfall, causing severe human and economic losses. Previous studies have indicated that short-term heavy rainfall plays a crucial role in the reactivation of ancient landslides. However, the deformation behavior and reactivation mechanisms of seasonal rainfall-induced ancient landslides remain poorly understood. In this paper, taking the Dandu ancient landslide as an example, field investigations, ring shear experiments, and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) deformation monitoring were performed. The cracks in the landslide, formed by fault creeping and seismic activity, provide pathways for rainwater infiltration, ultimately reducing the shear resistance of the slip zone and causing reactivation and deformation of the Dandu landslide. The deformation behavior of landslides is very responsive to seasonal rainfall, with sliding movements beginning to accelerate sharply during the rainy season and decelerating during the dry season. However, this response generally lags by several weeks, indicating that rainfall takes time to infiltrate into the slip zone. These research results could help us better understand the reactivation mechanism of ancient landslides triggered by seasonal rainfall. Furthermore, these findings explain why many slope failures take place in the dry season, which typically occurs approximately a month after the rainy season, rather than in the rainy season itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diaphragm wall is widely used in deep excavation engineering to guarantee the safety of the foundation pit and surrounding environment during excavation. An accurate prediction of the lateral deformation of the diaphragm wall is the basis of the design and optimization of the diaphragm wall structure. In this paper, we apply the third-order shear deformation plate theory to develop an analytical method for predicting the lateral deformation of the diaphragm wall to take into account the effects of shear stress distributed along the thickness direction on the lateral deformation. By using the Pb-2 Ritz method, combined with the minimum potential energy concept, the analytical solution for the deformation of the diaphragm wall is obtained under certain simplifications. Three types of boundary conditions for the bottom side of the diaphragm wall are considered to meet different geological conditions. The proposed method is verified by comparing the results predicted in this study with the monitoring data obtained from the practical pit engineering of Dinggong south road metro station of Metro Line 2 in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, China. Finally, the effects of the thickness and the embedded depth of the diaphragm wall and the lateral support patterns are analyzed, and the optimized design parameters for the diaphragm wall are also suggested. The proposed method can theoretically provide preliminary parameter optimization guidance for the design and construction of a diaphragm wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the working conditions of aero‐engine, the three‐dimensional composite deformation of the blade is caused by the centrifugal force generated by high‐speed rotation and the load generated by gas scouring. Aiming at the problem of three‐dimensional composite deformation on the surface of aero‐engine blades under high‐speed rotation, a three‐dimensional deformation measurement method based on stroboscopic structure digital image correlation method is proposed, and a method for eliminating rigid body displacement induced by the trigger error of the stroboscope is proposed. First, the laser trigger‐stroboscopic irradiation system is used to freeze the high‐speed rotating blade under a specific phase. Then, the binocular vision system is used to collect the surface image of the rotating blade. Finally, the digital image correlation method is used to measure the surface deformation field of the high‐speed rotating blade. In this paper, the experimental platform is built and the displacement field and main strain field of the blade surface under high‐speed rotating state are measured. The experimental results show that the stroboscopic structure digital image correlation measurement system and method have realized displacement measurement accuracy of 2 μm and strain measurement accuracy of 100 μɛ and have realized the surface deformation measurement of the ducted turbine fan blade under the condition of 6000 rpm (CFM56‐7 engine N1 speed). The results show that the method is effective and can provide a reliable measurement method for the deformation measurement of high‐speed rotating blades in large engine manufacturing enterprises such as Aero Engine Corporation of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of major concern is the lack of correlation between the material design and structural function of asphalt pavement in China. The objective of this paper is to identify the layer in asphalt pavement where permanent deformation occurs most seriously and to propose a control index for that layer's asphalt mixture. The permanent deformation of each layer was determined through the utilization of thickness measurements obtained from field cores. The results indicate that the reduction in thickness is more significant in the driving lane than in the ridge band and shoulder. This phenomenon can be attributed to the intensified densification and shearing deformation that arise from the combined impacts of recurrent axle loads and high temperatures. Compared to surface and base layers, the bearing layer is the primary area of concern for permanent deformation in asphalt pavement. Therefore, it is imperative to incorporate the ability of bearing-layer asphalt mixture to withstand permanent deformation as a crucial design parameter. The dynamic modulus of the bearing-layer asphalt mixture is significantly influenced by the type of asphalt, gradation, and asphalt content, compared to other design parameters. Based on the relationship established between dynamic modulus and dynamic stability, with creep rate as the intermediate term, a control standard was proposed to evaluate the permanent deformation of the bearing-layer asphalt mixture. This study can provide reasonable and effective guidance for prolonging pavement life and improving pavement performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deformations in dam structures can have a critical impact on dam safety and life. Accurate methods for dam deformation prediction and safety evaluation are thus highly needed. Dam deformations can be predicted based on many factors. The analysis of these influences on the deformation of the dam reveals a problem that deserves further attention: dam deformation lags behind environmental factors of the water level and temperature as well as the time lag of the temporal dam deformation data. In this paper, a hybrid deep learning model is proposed to enhance the accuracy of dam deformation forecasting based on lag indices of these factors. In particular, dam deformations are predicted using deep networks based on gated recurrent units (GRUs), which can effectively capture the temporal characteristics of dam deformation. In addition, an improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) algorithm is used for optimizing the GRU hyperparameters. Furthermore, the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise algorithm (CEEMDAN) and the partial autocorrelation function (PACF) are exploited to select the lag factor indices. The accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed CEEMDAN–PACF–IPSO–GRU hybrid model were evaluated and compared with those of other existing models in terms of four different evaluation indices (MAE, MSE, R2 , and RMSE) and using 9-year historical data for the case of a pulp-masonry arch dam in China. The experimental results show that our model outperforms other models in terms of the deformation prediction accuracy (R2 increased by 0.16%–9.74%, while the other indices increased by 14.55% to reach 96.69%), and hence represents a promising framework for general analysis of dam deformations and other types of structural behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature and high-pressure wells are facing a lot of problems such as complicated stress on the production string, severe deformation, and annular pressure, which seriously restrict the pace of drilling and development of HPHT oil and gas resources in China. In this paper, theoretical analysis and software calculation are combined to study the stress and deformation of an HTHP well string. Based on the research results, the authors have established an algorithm and method of mechanical analysis for high-temperature and high-pressure wells. The method could be effectively applied to drill string analysis in high-temperature and high-pressure well conditions. Lastly, the developed method of analysis and calculation algorythm has been verified for the actual production conditions. Based on the proposed calculation method, we have evaluated the force, deformation, and trap pressure values of the drilling string and packer under different working conditions. The results can be used to assess the safety of field operations. In this paper we provide the algorithm and method for production string analysis in HTHP wells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the western and southwestern regions of China, under-construction and completed highspeed railway tunnels often suffer from elevated floor heave, which seriously threatens the construction progress and operational safety of the tunnels. This paper relies on the typical horizontally laminated carbonaceous shale stratum of the Xingshandong Tunnel to carry out a research on the mechanism of elevation of the base of the back arch. The model of the surrounding rock below the base of the elevated arch is simplified by applying the method of qualitative analysis by component testing and quantitative calculation by numerical simulation. The effects of different layer thicknesses, interlayer cohesion and material strength on the damage pattern of laminated rock masses are revealed, the causes of bottom bulging in horizontally laminated rock enclosures are analysed and corresponding bottom bulge control and disposal techniques are proposed. The results indicate: (1) The reduction in layer thickness reduces the ability of the laminated composite rock mass to resist deformation and damage, mainly manifested in the shortening of the elastic phase and the acceleration of the deformation rate; the reduction in the bond strength between layers destroys the integrity of the laminated composite rock mass, leading to the acceleration of the laminated rock mass into the single rock layer stress phase, but the effect on the deterioration of ultimate bearing capacity is not obvious;the reduction in the strength of the rock mass itself greatly reduces the load-bearing capacity of the laminated composite rock formation, causing the damage process to accelerate significantly and further deepening the extent and scope of the impact, which, combined with the numerical simulation results, further proves that the strength of the rock mass itself dominates the deformation and damage of the laminated rock mass. (3) The fatigue damage of train vibration, the weakening effect of groundwater aggregation and the long-term mechanical properties of the surrounding rock will all affect the stability of the elevation arch of the tunnel, and the order of deformation control effect is: deepening invert>base grouting>invert arch bolt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the operational period, unexpected upstream deformation has been observed in several super-high arch dams located in the alpine and gorge regions. In addition, the phenomenon of the downstream dam deformation monitoring values being apparently smaller than the numerical simulation results appears in some super-high arch dams. This paper focuses on the genetic mechanism of a super-high arch dam's special deformation characteristics. The finite element method (FEM) was used to analyze the effects of solar radiation, valley contraction, and overhanging on super-high arch dam's deformation behavior. First, the influences of solar radiation on the temperature field and deformation characteristics of the super-high arch dam under the shading effects of the mountain and the dam body were investigated. Second, the impacts of valley contraction on the deformation characteristics of the super-high arch dam during the storage period were studied. Subsequently, the impact of the overhanging effect on the super-high arch dam's deformation was explored. Finally, a case study was conducted on the basis of the Jinping I super-high arch dam to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed analytical method. It is indicated that the dam's special deformation can be explained reasonably. Above all, in order to accurately analyze and predict the deformation characteristics of super high-arch dams in the alpine and gorge regions of Southwest China, solar radiation, valley contraction, and the dam-overhanging effect need to be considered as influencing factors of dam deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyze the deformation characteristics and constrain the deformation time of the Gudonghe ductile shear belt in the Yanbian area, NE China, the eastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Two stages of ductile deformation have been identified according to the macro- and micro-fabric characteristics. The NWW-trending D1 deformation, with pervasive dextral shearing and extensional features as indicated by shear folds and δ-porphyroclasts, occurred in the Early–Middle Triassic Yongxin pluton based on zircon U–Pb age of 246–236 Ma and previously published geochronological data, and the foliation was cut by an undeformed igneous rock of ~ 226 Ma; therefore, the D1 deformation time in the Gudonghe ductile shear belt is limited to the 236–226 Ma. The NE-trending D2 deformation event occurred in the Early Jurassic Baijin pluton. The S–C fabrics and σ-porphyroclasts in the D2 deformation stage show a pervasive sinistral shearing and were formed in a compression setting. Two deformed granites in the D2 deformation stage have a weighted mean age of 197 Ma, while the syn-tectonic granitic vein during the D2 deformation stage has a weighted mean age of 184 Ma. The undeformed granites, which intruded into the Early Jurassic Baijin pluton, have a weighted mean age of 179 Ma. Therefore, the D2 deformation of the Gudonghe ductile shear belt occurred during 184–179 Ma. Considering the regional tectonic evolution and the structural features of the Gudonghe ductile shear belt, the D1 deformation event could be related to the Middle–Late Triassic post-orogenic collapse after the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean, while the D2 deformation was formed in a compressional setting and was related to the onset of westward-directed subduction and accretion of the Paleo-Pacific Ocean in the Early Jurassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, MgO-based expansive agent (MEA) has been used for concrete shrinkage compensation and cracking control for over 40 years. The expansive behavior of MEA in cementitious materials could be manipulated to some extent by adjusting the calcination process of MEA and influenced by the restraint condition of the matrix. It is key to investigate the factors related to deformation and cracking resistance so that the desired performance of MEA in certain concrete structures could be achieved. This paper reviews the influence of key parameters such as hydration reactivity, dosage, and calcination conditions of MEA, the water-to-binder ratio, supplementary cementitious material, aggregates, and curing conditions on the deformation and cracking resistivity of cement paste, mortar, and concrete with an MEA addition. The numerical simulation methods and deformation prediction models are then summarized and analyzed for more reasonable estimations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the development of shale gas, one of the major challenges is the casing deformation (CD) in the horizontal section due to the geological activity. Recently, the casing deformation before hydraulic fracturing (CDBF) occurred in multiple shale gas wells in L block in China. In this paper, based on the theory of tubular mechanics, the relationship between casing buckling and CDBF caused by casing running in is analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. It is found that the buckling deformation caused by running the casing string process is not sufficient to prevent the tool (Φ99 mm bridge plug). On the other hand, the mechanism of CDBF is systematically analyzed based on the actual field data and finite element (FE) method. In order to analyze the CDBF mechanism, the comparison between the actual casing trajectory and the reservoir rock (S#1, S#2, S#3 and M#1) in horizontal section in H2 platform is carried out, and the preliminary CDBF mechanism is proposed. Then, two groups of FE models are established to reduce the CD process to verify the preliminary mechanism. It is found that the numerical simulation results (high stress section length from FE model) are in good agreement with the actual CD logging results. Based on the analytical results, the corresponding mitigation measures are proposed based on the analysis of the CDBF mechanism. Our work could offer a detailed theoretical basis and reference of CDBF for shale gas well application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground mining safety risk increases with the more complicated geological conditions in deep strata, so coal mines turn to the upper limit mining of shallow coal seams under the Cenozoic strata. Nevertheless, coal mines in the Northern China coalfield are mainly covered by thicker loose sandy layers with more abundant water. The analysis of overburdened strata deformation properties is essential for safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly production. This paper discusses the deformation and migration of overburdened strata through mechanical analysis, numerical and physical similar simulations, and in situ field measurement. A thorough understanding of overburdened strata deformation induced by mining has been obtained, and the results are as follows: The immediate roof first collapses to form the caved zone accompanied by the first weighting, and the fractured zone and bending deformation zone begin to develop in sequence; the separation layer is observed during the period of fracture development. However, the occurrence of the bending deformation subsidence results in the closure of the separation space; the ratio of fractured and mining height is quantified to 14.4:1.0 by the comparative analysis. The results may serve as technical evidence to support the mining safety of the study area and other coal mines with similar geological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anchor plate is a necessary component of the prestressed rock bolt, which plays a decisive role in actively resisting the rock mass deformation and improving the self-bearing capacity of the surrounding rock. In this paper, in order to investigate the effect of anchor plate on the mechanical behavior of prestressed rock bolt used in squeezing large deformation tunnel, a series of numerical, field and laboratory tests were performed. The mechanical characteristics of anchor plate with different shapes and sizes were systematically analyzed. Based on the Muzhailing Tunnel in Gansu Province, China, which is a typical deep-buried soft rock tunnel and suffered from serious squeezing large deformation disaster, the field verification was carried out. Meanwhile, the influences of spherical washer on the mechanical behavior of bolt shaft and anchor plate were also investigated. The result shows that the bowl-shaped plate has much better performance than the flat one, while the rounded bowl plate performs slightly better than the squared bowl plate. With the increase of plate thickness or plane size, the anchor plate has the better bearing capacity, while the stress transfer effect will be worse. Furthermore, the non-uniform deformation will gradually increase with the decrease of plate thickness or increase of plane size. Therefore, it is advised to increase the plate thickness rather than the plane size under the condition of better bearing capacity. The bending-induced stress of the anchor plate increases rapidly with the increase of the inclination angle between bolt shaft and anchor plate. Whereas the installation angle is unavoidable in practice, the spherical washer which has great effects on reducing the bending-induced stress could be a necessary component of the prestressed rock bolt system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to keep pace with fast urbanization and explosive growth of highway traffic volume in China, more and more super large-span tunnels are constructed or will be constructed in the coming years. It is of great significance to employ a suitable construction method for ensuring construction safety when tunnelling in a complicated geological environment. Based on the reconstruction and expansion project of Binlai in China, this paper aims at studying deformation behaviors and mechanical properties of super large-span and shallow tunnel constructed using the upper-bench CD method. The study results showed that the crown settlement of the pilot tunnel was larger than that of the rear guide tunnel, and the deformation of rock mass tended to be stable after 60 days of excavation. The structural stress changed greatly in the construction stage, the stress distribution of steel rib was mainly under compression, and the maximum compressive stress of shotcrete appeared at the tunnel vault. The supporting structure was always kept in a safe state, and its safety factor was higher than 1.5. However, the upper-bench CD method has poor performance in controlling surface subsidence and horizontal convergence. The study of this paper provides a new construction method and useful reference for similar super large-span tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cofferdam is a key component of the containment system during the construction period. In order to ensure the quality and safety of underground open cut structure projects in China, and to strongly promote the development and progress of similar underground engineering cofferdam technology such as open cut lake tunnels, this paper takes the Jinji Lake tunnel cofferdam project as the basis, and conducts a study on the deformation law and stability state of PC combined method pile cofferdam support structure during the whole process of weir pumping construction combined with field monitoring analysis. The results show that: (1) with the continuous pumping and slope excavation, the overall structural deformation of the cofferdam tends to move more and more towards the inner side of the cofferdam; (2) during the construction process, the horizontal displacement values of the pile tops on the waterward and backward sides of the cofferdam do not differ much; and the maximum horizontal displacement value of the pile body on the waterward side does not differ much from the horizontal displacement value of the pile top, but on the backward side differs significantly. (3) During the pumping process in the weir, the maximum horizontal displacement of the piles on both sides of the weir basically appears near the bottom of the lake. The study reveals the asymmetric deformation law of the piles on both sides of the weir, which provides reference for similar projects of PC combined method pile cofferdam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the research considering multi-factor softening conditions is rarely performed, and the research on the deformation law and mechanical properties of the tunnel in diatomite is even rarer. Diatomite is easy to soften in water, and its physical and mechanical properties change greatly after softening. Therefore, take the high-speed railway tunnel that passes through the diatomite stratum in East China as an example, considering various softening conditions (including softening degree and softening position), the deformation law and mechanical characteristics of the tunnel are obtained, and corresponding suggestions are also put forward according to different