Search

In this study, the impact of principal stress states on the stress characteristics and initial failure of the rock mass surrounding a three-center arch opening was investigated using complex variable function methods and Discrete Element Method (DEM) numerical modeling. First, the mapping function of the opening was determined using the trigonometric interpolation method, and the influence of the number of terms in the mapping function on its accuracy was revealed. Based on this, the far-field stress state of the underground rock mass was characterized by the ratio of the minimum to maximum principal stress (λ) and the angle (β) between the principal stress and the vertical direction. This stress state was then converted into normal and shear stresses. Using complex variable function theory, the stress characteristics at the boundary of the opening under different stress states were analyzed. Finally, DEM numerical modeling was employed to study the initial failure characteristics at the boundary of the opening and its relationship with the stress distribution. The results indicate that the lateral pressure coefficient significantly affects the stability of the opening by influencing stress concentration around the surrounding rock. Low lateral pressure coefficients lead to tensile stress concentration at the boundary perpendicular to the maximum principal stress. As the coefficient increases, tensile stress decreases, and compressive stress areas expand. While the principal stress direction has a minor effect on stress concentration, it notably impacts stress distribution at the boundary. When λ < 1.0 and β = 45°, stress distribution asymmetry is most pronounced, with the highest compressive stress. The early failure distribution aligns with stress concentration areas, validating the use of stress analysis in predicting opening stability and failure characteristics.

Abstract Cut blasting, in which new surfaces and relief space for subsequent blasting are created, is one of the most critical steps in the establishment of large-diameter long-hole (LDL) stopes. To reduce the damage to the chamber roof caused by stemming recoil and improve the rock breaking effect, 15 groups of small-scale model tests with minimum burdens of 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 cm and stemming lengths of 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 cm were designed to optimize the matching relationship between the stemming length and minimum burden. First, through the model tests, values were obtained for ten evaluation indexes related to the total mass of fragments, crate size, fragment size, fragmentation energy consumption, and stemming recoil area. Then, the normal cloud combination weighting method was used to combine six subjective and objective weighting methods, and combined weights were obtained. Finally, the test schemes were optimized according to the Euclidean distance and similarity. The test results showed that the best blasting scheme involves a burden of 5 cm and a stemming length of 5 cm, followed by that involving a burden of 4 cm and a stemming length of 4 cm, and the optimal stemming length is approximately equal to the minimum burden. A field test of LDL stope cut blasting was conducted, with a stemming length of 2.2 m and a minimum burden of 2.2 m in the boreholes. The highly satisfactory field blasting effect indicates that the stemming length and minimum burden are reasonable.

IntroductionPerceived benefits are considered one of the significant factors affecting an individual’s decision-making process. Our study aimed to explore the influence mechanism of perceived benefits in the decision-making process of unsafe behaviors.MethodsOur study used the “One Stimulus-Two Key Choice (S-K1/K2)” paradigm to conduct an EEG experiment. Participants (N = 18) made decisions in risky scenarios under high perceived benefits (HPB), low perceived benefits (LPB), and control conditions (CC). Time domain analysis and time-frequency analysis were applied to the recorded EEG data to extract ERPs (event-related potentials) and EROs (event-related oscillations), which include the P3 component, theta oscillations, alpha oscillations, and beta oscillations.ResultsUnder the HPB condition, the theta power in the central (p = 0.016*) and occipital regions (p = 0.006**) was significantly decreased compared to the CC. Similarly, the alpha power in the frontal (p = 0.022*), central (p = 0.037*), and occipital regions (p = 0.014*) was significantly reduced compared to the CC. Under the LPB condition, theta power in the frontal (p = 0.026*), central (p = 0.028*), and occipital regions (p = 0.010*) was significantly reduced compared to the CC. Conversely, alpha power in the frontal (p = 0.009**), central (p = 0.012*), and occipital regions (p = 0.040*) was significantly increased compared to the HPB condition.DiscussionThe high perceived benefits may reduce individuals’ internal attention and evoke individuals’ positive emotions and motivation, leading individuals to underestimate risks. Consequently, they exhibited a greater inclination toward unsafe behaviors. However, the low perceived benefits may reduce individuals’ memory review, resulting in a simple decision-making process, and they are more inclined to make fast decisions to avoid loss. The research results can help to provide targeted intervention measures, which are beneficial to reducing workers’ unsafe behaviors.

