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Determination of in situ uniaxial compressive strength of coal seams based on geophysical data

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Abstract

The central issue for pillar design in underground coal mining is the in situ uniaxial compressive strength (σ cm). The paper proposes a new method for estimating in situ uniaxial compressive strength in coal seams based on laboratory strength and P wave propagation velocity. It describes the collection of samples in the Bonito coal seam, Fontanella Mine, southern Brazil, the techniques used for the structural mapping of the coal seam and determination of seismic wave propagation velocity as well as the laboratory procedures used to determine the strength and ultrasonic wave velocity. The results obtained using the new methodology are compared with those from seven other techniques for estimating in situ rock mass uniaxial compressive strength.

Résumé

Le problème central pour le dimensionnement des piliers d’une mine souterraine de charbon est la résistance in situ à la compression simple (σcm). L’article propose une nouvelle méthode pour estimer la résistance in situ à la compression simple de veines de charbon, basée sur des mesures de résistance au laboratoire et sur la mesure des vitesses de propagation des ondes P. L’article décrit la prise d’échantillons au niveau de la veine de charbon de Bonito, dans la mine de Fontanella, dans une région du sud-ouest du Brésil, les techniques utilisées pour la cartographie structurale des veines de charbon, la détermination des vitesses sismiques ainsi que les procédures de laboratoire utilisées pour déterminer la résistance mécanique et la vitesse des ondes ultrasoniques. Les résultats obtenus à partir de cette nouvelle approche sont comparés à ceux correspondant à sept autres méthodes d’estimation de la résistance in situ à la compression simple.

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Acknowledgments

This work was carried out with financial support of CIENTEC, Fundação de Ciência e Tecnologia of the Rio Grande do Sul State (Brazil) and Carbonífera Metropolitana S.A. coal mining company.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geotechnics Department, CIENTEC, Fundação de Ciência e Tecnologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Clovis Gonzatti

  2. Geotechnics Department, São Carlos Engineering School, University of São Paulo (EESC/USP), São Carlos, SP, Brazil

    Tarcísio B. Celestino & Antônio A. Bortolucci

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  1. Clovis Gonzatti
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  2. Tarcísio B. Celestino
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  3. Antônio A. Bortolucci
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Correspondence to Clovis Gonzatti.

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Gonzatti, C., Celestino, T.B. & Bortolucci, A.A. Determination of in situ uniaxial compressive strength of coal seams based on geophysical data. Bull Eng Geol Environ 68, 65–80 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-008-0175-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-008-0175-9

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