softening conditions. The results show that the deformation law and mechanical characteristics of the tunnel are greatly affected by the symmetry of softening part. The deformation of the inverted arch caused by the lower surrounding rock softening of the tunnel is the largest, and the maximum stress occurs at the arch foot when the upper surrounding rock of the tunnel softens. Different softening degrees and positions have a great influence on the mechanical characteristics and deformation law of the tunnel. The results obtained in this paper may provide some important references for similar projects in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disturbance stresses can cause deformation and damage to a tunnel's rock, potentially threatening the mine's safety. This paper investigates the effects of disturbance damage on the main inclined shaft due to the excavation of an electromechanical chamber in a deep inclined shaft at Yuxi Mine. Specifically, a numerical model was constructed using Midas GTX NX and Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in Three Dimensions (FLAC3D) to match the actual engineering conditions, and to reveal the stresses and deformations in the surrounding rock of the main inclined shaft before and after the excavation of the main inclined shaft, the electromechanical chamber and the head chamber. The results revealed that the surrounding rock stress around the main inclined shaft is significantly influenced by excavation disturbance. The bottom bulge occurred due to the unstable vertical and shear stresses in the bottom coal bed moving into free space. After the excavation of the electromechanical chamber, the maximum displacement of the floor can be increased from 0.35468 m to 0.64301 m, nearly doubled, and a large area of surrounding rock deformation occurs in the inclined shaft falling roadway. Affected by excavation disturbance, the maximum deformation of floor can reach 1.06 m, with a wide fluctuation range. The main area of damage to the surrounding rock was identified, except for the main inclined shaft, which occurred near the intersection of the inclined shaft and the drop level location. This area is mainly affected by superimposed tensile stress damage, prone to large area floor heave and spalling. The research content is expected to provide certain theoretical support in taking measures to deal with the deformation and failure of the surrounding rock in a main inclined shaft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accelerated creep plays an important role in the disasters of soft-rock tunnels under high stress. However, most of previous studies only involved attenuation creep and uniform creep. Large deformation disasters of soft rock occurred during the tunneling process in the Qianzhou–Sanyangchuan Tunnel, Gusu Province, China. In the paper, we developed the nonlinear generalized Nishihara rheological model with non-stationary parameter creep (NGNRM) to simulate the accelerated creep behaviors of soft rocks under high stress, and implemented it in ABAQUS, to reveal the mechanism of large deformation of soft rock. We proposed the multi-objective back analysis method of surrounding rock mechanical parameters based on the eXtreme Gradient Boosting and the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II. In addition, the orthogonal test design method was used to determine the main parameters affecting the displacement of the tunnel. Using the proposed method, we can evaluate the large deformation mechanism of deep soft rock tunnels, and scientifically determine when to reinforce to prevent a large deformation disaster of the tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental study to assess the behaviour of coal samples under tensile loadings to better understand the failure mechanisms and the interactions with the coal characteristics. A set of Brazilian splitting tests were carried out using disk specimens obtained from Tashan Coal Mine in China. The digital speckle correlation method and acoustic emission (AE) were used to capture the deformation localisation and AE characteristics of each specimen during the loading process. The precursor characteristics of AE and the failure mechanism are discussed. It was found that the entire loading process mainly consists of compaction, elastic and post-peak dropping stage without an obvious yielding stage. Two kinds of deformation localisation were observed: central symmetry and axis symmetry. The corresponding AE evolution patterns have different phases, including gradual rise, step rise, transient rise and steady rise. During the subcritical failure stage, AE counts demonstrate a "rapidly increasing + flatten" intermittent feature. The results provide a reference for a better understanding of the damage process of the brittle coal material and its application in ground control design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of propulsive abutment pressure and deformation characteristics of roadway surrounding rock mass in top-coal caving mining is of great significance for further research on mining stress, roadway support and equipment selection. This paper adopts the method of combining theoretical analysis and field test, taking Helin coal mine j7401 working face as the research object. The relationship between abutment support pressure and roadway surrounding rock mass deformation is revealed by monitoring the stress of transportation and ventilation roadway and observing the deformation of mining roadway. The main conclusions are as follows: when the distance between top-coal caving mining and borehole is about 65 m, the borehole stress begins to exceed the original rock stress, and the peak of the abutment pressure is 15–22 m in front of the working face, ranging from 33 to 39 MPa, which is 3.2–3.8 times the original rock stress. The intersection of propulsive abutment pressure curve and original rock stress curve is located at 8.1 m in front of the working face, the boundary of roadway rapid deformation stage and deceleration deformation stage is 8.9 m ahead of the working face, the distance between the two stages is 0.8 m, and the peak position of propulsive abutment pressure is 19.8 m. The boundary of roadway decelerative deformation stage and stationary small deformation stage is 20.1 m, and the distance between the two stages is 0.3 m. The boundary between the fracture zone and the limit equilibrium zone is the intersection of the propulsive abutment pressure curve and the original rock stress curve. The plastic zone is constituted by the damage zone and the limit equilibrium zone, and the boundary between the plastic zone and the elastic zone is located at the peak of the propulsive abutment pressure. The above study results provide a basis for roadway support and efficient coal mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two different research methods are applied to predict large deformation behavior in tunnels and take Tianjiashan tunnel as the case study which is located in Xindianping town, Zhejiang city, Hunan province. The paper introduces the basic principle of the analytic hierarchy process and the fuzzy mathematics method, and classifies the influence factors of the large deformation in tunnels into eight kinds (C1–C8). Basing on the AHP–FUZZY method, this paper applies the results into the large deformation prediction analysis of Tianjiashan tunnel. In order to verify the accuracy of the evaluation results of AHP–FUZZY method, a numerical simulation model of DK394 + 625–DK394 + 650 section of Tianjiashan tunnel is established. The results show that the tunnel deformation is very large, and the tunnel excavation is sure to cause large deformation. The numerical simulation result is in accordance with the AHP–FUZZY method. Finally, we track record of occurrence of large deformation during the actual construction in tunnel, and the actual results are coincide with AHP–FUZZY method and numerical simulation results, which reflects the effectiveness of AHP–FUZZY method and numerical simulation method in predicting the large deformation behavior in tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large