Search Results (7)

Due to the difficulty of creating directional fractures efficiently and accurately with existing non-explosive rock-breaking methods, a directional fracturing technique utilizing a coal-based solid waste expansive agent, termed the instantaneous expansion with a single fracture (IESF), has been developed. IESF can generate high-pressure gases within 0.05–0.5 s and utilize gas pressure to achieve directional rock fragmentation. The rock-breaking mechanisms under double-borehole conditions of conventional blasting (CB), shaped charge blasting (SCB), and IESF were studied by theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and in situ test. The gas pressure distribution within directional fractures of IESF was determined, and the crack propagation criterion between double-borehole was established. Numerical simulation results indicated that the stress distribution in CB was random. SCB exhibited tensile stress of −10.89 MPa in the inter-borehole region and −8.33 MPa on the outer-borehole region, while IESF generated −14.47 MPa and −12.62 MPa in the corresponding regions, demonstrating that stresses generated between adjacent boreholes can be superimposed in the inter-hole region. In CB, strain was concentrated along main fractures. SCB exhibited strains of 7 mm and 8 mm in the shaped charge direction, while non-shaped charge directions showed a strain of 1.5 mm. For IESF, strain in the shaped charge direction measured 6 mm, compared to 1 mm in non-shaped charge directions, resulting in superior directional fracture control. In situ test results from Donglin Coal Mine demonstrated that IESF can form superior directional rock-breaking efficacy compared to both CB and SCB, with the average crack rates of 95.5% by IESF higher than 85.0% by SCB. This technique provides a non-explosive method that realizes precise control of the direction of cracks while avoiding the high-risk and high-disturbance problems of explosives blasting. Full article

To address roof overhang hazards (e.g., rock bursts and gas accumulation) in high-gas coal mines, this study proposes a static stress intervention method for controlled directional roof collapse. Using the 150110 fully mechanized face at Yiyuan Coal Mine as a case study, we investigate the mechanical mechanism of static stress intervention-induced roof collapse through theoretical modeling and FLAC3D simulations in the absence of pre-cracks. The study reveals that advanced boreholes filled with static expansion agents generate stress concentration zones along the drilling array. When superimposed with mining-induced stresses, this configuration induces tensile failure preferentially at borehole locations, thereby achieving controlled directional roof collapse. Theoretical calculations indicate that roof fracturing occurs at predetermined locations when expansion pressure reaches ≥9.11 MPa. FLAC3D simulations analyzed stress redistribution and plastic zone evolution under combined static and mining-induced stresses, demonstrating the method’s efficacy in optimizing roadway stability. Field trials implement spaced boreholes (65 mm diameter, 16 m depth, 1 m spacing) with alternating expansion agent charging, achieving a 6 m reduction in roof collapse intervals, effectively mitigating overhang hazards. Results confirm that static stress intervention reshapes the roof stress field, inducing tensile failure along predetermined paths without relying on pre-cracks. The findings provide theoretical and technical insights for roof stability control in high-gas coal mines. Full article

In underground construction projects, traversing hard rock layers demands concentrated CO₂ fracturing energy and precise directional crack expansion. Due to the discontinuity of the rock mass at the tip of prefabricated directional fractures in CO₂ fracturing, traditional simulations assuming continuous media are limited. It is challenging to set boundary conditions for high strain rate and large deformation processes. The dynamic expansion mechanism of the 3D fracture network in CO₂ directional fracturing is not yet fully understood. By treating CO₂ fracturing stress waves as hemispherical resonance waves and using a particle expansion loading method along with dynamic boundary condition processing, a 3D numerical model of CO₂ fracturing is constructed. This model analyzes the dynamic propagation mechanism of 3D spatial fractures network in CO₂ directional fracturing rock materials. The results show that in undirected fracturing, the fracture network relies on the weak structures near the rock borehole, whereas in directional fracturing, the crack propagation is guided, extending the fracture’s range. Additionally, the tip of the directional crack is vital for the re-expansion of the rock mass by high-pressure CO₂ gas, leading to the formation of a symmetrical, umbrella-shaped structure with evenly developed fractures. The findings also demonstrate that the discrete element method (DEM) effectively reproduces the dynamic fracture network expansion at each stage of fracturing, providing a basis for studying the CO₂ directional rock cracking mechanism. Full article

