Rapid decompression and desorption induced energetic failure in coal

Shugang Wang, Derek Elsworth, Jishan Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this study, laboratory experiments are conducted to investigate the rapid decompression and desorption induced energetic failure in coal using a shock tube apparatus. Coal specimens are recovered from Colorado at a depth of 610m. The coal specimens are saturated with the strong sorbing gas CO2 for a certain period and then the rupture disc is suddenly broken on top of the shock tube to generate a shock wave propagating upwards and a rarefaction wave propagating downwards through the specimen. This rapid decompression and desorption has the potential to cause energetic fragmentation in coal. Three types of behaviors in coal after rapid decompression are found, i.e. degassing without fragmentation, horizontal fragmentation, and vertical fragmentation. We speculate that the characteristics of fracture network (e.g. aperture, spacing, orientation and stiffness) and gas desorption play a role in this dynamic event as coal can be considered as a dual porosity, dual permeability, dual stiffness sorbing medium. This study has important implications in understanding energetic failure process in underground coal mines such as coal gas outbursts.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)345-350
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
Volume7
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Rapid decompression and desorption induced energetic failure in coal'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this