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In this study, a novel microwave-water cooling-assisted mechanical rock breakage method was proposed to address the issues of severe tool wear at elevated temperatures, poor rock microwave absorption, and excessive microwave energy consumption. The investigation object was sandstone, which was irradiated at 4 kW microwave power for 60 s, 180 s, 300 s, and 420 s, followed by air and water cooling. Subsequently, uniaxial compression, Brazilian tension, and fracture tests were conducted. The evolution of damage in sandstone was measured using active and passive nondestructive acoustic detection methods. The roughness of the fracture surfaces of the specimens was quantified using the box-counting method. The damage mechanisms of microwave heating and water cooling on sandstone were discussed from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives. The experimental results demonstrated that as the duration of the microwave irradiation increased, the P-wave velocity, uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), elastic modulus (E), tensile strength, and fracture toughness of sandstone exhibited various degrees of weakness and were further weakened by water cooling. Furthermore, an increase in the microwave irradiation duration enhanced the damaging effect of water cooling. The P-wave velocity of the sandstone was proportional to the mechanical parameters. Microwave heating and water cooling weakened the brittleness of the sandstone to a certain extent. The fractal dimension of the fracture surface was correlated with the duration of microwave heating, and the water-cooling treatment resulted in a rougher fracture surface. An analysis of the instantaneous cutting rate revealed that water cooling can substantially enhance the efficiency of microwave-assisted rock breakage.

Fly ash exhibits volcanic ash activity and can be utilized as a cementitious material to reduce filling costs. The limited flow characteristics of mine solid waste filling slurry can impact backfill efficiency. Instead of using a large amount of cement, we employ fly ash as a cementing material to prepare filling slurries with varying air-entraining agent dosages. The results indicate that as the air-entraining agent dosage increases from 0 to 8%, the fluidity of the filling slurry improves, and the strength increases within the first 5 days of curing. The strength of the filling increases initially from 5 to 28 days of curing with the increase in air-entraining agent dosage, reaching a peak at 4% dosage, with an 11.35% higher strength compared to the filling body without the air-entraining agent. The microscopic pore structure and hydration product analysis reveal that introducing an appropriate amount of bubbles results in an even distribution of cementitious material and aggregates, improving fluidity and strength. However, excessive addition of air-entraining agents inhibits the growth of C–S–H and the filling ability of AFt for primary pores, ultimately impacting the long-term strength growth of the filling body.

The situation of coal as the stabilizer guarantee the energy safety in China cannot be changed in the short term, and it will continue to face the problems of coal resource protection and the low utilization rate of coal-based solid waste. Through innovative mining methods, improving the recovery rate of coal resources and the large-scale disposal of coal-based solid waste, a new path is being paved for the green and sustainable development of the coal industry. Based on the in-depth research on the development status of coal mining technology, a new roadway excavation method of “excavation-backfill-retention” is proposed. This paper systematically discusses the scientific problems and key technologies of the “excavation-backfill-retention” construction method from three aspects: rapid excavation, continuous and efficient backfilling and safe construction of large-section roadways. The research results show that ① aiming at the engineering problems such as the fast excavation of large section roadway and the stability control of surrounding rock of heading face, three scientific problems are summarized: the matching mechanism between coal and rock characteristics and cutting parameters of roadway boring machine, the spatial transfer mechanism of overburden load and the deformation mechanism of surrounding rock, the interaction relationship between anchor/cable roof and support mechanism. The technology system has been built, which is based on the real-time sensing of the geological environment in the excavation area, the intelligent cooperative operation of the multi-process of falling, loading and transporting coal, the aging control of surrounding rock of the drilling anchor support together with excavation, the anti-leakage and ventilation optimization of the large section roadway. ② The scientific problems of continuous and efficient backfilling are summarized from the two aspects of timely construction of large section roadway bearing system and its bearing performance regulation, including the co-bearing mechanism of background coal anchor/cable, the hydration consolidation mechanism of multi-component solid waste base backfill materials, and the space-time evolution law of physical and mechanical characteristics of backfill are clarified. A continuous and efficient backfill key technology system with the core of safe and efficient backfill space construction, backfill material performance control and backfill material flow-consolidation perception has been established. The breakthrough of relevant theories and technologies can provide a theoretical basis for raw material selection and ratio design of backfill materials, additive development/selection and working performance control, excavation rate and backfill step optimization design, consolidation monitoring of backfill body, etc. ③ Based on the key problems of roadway safety and surrounding rock easy to break, sheet and damage in the whole life cycle, the paper elaborates three scientific problems: the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of stress field of roadway surrounding rock, the evolution mechanism of roadway deformation and damage, the engineering quality monitoring and stability regulation theory of roadway surrounding rock. The key technology system is formed with the intelligent stability warning of the rock surrounding the roadway and the deformation control of the rock surrounding the roadway as the core. It is of great significance to conduct the scientific research and technical demonstration of the “excavation-backfill-retention” construction method in coal mines, and to realize the synergy of large-scale solid waste disposal, efficient coal pillar section recovery and rapid roadway excavation, which can promote the green and low-carbon transformation and development of the coal industry.

