Large-Scale Triaxial Tests on Dilatancy Characteristics of Lean Cemented Sand and Gravel

The dilatancy equation, which describes the plastic strain increment ratio and its dependence on the stress state, is an important component of the elastoplastic constitutive model of geotechnical materials. In order to reveal their differences of the dilatancy value determined by the total volume strain increment ratio and the real value of lean cemented sand and gravel (LCSG) materials, in this study, a series of triaxial compression tests, equiaxial loading and unloading tests, and triaxial loading and unloading tests are conducted under different cement contents and confining pressures. The results reveal that hysteretic loops appear in the stress–strain curves of equiaxial loading and unloading tests, and triaxial loading and unloading tests and that the elastic strain is an important component of the total strain. The hysteretic loop size increases with an increase in the stress level or consolidation stress, whereas the shape remains unchanged. Furthermore, with an increase in the cement content, the dilatancy value determined by the total volume strain increment ratio becomes smaller than that determined by the plastic strain increment ratio, and the influence of the elastic deformation cannot be ignored. Thus, in practical engineering scenarios, especially in the calculation of LCSG dam structures, the dilatancy equation of LCSG materials should be expressed by the plastic strain increment ratio, rather than the total volume strain increment rati.

Experimental Study on Seepage and Fracture Characteristics of Cemented Rock Samples under Triaxial Stress

To study the seepage and fracture characteristics of cemented rock strata, a series of triaxial seepage tests on cemented rock samples under different confining pressures and water pressures were carried out in this study. The triaxial strength, elastic modulus, volume strain, and the permeability of the cemented rock samples were analyzed by the seepage unit connection probability model and Kozeny-Carman model. Based on test results, the stress state of cemented rock samples was divided into four stages: nonlinear compaction stage, linear elastic stage, stress yield stage, and failure and postfailure stage. The triaxial strength of the cemented rock samples gradually increased with the increase of confining pressure but decreased with the increase of water pressure. The elastic modulus of the cemented rock sample increased with the increase of confining pressure but decreased with the increase of water pressure. Besides, the volume strain of the cemented rock sample was analyzed, and the volume strain change of the cemented rock sample was also classified into three stages: the increasing stage of crack volume strain, the stable stage of crack volume strain, and the decreasing stage of crack volume strain. Based on the results of triaxial seepage tests, the evolution of permeability was divided into the declining stage, increasing stage, and redescend stage. Through the seepage unit connection probability model and Kozeny-Carman model, the evolution of crack volume was obtained, and the evolution of crack volume with axial strain was also classified into three stages: the original pore closure stage, crack network expansion stage, and crack network closure stage. The permeability evolution and the crack volume evolution were also compared. The comparison results suggest that three stages of crack volume evolution are all ahead of three stages of permeability evolution, verifying that the crack propagation induces the formation of seepage channels in cemented rock samples. This research will provide a valuable reference for the study of instability and water inrush mechanism in cemented rock strata.

Influence of Silica Specific Surface Area on the Viscoelastic and Fatigue Behaviors of Silica-Filled SBR Composites

This work aimed at studying the effect of a silica specific surface area (SSA), as determined by the nitrogen adsorption method, on the viscoelastic and fatigue behaviors of silica-filled styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) composites. In particular, silica fillers with an SSA of 125 m2/g, 165 m2/g, and 200 m2/g were selected. Micro-computed X-ray tomography (µCT) was utilized to analyze the 3D morphology of the fillers within an SBR matrix prior to mechanical testing. It was found with this technique that the volume density of the agglomerates drastically decreased with decreasing silica SSA, indicating an increase in the silica dispersion state. The viscoelastic behavior was evaluated by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and hysteresis loss experiments. The fatigue behavior was studied by cyclic tensile loading until rupture enabled the generation of Wöhler curves. Digital image correlation (DIC) was used to evaluate the volume strain upon deformation, whereas µCT was used to evaluate the volume fraction of the fatigue-induced cracks. Last, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize, in detail, crack mechanisms. The main results indicate that fatigue life increased with decreasing silica SSA, which was also accompanied by a decrease in hysteresis loss and storage modulus. SEM investigations showed that filler–matrix debonding and filler fracture were the mechanisms at the origin of crack initiation. Both the volume fraction of the cracks obtained by µCT and the volume strain acquired from the DIC increased with increasing SSA of silica. The results are discussed based on the prominent role of the filler network on the viscoelastic and fatigue damage behaviors of SBR composites.