squeezing deformation of layered soft rock tunnel under high geo-stress has a significant time-dependent deformation behavior. In this paper, we studied the deformation mechanism during the construction period of deep-buried soft-rock tunnel by means of a combination of field observations and a numerical method. First, a new classification criterion for large deformations based on the power exponent variation law between the deformation and the strength-stress ratio is proposed. Then, the initial damage tensor reflecting the bedding plane (joint) distribution and an equivalent damage evolution equation derived from the viscoplastic strain are introduced based on the geometric research method, i.e., a new rheological damage model (RDL model) of layered soft rock is established consisting of elastic, viscous, viscoelastic, viscoplastic and plastic elements. A field test was conducted on the Maoxian tunnel in Sichuan province, southwestern China, which is in broken phyllite (layered soft rock) under high geo-stress. The tunnel has experienced large deformation due to serious squeezing pressure, thus we adopted double primary support method to overcome the supporting structure failure problems. The rheological parameters of phyllite in the Maoxian tunnel were recognized by using SA-PSO optimization, and the RDL model does a good job in describing the time-dependent deformation behavior of a layered soft-rock tunnel under high geo-stress. Thus, the RDL model was used to investigate the supporting effect and bearing mechanism of the double primary support method. Compared with the single primary support method, the surrounding rock pressure, secondary lining force, surrounding rock deformation, and the depth of the damage to the rock mass was reduced by 40%–60% after the double primary support method was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large deformation has always been a focus and difficult issue in the construction of deep-buried tunnels in squeezing rock. Previous studies mainly focused on the large deformation of medium and small span railway/highway tunnels in soft ground. However, there are limited researches on the large deformation control methods for large-span (three-lane) highway tunnels constructed in unfavorable geological environment. Based on the Lianchengshan Tunnel of the Baoji-Hanzhong expressway in Shaanxi Province, China, this paper studied the deformation behaviors and mechanical mechanisms of a large-span tunnel excavated in chlorite schist formation with single primary lining method and double primary lining method by in-situ test and numerical simulation. The achieved results indicate that the double primary lining method is much more effective than that of the single primary lining method in restraining the deformation of surrounding rock, and the maximum vertical displacement and horizontal convergence are reduced by 67% and 66%, respectively. The support method of double HK200b-type steel sets combined with large-diameter foot reinforcement bolt (FRB) and deep invert could effectively control the large deformation of the case tunnel, which effectively avoided the supporting structure failure, repeated clearance invasion and multiple reshaping work caused by the single primary lining method and conformed to the energy-saving construction concept of "no clearance interfering, no support reshaping" of tunnels in squeezing ground. Simulation analysis of surrounding rock deformation, supporting structure stress and plastic zone distribution was performed to evaluate the support effect of the two deformation-controlled methods. Finally, the deformation and stress characteristic curves of rock-support of the two deformation-controlled methods were established, which revealed the supporting mechanism of double primary linings for large-span tunnels in chlorite schist. The research results can provide a theoretical basis and practical reference for the large-deformation control of similar large-span tunnels in squeezing rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground deformation and additional stress on the segments of the firstly constructed tunnel may change significantly due to the construction of another tunnel, which is closely spaced with the existing one. A poor geotechnical condition possibly leads to the interaction between such closely spaced tunnels even making it harder to build such tunnels. A practical project located in Guangzhou City, China, consists of such two parallel tunnels with the smallest distance of 2.6 m, which sat on an upper-soft and lower-hard stratum. A 3D finite element model has been proposed to numerically investigate the behavior of these two parallel tunnels. The numerical results predicted by the FE model are in close agreement with that obtained from the field monitoring system, indicating the accuracy of the proposed FE model. The FE model was then used to further analyze the effect of reinforcing piles in eliminating the detrimental effect on both ground deformation and additional stress of the segments of the existing tunnel as a result of the construction of the new parallel tunnel. The research results obtained from the present paper can provide technical support and guidance for urban subway construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of super-large-span tunnels is increasing in both new construction and reconstruction projects in China recently. In super-large-span tunneling engineering, the deformation properties and mechanical behaviors of tunnel portal structure are more complex than those of common tunnel due to the flatter shape and larger construction span. The mechanical behaviors of rock mass change in response to different sequential excavation methods and supporting parameters. The upper bench CD method has been gradually applied in the construction of super-large-span tunnels in China. In this paper, the design parameters for the supporting structure of super-large-span tunnel were studied by the field monitoring and numerical modeling in a case study of Laohushan tunnel. It was found that the crown settlement was larger than the clearance convergence, and the stress of arch was greater than that of the side wall in tunnel portal section. The invert structure was flat with small curvature. Therefore, the shotcrete was mainly subjected to tensile stress. The use of H200 × 200 steel rib with spacing of 60 cm and C25 shotcrete with thickness of 30 cm is recommended. The results of this paper provide basis for the development of design specifications and construction standards for super-large-span tunnels and provide reference for similar projects in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timing of the “Yanshanian Movement” and the tectonic setting that controlled the Yanshan fold-and-thrust belt during Jurassic time in China are still matters of controversy. Sediments that filled the intramontane basins in the Yanshan belt perfectly record the history of “Yanshanian Movement” and the tectonic background of these basins. Recognizing syn-tectonic sedimentation, clarifying its relationship with structures, and accurately defining strata ages to build up a correct chronostratigraphic framework are the key points to further reveal the timing and kinematics of tectonic deformation in the Yanshan belt from the Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. This paper applies both tectonic and sedimentary methods on the fold-and-thrust belt and intramontane basins in the Zhangjiakou area, which is located at the intersection between the western Yanshan and northern Taihangshan. Our work suggests that the pre-defined “Jurassic strata” should be re-dated and sub-divided into three strata units: a Late Triassic to Early Jurassic unit, a Middle Jurassic unit, and a Late Jurassic to early Early Cretaceous unit. Under the control of growth fold-and-thrust structures, five types of growth strata developed in different growth structures: fold-belt foredeep type, thrust-belt foredeep type, fault-propagation fold-thrust structure type, fault-bend fold-thrust structure type, and fault-bend fold-thrust plus fault-propagation fold composite type. The reconstructed “source-to-sink” systems of Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, Middle Jurassic and Late Jurassic to early Early Cretaceous times, which are composed of a fold-and-thrust belt and flexure basins, imply that the “Yanshanian Movement” in our study area started in theMiddle Jurassic. During Middle Jurassic to early Early Cretaceous times, there have been at least three stages of fold-thrust events that developed “Laramide-type” basement-involved fold-thrust structures and small-scale intramontane broken “axial basins”. The westward migration of a “pair” of basement-involved fold-thrust belt and flexure basins might have been controlled by flat subduction of the western Paleo-Pacific slab from the Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water level fluctuations and rainfall, as external factors, are typically the two dominant causal factors of landslide deformation in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. A quantitative model capable of evaluating landslide deformation processes is critical for early warning of landslide. The primary purpose of this paper is to take the Zhujiadian landslide as an example to determine the main control factors for different deformation stages of landslide. Original field date collected from the Zhujiadian landslide was examined using the grey relational grade analysis (GRGA). The approach consists of three steps: determination of landslide type, data processing, and identifying the main control factors of landslide deformation. The results obtained suggest that the Zhujiadian landslide is typical retrogressive landslide, and its deformation occurred first at the front part of the landslide and progressed upslope due to drawdown of reservoir water level and heavy rainfall. In the whole deformation process, the main control factors of different parts of landslide changed with the landslide development. Thus, the findings of the study are useful for rapidly predicting landslide deformation relating to water level fluctuations and rainfall, and the GRGA is useful for interpreting the main control factors of landslide deformation from a quantitative point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the deadly Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake, the Wenjiagou landslide produced steep topography, a narrow gully and abundant loose sediments; these factors have contributed to the high debris flow risk in the Wenjiagou area during subsequent rainy seasons. At least five debris flows have occurred in the Wenjiagou area between September 24, 2008, and September 18, 2010, which resulted in seven casualties and an economic loss of approximately 446 million RMB. To reduce the risk of debris flows and landslides, the Wenjiagou Valley Debris Flow Control Project (WVDFCP), which cost over 2 billion RMB, was carried out and completed in 2011. The control measures of the project effectively reduced the scale and damage of the following debris flows. In this paper, the recent deformation of the giant landslide and its effect on the WVDFCP are evaluated by applying a time-series interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technique based on distributed scatterers (DSs) to the Radardat-2 SAR data collected from June 2014 to September 2015. In addition, the experimental results show that most areas of the landslide are stable, with an average deformation rate of less than 5.0 mm/year. The results demonstrate that the control measures of the WVDFCP not only reduced the damage caused by the later debris flows but also contributed to the consolidation of the loose sediments in the Wenjiagou landslide area. The time-series InSAR technique based on the DSs of high-resolution SAR images is an important tool for deformation monitoring of earthquake-induced landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid Earth deforms elastically in response to variations of surface atmosphere, hydrology, and ice/glacier mass loads. Continuous geodetic observations by Global Positioning System (CGPS) stations and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) record such deformations to estimate seasonal and secular mass changes. In this paper, we present the seasonal variation of the surface mass changes and the crustal vertical deformation in the South China Block (SCB) identified by GPS and GRACE observations with records spanning from 1999 to 2016. We used 33 CGPS stations to construct a time series of coordinate changes, which are decomposed by empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) in SCB. The average weighted root-mean-square (WRMS) reduction is 38% when we subtract GRACE-modeled vertical displacements from GPS time series. The first common mode shows clear seasonal changes, indicating seasonal surface mass re-distribution in and around the South China Block. The correlation between GRACE and GPS time series is analyzed which provides a reference for further improvement of the seasonal variation of CGPS time series. The results of the GRACE observations inversion are the surface deformations caused by the surface mass change load at a rate of about -0.4 to -0.8 mm/year, which is used to improve the long-term trend of non-tectonic loads of the GPS vertical velocity field to further explain the crustal tectonic movement in the SCB and surroundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the gradual densification of China's railway network, more and more railways are inevitably crossing active fault zones. Creep dislocation and stick–slip dislocation of the fault zones can lead to uneven deformation and cracks in the railway subgrade, threatening the sustainability of the railway. Therefore, a model test and numerical simulation were used to analyze the deformation mechanism and sustainability of the subgrade and foundation induced by a strike–slip fault dislocation in a flat site under different angles between the subgrade and fault strikes. The test and simulation results show that (1) under the influence of strike–slip fault dislocation, the horizontal direction of the subgrade appeared to have an S–shaped displacement. The top surface of the subgrade appeared to have a vertical settlement. Further, tension–shear cracks and compression crush zones appeared on the subgrade's surface. (2) When the angle between the fault and subgrade strikes increased, the subgrade's uneven deformations induced by fault dislocation first decreased and then increased. The angle between the main tension–shear crack on the top surface of the subgrade and the fault strike showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing. In addition, the compressive stress along the subgrade strike decreased, while the tensile stress along the subgrade strike gradually increased. (3) The tension–shear cracks in the subgrade and foundation were spiral and converged to the basement strike–slip fault along the depth direction. This study provides a reference for the safe operation and sustainability of railways near faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Geotechnical Journal is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Qinghai-Tibet railway, the highest railway in terms of elevation, was built under the harshest of weather conditions in the world. A new technique, called the ventiduct embankment, was used for the first time in railway construction in the Qinghai-Tibet permafrost region of China to overcome the specific difficulties of the permafrost plateau. To evaluate its effectiveness, several full-scale test embankments were constructed at a representative field site, the Qingshuihe experimental section. The effectiveness of the ventiduct embankment structure has been verified by comparing it with the performance of the nearby control embankment in terms of permafrost table, settlement, and thaw depth. These observations are presented in this paper. The ventiduct embankment structure based on this study has been adopted in Qinghai-Tibet permafrost railway construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presently, the tunnel construction of China is changing from "mainly construction" to "equal emphasis on construction and maintenance". In