Surface ground motion produced by underground blasts is significantly influenced by near-surface geological conditions. However, near-surface low-propagation velocity layers were always ignored in past analyses of ground motions due to their thin thickness. With the rising concern about surface ground motions produced by the ascendant scale and frequentness of underground excavation and mining, close attention is gradually paid to ground blast vibrations. Therefore, systemic experiments were conducted and took seven months in an underground mine to clarify the variation of motion from underground rock to surface ground. The attenuation of surface ground peak particle velocities (PPVs) is compared to that in underground rock, and horizontal amplitudes are compared to vertical amplitudes. Differences between bedrock and surface ground vibrations are analyzed to illustrate the site effect of near-surface lower-propagation velocity layers. One-dimensional site response analysis is employed to quantify the influence of different geological profiles on surface ground vibrations. The experimental data and site response analysis allowed the following conclusions: (1) geological site effects mainly produce decreasing dominant frequency (DF) of surface ground vibrations; (2) the site amplification effect of blast vibration needs to be characterized by peak particle displacement (PPD); (3) shear waves (S-waves) begin to dominate and surface Rayleigh waves (R-waves) develop as blast-induced ground vibrations travel upward through rock and lower-velocity layers to the surface. The comparison of response relative displacement to a critical value is best to assess the potential for cracking on surface structures.

Mining activities tend to generate various waste including tailings, waste water and waste rock. Efficient management and disposal of these waste materials are critical to minimize their environmental impact and ensure the sustainable operation of mining activities. A huge number of tailings are produced all around the world each year. Generally, part of the tailings is used for underground backfilling and another part is discharged to the tailings dam. The former can provide underground support while the latter tends to cause some environmental problems because the tailings are generally mixed with some chemicals. Regarding this, enhancing the circular use of tailings is crucial to guarantee the sustainable mining engineering. In this study, the feasibility of using fine-grained tailings to make non-burning hollow bricks for underground windbreaks is investigated. A two-stage experiment was implemented where the first stage experiment indicated the threshold of water content, the ratio of cement and tailings and the ratio of fine-grained and rod-mill tailings. In addition, it can be indicated that the addition of polyethylene fibers would increase the compressive strength of hollow bricks in some extent. The second-stage experiment was conducted with no rod-mill tailing added and it can be found that when the ratio of cement and tailings is equal or higher than 1:6, fiber content is more significant in improving brick strength but when this value is lower, the ratio of cement is more important than fiber factors. When the ratio of cement and fine-grained tailings is 1:8 with 0.5 g/kg and 12 mm polypropylene fiber added, the hollow brick is capable of achieving strength of 1.4 MPa for 28 days curation with the price of 0.50 RMB/block. This proportioning scheme is the least expensive while meeting the strength of the windbreak wall for the Fan Kou lead–zinc mine. Finally, it can be indicated that the usage of fine-grained tailings to make underground windbreak wall is feasible and thus provide a new scenario to circular usage of tailings. In addition, other proportioning schemes proposed in this study perhaps can meet more engineering requirements so as to provide more alternatives for circular use of tailings.

At present, the research of safety science discipline is limited to the level of describing psychology and behaviors, because the cognitive neural mechanisms behind them are unknown. This paper introduces an emerging interdiscipline, namely neuro-safety science, which uses the neuroscientific methods to investigate the neural systems behind safely relevant behaviors. Qualitative methods such as literature review method and theoretical model construction method were adopted for this study. Based on the background of neuro-safety science, the definition of neuro-safety science was defined, its connotation was analyzed, and the research contents from two aspects of theoretical research and practical application research were proposed. Methodology system including research principles, research routes, research procedure and research methods, and the paradigm system of neuro-safety science were put forward. At last, the application research on neuro-safety science was forecasted. This paper opens up a new research perspective for the research of safety science, and provide guidance and reference to develop neuro-safety science.