A MULTI-FIELD COUPLED SEEPAGE MODEL FOR COAL SEAM WITH FRACTURES OF POWER LAW LENGTH DISTRIBUTIONS

In the process of gas mining, the fracture distribution with power law length and the pore structure with adsorption effect have an important influence on the coal seam permeability. In recent years, the research on the internal structure of coal seam and the fluid flow mechanism has attracted a large number of researchers. In this paper, by considering the coal matrix deformation caused by adsorption, a pore-fracture model coupled with the multi-field effects and with power law length distribution of fractures in coal seam is established based on the fractal theory for porous media. In this work, we study the influences of the power law exponent [Formula: see text] of fracture length and the ratio [Formula: see text] of the minimum to maximum fracture lengths on the permeability of coal seam and the evolution mechanism of permeability with the structural and mechanical parameters of coal seam. It is found that the permeability of coal seam is inversely proportional to [Formula: see text], directly proportional to [Formula: see text], and to Langmuir volume constant and Langmuir volume strain constant. Compared with other factors, the power law component [Formula: see text] of fractures has the most significant effect on the coal seam permeability.

A high-stability biphasic layered cathode for sodium-ion batteries

A P2/O3 Na0.62Ni0.33Mn0.62Sb0.05O2 composite cathode was synthesized which displays superior rate electrochemical performance compared with its monophasic counterpart Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2. P2–O2 phase transition is successfully suppressed and volume strain is extremely small during the electrochemical process.

Mechanical Properties and Damage in Lignite under Combined Cyclic Compression and Shear Loading

In this paper, uniaxial cyclic compression and shear test was carried out for lignite samples. The effects of inclination angle (θ) and upper limit of cyclic stress (σmax) on mechanical properties of coal samples were analyzed, and the damage variables of coal samples were studied based on energy dissipation theory. The results show that the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of coal samples after uniaxial cyclic compression and shear tests decreases with the increase of the upper limit of cyclic stress and inclination angle. The shear stress component generated by the increase of inclination angle can effectively reduce the UCS and increase the damage degree of coal samples. With the increase of inclination angle, the failure mode of coal samples is changed from tensile failure (θ = 0°), the combined tensile failure and shear failure (θ = 5°) to shear failure (θ = 10°). The peak axial and radial strain of coal samples first increases rapidly and then stagnates. The peak volume strain rapid increases and then stagnates (θ = 0° and θ = 5°). When the inclination angle is 10°, the peak volume strain first decreases rapidly and then stagnates. Even if the upper limit of cyclic stress is lower than its UCS, it will still promote the propagation of micro cracks and the generation of new cracks and increase the internal damage of coal samples. With the increase of the cycle number, damage variables of coal samples after uniaxial cyclic compression and shear tests nonlinearly increase, and the growth rate decreases gradually.

STUDY ON EVOLUTION OF FRACTAL DIMENSION FOR FRACTURED COAL SEAM UNDER MULTI-FIELD COUPLING

In the process of gas extraction, fracture-pore structure significantly influences the macroscopic permeability of coal seam. However, under the multi-field coupling, the mechanism of coal seam fracture-pore evolution remains to be clarified. In this paper, considering the effect of adsorption expansion, the fractal theory for porous media coupled with the multi-field model for coal seam is considered, and a multi-field coupling mechanical model is constructed by considering the influence of fracture-pore structure. Furthermore, the evolution mechanism of fractal dimension with physical and mechanical parameters of coal seam is studied. It is found that the fractal dimension for coal seam is inversely proportional to mining time and in situ stress, proportional to elastic modulus, Langmuir volume constant and Langmuir volume strain constant, and inversely proportional to Langmuir pressure constant. Compared with other factors, Langmuir pressure constant and Langmuir volume strain constant have the significance influence on the fractal dimension for the fracture length.

Calculation of the foundation settlement during compensation grouting

The article presents the issue of correctly calculating the SSC of the foundation bases in the process of compensation grouting. It is shown that the numerical calculation should be performed in two versions: hydrostatic pressure and rear volume strain in a cluster of soil. Using the example of an object in Moscow, the use of the PLAXIS 3D design complex was shown to calculate additional precipitation of buildings during compensation grouting and the passage of a tunnel under it. A method is given for determining the required volume of suspension during compensation grouting using numerical methods for calculating the SSC.