this context, tunnel structure inspection, monitoring, and maintenance technologies have developed rapidly. However, the effective use and in-depth mining of massive data has always been the most difficult point in this field. Based on deep learning technology, this paper carries out in-depth mining of the multi-source data of the tunnel structure, so that the convergence and deformation of the section during the operation of the shield tunnel is predicted in a short time. Taking the Nanjing Yangtze River shield tunnel project as an example, the indicators are screened based on the fluctuations of the pair wise correlation coefficients of all monitoring indicators. And based on the Keras (a high-level neural network API) framework, a short-term prediction model of the convergent deformation of the shield tube section at this location is established. The results show that the model successfully predicts the convergence of the tunnel section in the next 10 days, and the prediction accuracy reaches 93.6 %. The short-term prediction of key sections and the near warning sections is realized, so as to prevent it in advance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orogenic architecture of the Altaids of Central Asia was created by multiple largescale slab roll-back and oroclinal bending. However, no regional structural deformation related to roll-back processes has been described. In this paper, we report a structural study of the Beishan orogenic collage in the southernmost Altaids, which is located in the southern wing of the Tuva-Mongol Orocline. Our new field mapping and structural analysis integrated with an electron backscatter diffraction study, paleontology, U-Pb dating, 39Ar-40Ar dating, together with published isotopic ages enables us to construct a detailed deformation-time sequence: During D1 times many thrusts were propagated northwards. In D2 there was ductile sinistral shearing at 336-326 Ma. In D3 times there was top-to-W/WNW ductile thrusting at 303-289 Ma. Two phases of folding were defined as D4 and D5. Three stages of extensional events (E1-E3) separately occurred during D1-D5. Two switches of the regional stress field were identified in the Carboniferous to Early Permian (D1-E1-D2-D3-E2) and Late Permian to Early Triassic (D4-E3-D5). These two switches in the stress field were associated with formation of bimodal volcanic rocks, and an extensional interarc basin with deposition of Permian-Triassic sediments, which can be related to two stages of roll-back of the subduction zone on the Paleo-Asian oceanic margin. We demonstrate for the first time that two key stress field switches were responses to the formation of the Tuva-Mongol Orocline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major environmental consequence of coal mining is anthropogenic land subsidence. In particular, mine subsidence can cause damage to public and private infrastructure such as railroads, roads, pipelines and buildings. What is more, it is an engineering problem which troubles engineering construction and safety. Ground surface deformation is related to the measure of mining and the deformation mechanism of overlying strata above the gob. In this paper, a physical and numerical model on the subsidence of longwall mining within a geotechnical setting is presented. The physical model is developed within the framework of physical similar law and geological model in Henan Province, China. The numerical solution is developed within continuum poromechanics and finite element setting. The law of overlying strata deformation is obtained according to physical model experiment and numerical simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water inrush at floor area is a natural hazard during coal mining. Especially in the northern coalfield of China, more than 55% of coal mines are threatened by water inrush at floor area. The hazard of water inrush is becoming more serious with increasing mining depth. In this paper, the deformation and failure behavior at floor area in deep longwall mining site were analyzed. The correlation between the floor failure and main roof breakage was studied using kinematics theory. Meanwhile, the impact loads of cantilever beam breakage on the floor area at both longwall face and gob area were calculated. Combining with "Pressure arch hypothesis", the compression and unloading mechanics processes at floor area were analyzed, and the unloading deformation model of floor structure after the breakage of main roof was established as well. In addition, the correlation between unloading deformation at floor area and the main roof breakage, mining depth and unloading stresses were also obtained. Finally, these studies have been verified by using micro-seismic monitoring data in deep longwall mining site. The results show that the impact loads are proportional to the span and loads of cantilever beam. After the breakage of cantilever beam, the impact loads were transferred to the floor area at longwall face side and gob side, and the rock masses at both sides were failed in compression. Consequently, the position of back arch foot of the pressure arch was rapidly transformed into the contact gangue zone at gob area from the last breakage position of main roof. While as the unloading stress of rock masses inside of the floor pressure arch is increasing, the depth of unloading fracture and heave below longwall face are greater than those before cantilever beam breakage. In addition, the unloading deformation at surface floor increases nonlinearly with the increase in mining depth and unloading stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In geotechnical engineering, a bedding slope often leads to geological disasters, particularly in the case of bedding-locked rock slopes. This study focuses on a typical bedding-locked rock slope in western Henan Province, China. The deformation and fault characteristics were examined through the development of laboratory analogue experiments which allowed for the analysis of the physical and mechanical properties of the rock slope when subjected to a load. The deformation and faulting mechanisms of the slope were studied through the application of different strength loads to the slope model, as well as through the combination of its physical properties. The deformation and fault process were then simulated through the application of numerical modeling. The results reveal that the upper part of the slope features a linear slip surface, while the lower part features a circular arc slip surface, resulting in "linear + circular arc" damage geometry and a relatively flat shear surface. Maximum and minimum lateral displacement occur around the top and the foot of the slope, respectively, leaving the intermediate values at the middle. The shear strength is greater at the locking section, with the highest value found at the foot of the slope, followed by the middle and the top. The evolution of slope deformation can be divided into three stages: the loose deformation stage at the slope top and back; the stage of crack development, extension, and interlayer misalignment; and the stage of complete through crack formation and complete instability damage of the slope. Thus, the process of the deformation and damage of a rocky slope under loading conditions can be described as follows: load-induced loosening and deformation at the top and back of the slope, crack development, expansion, and interlayer misalignment, as well as tension crack expansion at the foot of the slope. The latter can expand and intensify interlayer misalignment, leading to the destruction of the locking section and ultimately causing the destabilization of the entire slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strip filling mining in a goaf is of great significance for solving the 'three under' coal-pressure and mining-area ecological environment problems in Central and Eastern China, but the disturbance characteristics of filling parameters on overlying rock are not clear at present. Taking the geological conditions of the CT30101 working face in Mahuangliang coal mine and the short-wall interval strip filling as a background, the