Abstract Arrhythmias are perceived as a complication of pituitrin. However, injecting a standard dose of pituitrin via vein causes different arrhythmias. In our case, a 35‐year‐old female patient was admitted to the hospital due to a productive cough with sputum for 5 days and two occasions of massive hemoptysis. After 1 day of treatment using 500 ml normal saline with 10u pituitrin, the sputum was filled with small amounts of kermesinus bloodstains. When pituitrin was stopped without any other treatment, all presenting symptoms gradually subsided after half an hour, and the ECG returned to normal. Therefore, when treating massive hemoptysis by administering pituitrin intravenously, it is necessary to exercise great precaution and therapeutic measures.

The stability of cemented paste backfill (CPB) is threatened by dynamic disturbance, but the conventional low strain rate laboratory pressure test has difficulty achieving this research purpose. Therefore, a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) was utilized to investigate the high strain rate compressive behavior of CPB with dynamic loads of 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 MPa. And the failure modes were determined by macro and micro analysis. CPB with different cement-to-tailings ratios, solid mass concentrations, and curing ages was prepared to conduct the SHPB test. The results showed that increasing the cement content, tailings content, and curing age can improve the dynamic compressive strength and elastic modulus. Under an impact load, a higher strain rate can lead to larger increasing times of the dynamic compressive strength when compared with static loading. And the dynamic compressive strength of CPB has an exponential correlation with the strain rate. The macroscopic failure modes indicated that CPB is more seriously damaged under dynamic loading. The local damage was enhanced, and fine cracks were formed in the interior of the CPB. This is because the CPB cannot dissipate the energy of the high strain rate stress wave in a short loading period.

Incidental emotions would lead to accidents by influencing risk perception. However, few works of research further studied how incidental emotions affect risk perception at the neurological level. Before the experimental task, we used video clips for emotion elicitation. Then, the event-related potential (ERP) technique was used to obtain data on the risk perception process. The results showed that: compared to neutral emotion, the participants’ average reaction time was significantly shorter in positive and negative incidental emotion. Under negative incidental emotion, individuals overestimated risk and had a more significant deviation in risk perception; the amplitude of P2 and N2 components increased, and the amplitude of LPP component decreased under negative incidental emotion. Under positive incidental emotion, individuals’ correct-response rate was higher. These findings indicated that incidental emotions affected the mid-term risk analysis stage and the late risk judgment stage of risk perception. In the mid-term risk analysis stage, individuals processed high-risk information with a negativity bias which led to stronger cognitive conflict, while individuals assessed risks more accurately due to a larger attentional span under positive incidental emotions. In the late risk judgment stage, individuals under negative incidental emotion devoted few attentional resources to risk information which led to a risk judgment deviation. In contrast, individuals had a more detailed cognitive process of risk information under positive incidental emotion. On these bases, this paper confirmed the influence of incidental emotions on risk perception and established an emotional information-processing model. This study provided a reference for emotional interventions to facilitate accident prevention.

This study aims to investigate the fracturing characteristics of double-hole blasting under the action of coupled static stress and delayed time explosion. A total of thirteen explosive tests were carried out on rectangular concrete blocks with different constraints. The test blocks were wrapped in steel mesh in the test bed to prevent flying away of the cracked blocks after blasting. After blasting, the surface area of the crater was measured, and all pieces of the cracked blocks were collected, screened, and analyzed. The experimental results show that (1) the shape of free-surface craters was affected by static stress. The surface area and overall volume of the craters increased in the direction of loading stress. (2) The crater under simultaneous initiation was larger than that under delayed initiation when the tested block had a single free surface. (3) The fragmentation of blasting is closely related to the static confining pressure and delay initiation applied on the tested specimens. It is believed that this research will contribute to the design of multi-hole blasting in the deep geological body in the respect of the theoretical analysis.