In the engineering practices, it is increasingly common to encounter fractured rocks perturbed by temperatures and frequent dynamic loads. In this paper, the dynamic behaviors and fracture characteristics of red sandstone considering temperatures (25 °C, 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C) and fissure angles (0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°) were evaluated under constant-amplitude and low-cycle (CALC) impacts actuated by a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system. Subsequently, fracture morphology and second-order statistics within the grey-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Meanwhile, the deep analysis and discussion of the mechanical response were conducted through the synchronous thermal analyzer (STA) test, numerical simulations, one-dimensional stress wave theory, and material structure. The multiple regression models between response variables and interactive effects of independent variables were established using the response surface method (RSM). The results demonstrate the fatigue strength and life diminish as temperatures rise and increase with increasing fissure angles, while the strain rate exhibits an inverse behavior. Furthermore, the peak stress intensification and strain rate softening observed during CALC impact exhibit greater prominence at increased fissure angles. The failure is dominated by tensile damage with concise evolution paths and intergranular cracks as well as the compressor-crushed zone which may affect the failure mode after 400 °C. The second-order statistics of GLCM in SEM images exhibit a considerable dependence on the temperatures. Also, thermal damage dominated by thermal properties controls the material structure and wave impedance and eventually affects the incident wave intensity. The tensile wave reflected from the fissure surface is the inherent mechanism responsible for the angle effect exhibited by the fatigue strength and life. Ultimately, the peak stress intensification and strain rate softening during impact are determined by both the material structure and compaction governed by thermal damage and tensile wave.

Ultrasonic velocity field imaging offers a robust tool for characterizing and analyzing damage and its evolution within fractured rock masses. The combined application of ultrasonic first arrival waves and coda waves can significantly enhance the accuracy and range of velocity field imaging. This manuscript introduces an improved imaging method that integrates the propagation probability distribution of the first arrival and coda waves to calculate the velocity field. The proposed method was applied to the velocity field imaging of a medium with multiple scatterers and varying degrees of fracturing. The overall error and calculation unit error of the proposed method were analyzed, and its improvement in calculation accuracy and applicable scope was verified. Additionally, this method was employed to image the velocity field during the damage process of fractured rock masses. The imaging results were compared against digital speckle patterns to confirm the method’s suitability. Finally, we discussed the impact of measurement errors and sensor missing on the accuracy of the computational outcomes presented in this method. These two situations will affect the calculation results, and the influence of reducing the number of sensors is smaller than that of measuring time shifts with error.

In response to the challenge posed by the limited capacity of postmining paste and original waste filling mining technology for small-scale waste rock treatment, which is incompatible with the requirements of modern high-yield mines producing millions of tons, fluidized filling mining technology in goaf presents a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution. This innovative method effectively addresses the balance between mining and filling operations while enabling large-scale waste rock management in coal mines. This article presents a model for predicting the spatial morphology of goaf and employs theoretical calculations to determine the residual space left after goaf caving. It unveils the fluidization filling approach for goaf caving, utilizing a “high- and low-level collaborative filling” strategy and taking advantage of various types of residual spaces within cavities and voids. Experimental investigations into gangue slurry diffusion in the goaf reveal insights into its diffusion patterns along three directions: horizontal, inclined, and vertical. The analysis also establishes correlations between porosity, space utilization rate, and the Talbol index. Furthermore, the research identifies the flow characteristics of fluidized filling slurry as consistent with the Bingham fluid behavior. A calculation formula for determining the diffusion radius of the filling slurry within cracks is provided. The study highlights four distinct flow stages in the process: stable laminar diffusion, transition from advection to turbulence, turbulence, and stoppage. To validate these findings, COMSOL simulation software is employed to simulate and analyze the diffusion patterns of gangue slurry within the goaf. The research outcomes offer valuable theoretical insights into the postgangue fluidization goaf filling technology and serve as a technical reference for the design of coal-based solid waste fluidization filling processes.

Real-time evaluation of the damage location and level of rock mass is essential for preventing underground engineering disasters. However, the heterogeneity of rock mass, which results from the presence of layered rock media, faults, and pores, makes it difficult to characterize the damage evolution accurately in real time. To address this issue, an improved method for rock damage characterization is proposed. This method optimizes the solution of the global shortest acoustic wave propagation path in the medium and verifies it with layered and defective media models. Based on this, the relationship between the inversion results of the wave velocity field and the distribution of rock damage is established, thereby achieving quantitative characterization of rock damage distribution and degree. Thus, the improved method is more suitable for heterogeneous rock media. Finally, the proposed method was used to characterize the damage distribution evolution process of rock media during uniaxial compression experiments. The obtained results were compared and analyzed with digital speckle patterns, and the influencing factors during the use of the proposed method are discussed.