Experimental Investigation on Mechanical Properties of In Situ Cemented Paste Backfill Containing Coal Gangue and Fly Ash

Abstract

Cemented paste backfill containing coal gangue and fly ash (CGFACPB) is an emerging backfill technique for coal mines that allows environmentally hazardous coal gangue and fly ash to be reused in the underground goaf. Meanwhile, CGFACPB can provide an efficient ground support and reduce the surface subsidence. Due to the difference of consolidation environment between the laboratory and the field, the mechanical properties of the cemented paste backfill vary significantly. In this paper, the core specimens were collected from an underground coal mine where the CGFACPB was used for coal mining, and the mechanical properties of the collected specimens were investigated. The cores were obtained from the underground coal mine, and then the standard cylinders or discs were prepared in laboratory. The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio were determined by the compression tests, and the tensile strength was achieved by the Brazilian test. Then the internal friction angle and cohesion were calculated using the improved Mohr–Coulomb strength criterion. The results showed the development of UCS can be divided into four stages, and the final long-term stable value was about 5.1 MPa. The development of Young’s modulus had similar trend. Young’s modulus had a range from 550 MPa to 750 MPa and the mean value of 675 MPa. Poisson’s ratio gradually increased with the underground curing duration and eventually approached the stable value of 0.18. The failure type of compression samples was mainly single-sided shear failure. The development of tensile strength can be divided into two stages, and the stable value of the tensile strength was about 1.05 MPa. The development of cohesion can be divided into four stages, and the stable value was about 1.75 MPa. The stable value of the internal friction angle was about 25°. This study can provide significant references for not only the long-term stability evaluation of CGFACPB in the field but also the design of optimal recipe of the cemented paste backfill (CPB).