To solve the problems of high cement dosage and poor fluidity of conventional cemented paste backfill (CPB) materials, the fluidity and strength properties of foam-cemented paste backfill (FCPB) were studied in combination. Based on determining the optimum contents of a foaming agent and a foam stabilizer, FCPB density was measured. To investigate the fluidity and strength of FCPB under different foam contents (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, and 40%), different solid contents (75 wt.% and 77 wt.%), and different cement-tailing ratios (1:4 and 1:5), spread tests and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were conducted. In addition, the FCPB microstructure was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that the optimum combination dosages of sodium lauryl sulfate (K12) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) are 0.5 g/L and 0.2 g/L. The density decreases with the foam content (FC), but the fluidity and strength of the FCPB increase first and then decrease with the FC. In addition, the microstructure analysis explains the enhanced strength of FCPB by adding foam. These results contribute to further understanding the effect of foam content on the fluidity and strength of the FCPB.

Tailings were used to prepare cemented paste backfill (CPB) reinforced with polypropylene (PP) fiber, and fiber content and fiber length were 0-20 % and 3-12 mm, respectively. The Brazilian indirect tensile strength tests, macrostructural and microstructural (SEM) failure mode analyses and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tests were performed. The results demonstrate that PP fiber with high tensile strength can substantially enhance the tensile strength and ductility of CPB specimens. The fiber-reinforced CPB exhibits superior performance during the pre-peak and post-peak stages and can retain its residual strength after being broken. The fiber-reinforced CPB provided a higher secant Young's modulus and strain at peak stress than that of the unreinforced CPB. From the failure mode analysis, fiber was used to bridge the CPB microelements and combine these effectively with calcium silicate hydrate gelling. The governing failure mode of fiber is pulled out or pull off, through which fiber absorbs the tensile stress and energy. However, fiber is also believed to have confusion distribution in CPB because fiber cannot reach their full strain capacity, especially at the later curing stage. And the weak structural layers in the CPB can also be formed, and the higher tensile strength is not achieved with the additional fiber content or longer fiber length. The optimal fiber content in this study is recommended to be 0.15 %, and it's better to choose 6 or 9 mm fiber. Moreover, fiber can reduce the original porosity by 10.72 %, but only has a slight influence on the pore size. The decrease in porosity helps increase the tensile strength of the fiber-reinforced CPB.

Based on recent literary sources, this survey discusses the effects of main factors influencing the microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), including the bacterial species, bacterial concentration, temperature, and pH value. While the MICP technology has been widely adopted to improve rock and soil characteristics, it has excellent development prospects in many other fields. The breakthrough solutions in the MICP technology are improving geotechnical and foundation sand properties, repairing cement-based materials, using mineralized film mulching to protect cultural relics, enhancing properties of tailings, desert control, and heavy metal environmental restoration, etc., are discussed. The experimental findings prove that MICP can improve the strength, stiffness, liquefaction resistance, erosion resistance, and permeability of geotechnical materials and maintain the good permeability and permeability of the soil and improve the growth environment of plants. It is an environment-friendly bioengineering technology. Because microbial mineralization involves a series of biochemical and ionic chemical reactions, there are many reaction steps in the solidification process and the solidification effect of MICP is restricted and affected by many factors. The comprehensive analysis and optimization strategy on MICP industrial implementation should account for micro- and macro-scale effects: the type of bacteria, the concentration of bacteria and cementation solutions, ambient temperature, pH value, and other factors directly affect the crystallization type, morphology, and size of calcium carbonate from the microscopic standpoint, while the macro-scale factors control the rock and soil mineralization. The limitations and prospects of the MICP technology are outlined.