strength parameters (cohesion and friction angle), deformation parameters (elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio), and structural parameters (strip width and spacing) of the filling body were selected as experimental factors, and the maximum settlement of the direct roof and the ground surface was taken as the evaluation index. The influence degree of each factor was quantitatively characterized via a variance analysis and an F test, and the main control factors of the strip filling overburden settlement were proposed. The roof and surface displacement, the stress evolution law of the filling body, and the shape change of the surrounding rock plastic zone under different levels of main control factors in the entire process of mining filling coupling were analyzed in detail. The results showed that the cohesion of the backfill had a highly significant impact on the direct roof settlement, the strip spacing and the friction angle of backfill had a significant impact on it, the cohesion of the backfill and the strip spacing had a certain impact on the surface settlement, and the two had a cross-coupling effect. In the process of mining and filling, the stress evolution of the filling body was extremely complex, and it finally presented a saddle shape that was high on both sides and low in the middle; the majority of the strata and the filling body primarily exhibited shear damage, with a small amount of tensile failure zones appearing only in the direct roof and mid-section of the filling body. The above conclusions have a certain guiding significance for the optimal design of strip filling in a goaf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of weak surrounding rock, tunnels constructed in loose deposits are prone to collapse, and secondary linings commonly suffer excessive deformation. Therefore, it is important to select an appropriate excavation scheme, which will affect both tunnel construction safety and subsequent tunnel operations. This paper takes the Tingziba tunnel, a highway tunnel shallowly buried in loose deposits of diluvial and proluvial origin, as an example. During construction, this tunnel experienced many instances of vault collapse and advanced support destruction. Isotropically consolidated drained (CD) compression tests were carried out on reconstituted specimens to obtain the mechanical parameters of the loose deposits. Three-dimensional modeling was performed to simulate stress and deformation distributions in the tunnel after excavation by three different schemes, i.e., up and down bench tunneling, three-bench tunneling, and single-side heading tunneling. The comparative analysis results showed that single-side heading tunneling was more suitable for this tunnel and could both reduce vault displacement and constrain plastic zone development. The results should be significant for tunnel design and construction in similar geologic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel method for retrieving three-dimensional (3-D) displacement fields of mining areas from a single interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) pair. This method fully exploits the mechanism of mining subsidence, specifically the proportional relationship between the horizontal displacement and horizontal gradient of vertical displacements caused by underground mining. This method overcomes the limitations of conventional InSAR techniques that can only measure one-dimensional (1-D) deformation of mining area along the radar line-of-sight direction. The proposed method is first validated with simulated 3-D displacement fields, which are obtained by the FLAC $$^{\mathrm{3D}}$$ software. The root mean square errors of the 3-D displacements retrieved by the proposed method are 13.7, 27.6 and 3.6 mm for the West-East, North-South, and Up-Down components, respectively. We then apply the proposed method to estimate the 3-D displacements of the Qianyingzi and the Xuzhou coal mines in China, respectively, each along with two Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array Type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar images. Results show that the estimated 3-D displacement is highly consistent with that of the field surveying. This demonstrates that the proposed method is an effective approach for retrieving 3-D mining displacement fields and will play an important role in mining-related hazard prevention and environment assessment under limited InSAR acquisitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Splitting failure, which is recognized as a special engineering geology phenomenon, occurs continually in the brittle rock mass of caverns during underground excavation. In this paper, a splitting model of linear slippage crack groups is built with fracture mechanics, energy analysis, and crack extension theories. Considering intrinsic cracks in rock mass and change of outer stress, intrinsic cracks propagate into macroscopical splitting cracks that are approximately parallel to the side wall of caverns. The splitting criterion of cavern rock mass and the method for predicting displacement in view of splitting opening displacement are proposed. In the end, the forecasting method is applied to the Jinping-I Hydropower Station, underground caverns engineering in China, the splitting failure zone and forecasting displacement are accordant with the monitoring data. The new forecasting displacement method is proven to contribute to the construction of similar underground caverns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Coal Science & Technology (0253-2336) is the property of Coal Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Kepingtage fold-and-thrust belt in the southwestern Tian Shan in western China hosted the 2020 Mw 6.0 Jiashi earthquake with no apparent surface ruptures. The thrust nappe structure in this region is characterized by moderate-magnitude (Mw5.5-6.5) seismicity, but the seismogenic mechanisms and controlling factors remain under investigation. In this study, we utilized Sentinel-1A synthetic aperture radar satellite data to reconstruct the InSAR coseismic deformation field of the 2020 Jiashi earthquake. To address the limitation imposed by residual orbital phases during the interferometric measurement, we proposed a novel automatic method that combines ascending and descending track data with terrain features for orbit refinement. Eight comparative tests were conducted to prove the effectiveness of the proposed method. Subsequently, we inverted the jointly constrained deformation field after orbit correction to obtain the fault geometric parameters and slip distribution. Our results show that the 2020 Jiashi earthquake is characterized by right-lateral transpressive motion. The smooth interference fringes demonstrate spatially continuous surface uplift and subsidence without detectable coseismic surface ruptures, with a maximum uplift of ~0.08 m and a maximum subsidence of ~0.03 m, caused by the subsurface folding due to deep seismic rupture. This event is best fitted by a north-dipping fault plane with a depth of 4.2 km, a dip angle of 11.6°, and a strike of 276° beneath the Keping thrust fault. In terms of various geometric parameters of the fault, the inversion results of this study are generally similar to the focal mechanism solution provided by USGS (MWb), but are different from the focal mechanism solutions of other institutions and previous research results. Combined with the published geological investigations and seismic reflection surveys, we suggest that the seismogenic structure of the 2020 Jiashi earthquake is the lower ramp of the Keping thrust fault and the abrupt fault bend between the lower and upper ramp may limit the propagation of the coseismic rupture to the surface. The limited rupture of this event is dominated by the irregularities in fault geometry along strike and dip, as well as the lower rock strength of the cover above the detachment, which contribute to a deeper understanding of the seismic behavior in fold-and-thrust belts and the moderate-magnitude seismicity in the southwestern Tian Shan region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]