Loading rates dependency of strength anisotropy in coal: Based on the three‐dimensional reconstruction modeling technology

Abstract

Abstract We explored the dependency of strength anisotropy on loading rate in coal both experimentally and numerically. An improved numerical modeling method was developed for this investigation to reduce the random error caused by the mechanical differences of coal specimens. After that, specimens with different anisotropy angles (the angle between the coring direction and bedding plane orientation) were processed (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°). These specimens were then scanned by the X‐ray Computed Tomography (CT) and tested by unconfined loading frame. Uniaxial compressive simulations were performed on 15 numerical models with different anisotropy angles at various loading rates (1.0 × 10−6, 5.0 × 10−6, 10.0 × 10−6, and 20.0 × 10−6 mm/step). The results indicate that the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of coal generally first decreases and then increases as the anisotropy angle increases from 0° to 90° for all loading rates. It is also found that the UCS increases significantly with the increasing loading rate at anisotropic angles of 30° and 45°, while it is less obvious at anisotropic angles of 0° and 90°. This results in a reduced USC anisotropy at high loading rates. Meanwhile, a negative exponential equation is obtained to describe the variation of UCS with the loading rate at different anisotropic angles. And a unified equation is then developed and verified to define the UCS as a function of the loading rate and anisotropic angle.

Keywords

• loading rate
• strength anisotropy
• three‐dimensional reconstruction
• X‐ray CT