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the stress distribution and stability analysis of a uniquely shaped roadway having a steeply dipping hard roof. The coal seam and its roof have a certain impact tendency, which is the internal condition of rock burst. The syncline tectonic stress causes the original rock stress to reach a higher level. The large amount of coal produced in the coal mine and the large movement range of the upper strata cause the huge mining additional stress around the stope. The impact load caused by “cantilever beam” fracture of hard roof can induce and strengthen rock burst. Its engineering geological setting encompasses the mining process and surrounding rock conditions of No. 6 Coal Seam in the 2130 coal mine of Xinjiang. Numerical simulations with theoretical analysis and field measurements investigated a proposed new truss combined support scheme for implementation. A comparison was made of the differences in the state parameters of the road under the new and old support conditions. The application of the new combined support technology changed the form of the stress distribution around the road. Apart from the displacements of the two coal sidewalls, the new support system notably reduced the displacement of roof and floor by 67.8% and 83.6%, respectively. After the implementation of the new support scheme, the frequency of the original rock burst in the working face is greatly reduced, the surrounding rock control and field application effects also remained good, and personnel and equipment safety and production plan have a good guarantee.

It is important and difficult to improve the tensile strength of backfill material to ensure the stability of goafs. In this study, rice straw (RS) in fiber form is used to improve the tensile properties of cemented paste backfill (CPB). An orthogonal experiment was designed, Brazilian indirect tensile strength tests were conducted to test the tensile performance of RS fiber-reinforced cemented paste backfill (RSCPB) under different fiber content (1, 2, 3 kg/m3) and fiber length (0.8~1, 1~3, 3~5 cm), and the microstructure of RSCPB was analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that, compared with the conventional cemented paste backfill (CCPB), the increase in tensile strength of RSCPB ranged from 115.38% to 300.00% at 3 days curing age, 40.91% to 346.15% at 7 days, and −38.10% to 28.00% at 28 days, and the strain was slightly reduced during the curing period. The tensile strength, strain, and percentage increase of the RSCPB compared to the CCBP did not show a monotonic pattern of variation with the RS fiber content and length during the curing period. The RSCPB samples fractured under peak stress, showing obvious brittle failure. In addition, sulfate generated from S2− in the tailings inhibits the hydration reaction, and generates swelling products that form weak structural surfaces, which, in turn, lead to a 28-day tensile strength and strain of RSCPB lower than those at 7 days.

To reduce the workload and misjudgment of manually discriminating microseismic events and blasts in mines, an artificial intelligence model called PSO-ELM, based on the extreme learning machine (ELM) optimized by the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, was applied in this study. Firstly, based on the difference between microseismic events and mine blasts and previous research results, 22 seismic parameters were selected as the discrimination feature parameters and their correlation was analyzed. Secondly, 1600 events were randomly selected from the database of the microseismic monitoring system in Fankou Lead-Zinc Mine to form a sample dataset. Then, the optimal discrimination model was established by investigating the model parameters. Finally, the performance of the model was tested using the sample dataset, and it was compared with the performance of the original ELM model and other commonly used intelligent discrimination models. The results indicate that the discrimination performance of PSO-ELM is the best. The values of the six evaluation indicators are close to the optimal value, which shows that PSO-ELM has great potential for discriminating microseismic events and blasts. The research results obtained can provide a new method for discriminating microseismic events and blasts, and it is of great significance to ensure the safe and smooth operation of mines.

A 3D numerical model was presented to investigate the blast-induced damage characteristics of highly stressed rock mass. The RHT (Riedel, Hiermaier, and Thoma) model in LS-DYNA was used to simulate the blast-induced damage and its parameters were calibrated by a physical model test. Based on the calibrated numerical model, the influences of confining pressure and free surface span on the blast-induced damage characteristics were investigated. The results show that under uniaxial loading, the crater volume increases with confining pressure increases. The uniaxial static load can change the optimal burden and the critical embedding depth of charge. In stressed rock, the variation law of the crater shape affected by radial tensile fractures is opposite to that affected by reflected tensile fractures. Under the biaxial static load, the crater volume of the borehole placed on the side of the max static load is greater than the other side. The explosion crater can be improved by increasing the free surface span on the same side. Finally, it is suggested that the blasting efficiency can be improved by preferentially detonating the charge on the side of the max static load, and then the charge on the other side can be detonated with a wider free surface span.