As a new rock breaking method, CO₂ transient cracking has been widely used in rock excavation projects in recent years. However, in the actual construction process, there are often situations where the fracturing effect varies due to different rock mass structures. Through theoretical analysis and on-site cracking tests, this article studies the effect of CO₂ transient cracking under the control of different rock mass structures. The results show that: (1) the dynamic compressive strength of rock directly determines the number and range of dynamic impact fractures; the original fractures of rock mass and those caused by dynamic impact in the first stage jointly determine the effect of high-pressure gas expansion in the second stage. (2) The arrangement of holes along the strata is conducive to the action of high-pressure expanding gas along the soft structural plane in the rock mass, which is conducive to the fracturing of the rock mass; the amount of crack formation is small, but the influence range is large. (3) The cracking effect of carbon dioxide transient cracking applied to massive rock mass is better than that of monolithic rock mass, while the cracking effect of layered rock mass with soil interlayer is poor. The research results are of great significance for improving the effectiveness of carbon dioxide transient-induced cracking excavation and guiding actual construction. Full article

In order to study the applicability of high-pressure gas expansion rock-cracking technology in hard rock tunnel near historic sites, theoretical analysis, field tests as well as vibration monitoring are conducted to obtain suitable rock mass cracking parameters for tunnel excavation. The results show that the ideal effect of rock mass cracking can be achieved with the cutting mode of “central vertical empty hole + double wedge cutting hole” and the auxiliary hole network parameter of “0.8 m × 0.7 m”. The measured vibration velocity is less than 0.1 cm/s at the monitoring point 60 m away from the tunnel face in the field test, which meets the vibration control requirements of the historic sites in the process of tunnel excavation. The research results show that as long as there is a high quality of hole plugging and no punching, the high-pressure gas expansion rock-cracking technology has the advantages of little vibration, low noise and less flying rocks, which provides a technical reference for the excavation of hard rock tunnels near ancient buildings and historic sites. Full article

Aiming at the shortcomings of the current rock-breaking technology, a new type of high-energy expansion agent for energetic materials based on combustion-to-detonation was developed. By characterizing the basic physical and chemical properties of the high-energy expansion agent (HEEA) such as morphology, particle size distribution, and pyrolysis characteristics, the work performance of different types of high-energy expansion agents was analyzed in combination with the energy characteristics. The results showed that the relationship between the expansion work done by the gas to the outside world was W_HEEA-I > W_HEEA-II > W_HEEA-III under the same quality of HEEA combustion. The damage effect of high-temperature and high-pressure gas cracking specimens generated by deflagration of HEEA was obvious, having the rule that the disturbance damage of rock caused by low heat and high gas specific volume was smaller, and the damage degree of rock caused by high heat and low gas specific volume was larger. The mechanism of HEEA combustion and detonation in confined space is revealed, which provides a theoretical basis for the application of HEEA-cracked rock. Full article

The technique of breaking rocks using carbon dioxide phase transition technology is being widely applied in current research. This article combines theoretical and practical methods to analyze the mechanism by which high-pressure gas breaks rock at different stages. Using the observation that liquid carbon dioxide forms a high-pressure jet from release holes at the moment of release, a formula for calculating the initial pressure on the wall in the direction of release was obtained, and the pattern of initial crack formation on the borehole wall under different initial stress conditions was examined. An experiment using carbon dioxide phase transition technology to fracture rock without an initial stress field was conducted. The mechanism of generation and expansion of subsequent cracks under stress waves and high-pressure gas was analyzed, and the formula for calculating crack propagation radius under stress waves was obtained. The results suggested that under the quasi-static action of high-pressure gas, cracks begin to develop when the stress intensity factor K_I at the crack tip is equal to or greater than the fracture toughness K_IC of the rock. Full article