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Shear strength characteristics of discontinuities in weak, stratified, clay-bearing coal measures encountered in Turkish surface coal mining

Caractéristiques de résistance au cisaillement de discontinuités dans des niveaux charbonneux tendres stratifiés et contenant de l'argile dans des mines à ciel ouvert de Turquie

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Abstract

Mechanical properties of Neogene sedimentary soft rocks and their discontinuities are deteriorated by environmental changes, such as wetting and stress release. In addition, the reliable estimation of shear strength of weakness planes in these rocks is a common problem. This paper aims to characterize the engineering properties of weak, stratified, clay-bearing coal measures encountered in surface coal mining in southwest Turkey with special reference to the shear strength of their discontinuities and weak zones which are of particular significance in determining slope stability. The results obtained from a series of laboratory shear tests carried out on specially prepared bulk samples containing natural discontinuities and weak zones were compared with values, which resulted from tests on similar weakness planes in another pit and back-analyses of instabilities experienced in two mines, for further design considerations.

Résumé

Les propriétés de roches sédimentaires tendres d'âge Neogène et leurs discontinuités sont modifiées par des changements tels que l'humidité ou la détente des contraintes. D'autre part, une bonne estimation de la résistance au cisaillement des plans de faiblesse est un problème important. Cet article a pour but de caractériser les propriétés des niveaux charbonneux tendres, stratifiés et contenant de l'argile, dans une exploitation de charbon à ciel ouvert du sud-ouest de la Turquie, en s'intéressant particulièrement à la résistance au cisaillement des discontinuités et des zones faibles qui ont une signification particulière dans la détermination de la stabilité des pentes. Les résultats obtenus après une série d'essais de cisaillement sur des échantillons présentant des discontinuités naturelles et des zones de faiblesse, sont confrontés aux valeurs obtenues sur des plans de faiblesses semblables dans une autre mine et aux analyses d'instabilités reconnues dans deux autres mines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rock and Soil Mech. Div., Mineral Research and Exploration, 06520, Ankara, Turkey

    Resat Ulusay & M. Fatih Yoleri (General Directorate)

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  1. Resat Ulusay
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  2. M. Fatih Yoleri
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Ulusay, R., Yoleri, M.F. Shear strength characteristics of discontinuities in weak, stratified, clay-bearing coal measures encountered in Turkish surface coal mining. Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology 48, 109–117 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02594983

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