It is essential to control the damage to the surrounding rock and engineering structures in the process of cut blasting with a single free surface in underground mining. To reduce vibration induced by cut blasting, this paper proposes short-delay cut blasting, in which blast holes that are near each other are sequentially initiated with short-delay times. Experimental tests of cut blasting were conducted in a roadway in the Shaxi copper mine to compare the peak particle velocity (PPV) and frequency characteristics of simultaneous blasting and short-delay blasting. Numerical modelling was then developed to study the influence of short-delay times on blast vibration. The accuracy of the numerical simulation was verified by the comparison of the test and simulated data of single-hole blasting. The results show that the amplitude reduction ratio (ARR) value increases gradually with the increase in delay intervals, and the vibration reduction for delay intervals smaller than 6 ms is very limited, particularly in the near field. The principal frequencies (PFs) for short-delay blasting are similar to those for simultaneous blasting, which implies that the frequencies do not increase directly with the decrease of the delay intervals. The experimental tests also show that the mean frequencies (MFs) for the 8 ms delay are slightly higher than those for the 0 ms delay blast. In the case of ensuring the rock breaking of cut blasting, longer delay intervals of 8∼10 ms are beneficial to further reduce PPV in practical blasting.

A simple and accurate evaluation method of broken rock zone thickness (BRZT), which is usually used to describe the broken rock zone (BRZ), is meaningful, due to its ability to provide a reference for the roadway stability evaluation and support design. To create a relationship between various geological variables and the broken rock zone thickness (BRZT), the multiple linear regression (MLR), artificial neural network (ANN), Gaussian process (GP) and particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO)-GP method were utilized, and the corresponding intelligence models were developed based on the database collected from various mines in China. Four variables including embedding depth (ED), drift span (DS), surrounding rock mass strength (RMS) and joint index (JI) were selected to train the intelligence model, while broken rock zone thickness (BRZT) is chosen as the output variable, and the k-fold cross-validation method was applied in the training process. After training, three validation metrics including variance account for (VAF), determination coefficient (R2) and root mean squared error (RMSE) were applied to describe the predictive performance of these developed models. After comparing performance based on a ranking method, the obtained results show that the PSO-GP model provides the best predictive performance in estimating broken rock zone thickness (BRZT). In addition, the sensitive effect of collected variables on broken rock zone thickness (BRZT) can be listed as JI, ED, DS and RMS, and JI was found to be the most sensitive factor.

Most mines choose the drilling and blasting method which has the characteristics of being a cheap and efficient method to fragment rock mass, but blast-induced ground vibration damages the surrounding rock mass and structure and is a drawback. To predict, analyze and control the blast-induced ground vibration, the random forest (RF) model, Harris hawks optimization (HHO) algorithm and Monte Carlo simulation approach were utilized. A database consisting of 137 datasets was collected at different locations around the Tonglvshan open-cast mine, China. Seven variables were selected and collected as the input variables, and peak particle velocity was chosen as the output variable. At first, an RF model and a hybrid model, namely a HHO-RF model, were developed, and the prediction results checked by 3 performance indices to show that the proposed HHO-RF model can provide higher prediction performance. Then blast-induced ground vibration was simulated by using the Monte Carlo simulation approach and the developed HHO-RF model. After analyzing, the mean peak particle velocity value was 0.98 cm/s, and the peak particle velocity value did not exceed 1.95 cm/s with a probability of 90%. The research results of this study provided a simple, accurate method and basis for predicting, evaluating blast-induced ground vibration and optimizing the blast design before blast operation.

This experimental investigation was conducted to research the properties of polypropylene (PP) fiber-reinforced cemented paste backfill (CPB). The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the fiber-reinforced CPB showed a significant improvement with average UCS increase ratios of 141.07%, 57.62% and 63.17% at 3, 7 and 28 days, respectively. The macroscopic failure mode and SEM analysis indicated that fibers prevented the formation of large tensile and shear cracks during the pull-out and pull-off failure modes. A linear fitting function for the UCS at a curing time of 3 days and two polynomial fitting functions for the UCS at curing times of 7 and 28 days were established to characterize the relationship between the UCS of the fiber-reinforced and unreinforced CPB. Moreover, based on composite mechanics, nonlinear models related to the UCS and fiber reinforcement index were obtained. The estimated functions containing the fiber reinforcement index λ, which consists of the fiber content and aspect ratio of fiber, could evaluate the UCS. Furthermore, the fiber reinforcement index λ quantifies the enhancement by the fibers. Both estimation results indicated that the UCS values were estimated accurately at curing times of 3, 7 and 28 days in this study. Additionally, the estimation models could be used to guide the strength design of fiber-reinforced CPB. Besides this, the results showed that fiber-reinforced CPB can be used more widely in mine backfills and meets the requirements of controlled low-strength material (CLSM) for broader applications.

Top stemming is necessary to stop the explosive energy from escaping through the upper part of blast-holes in cutting blasts of large-diameter deep-hole blasting in underground mines. The often-used single soil stemming frequently leads to material clogging which results in reduction of blasting efficiency. In this paper, a new water-soil composite stemming is proposed to solve the problem. A series of small-scale tests were conducted on solid concrete masonry blocks to investigate the effect of top stemming material and stemming length on blasting performance. The experimental results indicated that water stemming was worse at improving the utilization rate of the explosion energy compared with single soil stemming of the same length. Further, the mean fragment size decreased with the increase of stemming length for single water stemming. Three schemes of water-soil composite stemming were designed and the scheme with soil in the lower part and water filled in bags in the higher part had the best fragmentation. The water-soil composite stemming was applied in underground stopes, and field results indicated that the newly proposed stemming led to similar rock fragmentation with traditional single soil stemming, but greatly reduced the clogged blast hole ratio, thus effectively improving blasting and mining efficiency.

It is generally believed that stress wave superposition does occur and plays an important role in cutting blasting with a single free surface, in which explosive columns of several blast holes with short spacing are simultaneously initiated. However, considering the large scatter of pyrotechnic delay detonators that are used in most underground metal mines in China, the existence of stress wave superposition and the influence of this effect on rock fragmentation are questionable. In the present study, the stress wave interaction in short-delay blasting with a single free surface was studied through the use of the LS-DYNA code. Stress waves induced by two blast holes blasting with different delays were compared with the single blast hole case, and the effects of delay time, detonating location and spacing on stress wave superposition were investigated. The numerical results showed that for blast holes with a 1 m spacing, stress wave interaction only occurs when the delay time is 0 ms and does not occur for blasting with delays of more than 1 ms. An increase in the duration of a stress wave via optimizing the detonation location does not improve the stress wave interaction. For a 1 ms delay, stress wave superposition only occurs when the spacing is more than 4 m, which is a rare case in practice. The results indicated that the occurrence of stress wave superposition for blasting with a single free surface is strictly limited to conditions that would be difficult to achieve under the existing delay accuracy of detonators. Therefore, it is unrealistic to improve fragmentation via the stress wave interaction in field blasting. Furthermore, the numerical results of the stress wave interaction also show that there would be a great potential to reduce the hazardous vibrations induced by short-delay blasting by using electronic detonators with better control of delays in an order of several milliseconds.

Ground vibrations originating from bench blasting may cause damage to slopes, structures, and underground workings in close proximity to an operating open-pit mine. It is important to monitor and predict ground vibration levels induced by blasting and to take measures to reduce their hazardous effects. The aims of this paper are to determine the weaker protection objects by comparatively studying bench blasting induced vibrations obtained at surface and in an underground tunnel in an open-pit mine and thus to seek vibration control methods to protect engineering objects at the site. Vibrations arising from measurement devices at surface and in an underground tunnel at the Zijinshan Open-Pit Mine were obtained. Comparative analysis of the peak particle velocities shows that, in the greatest majority of cases, surface values are higher than underground values for the same vibration distance. The transmission laws of surface and underground vibrations were established depending on the type of rock mass, the explosive charge, and the distance. Compared with the Chinese Safety Regulations for Blasting (GB6722-2014), the bench blasting induced vibrations would not currently cause damage to the underground tunnel. According to the maximum allowable peak particle velocities for different objects, the permitted maximum charges per delay are obtained to reduce damage to these objects at different distances.

A three-dimensional backfill pipeline transport model is developed using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique, which is applied to study the pipeline transport properties of three-phase foam slurry backfill (TFSB). Based on rheological property tests and CFD simulations, the foam phase, pressure, and velocity in the pipeline system are investigated using the CFD mixture method for different bubble volume fractions and bubble diameters. The simulation results indicate that TFSB can maintain a steady state during pipeline transport, experience a markedly reduced pipeline transport resistance, and exhibit better liquidity than conventional cement slurry. Furthermore, as the bubble volume fraction increases, the resistance of the pipeline decreases and the fluidity improves. By contrast, the bubble diameter has little effect on the transport properties of TFSB. The combined results of CFD simulations, slump tests, and strength tests indicate that, when the bubble volume fraction is 15–20 vol %, TFSB can satisfy the necessary strength requirements and exhibit self-flowing transport. The CFD technique provides an intuitive and accurate basis for pipeline transport research and has the potential for wider application in studies of mine backfill.

Deep underground mines are highly energy consuming due to the need to overcome the growing airflow resistance. The multi-fan station ventilation system (MFSVS), formed by several parallel fans at different locations in an underground mine generally, has greatly reduced energy costs by using high-quantity and low-pressure energy-saving fans. However, experimental data still indicates that 30–70% of the fan pressure is used to overcome the severe shock losses in a parallel fan station (PFS), in spite of more than 80% operating efficiency, and the shock losses greatly weaken the superiority and the service capacity of PFS. Based on the investigation and measured data of several PFSs in a MFSVS in an underground mine, a three-dimensional PFS model was developed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to demonstrate airflow performance and variation characteristics of velocity, pressure and turbulence. First, the fan characteristic in the PFS was discussed and compared with the fan operating performance under standard conditions; the shock losses were then presented from both sides of the inlet shock losses and the outlet shock losses in the PFS; meanwhile, the effects of blade angle variation and airflow mutual interference were conducted to determine whether they exert a significant influence on the shock losses. The results show that the shock losses are primarily generated in the range of 0 to 3.0 m from the fans’ exits, due to the intensely change in air velocity in the PFS. The study also provides several directions and references for recovering air pressure and reducing energy consumption in the parallel fans’ structure.

Large amounts of leaching residue are released into tailings dams from mines, and their acid content can cause environmental pollution. The aim of this study was to research the feasibility and value of a leaching residue backfill recycling method. The combination of property detection, laboratory tests (the neutralization method, strength test and diffusivity test) and numerical simulation methods (3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of pipeline transportation properties) were used to assess the performance of the leaching residue backfill. The results show that backfill body with the cement:sand mass ratio of 1:3, the leaching residue:classified tailings ratio of 1:6, and slurry mass concentration of 71 wt % can meet the strength and pipeline self-flowing transportation requirements of mine backfill. The leaching residue is a good backfill aggregate, and its recovery ratio can reach 19.5 wt %. In addition, the recycling of leaching residue effectively alleviates the problem of mine waste emissions and protects the ecological environment surrounding the mining area. This study serves as a guide for the recycling of fine tailings and the environmental governance of the mining area.