In the heart of China’s coal mining industry, a groundbreaking development is poised to revolutionize the way we understand and mitigate one of the sector’s most perilous challenges: roadway rockbursts. Xuebin Wang, a researcher at the Institute of Computational Mechanics, Liaoning Technical University, has led a team that has significantly advanced the modeling of dynamic fracture processes in roadway surrounding rock. Their work, published in Meitan xuebao (Coal Science and Technology), promises to enhance safety and efficiency in mining operations worldwide.
Roadway rockbursts, sudden and violent failures of the rock surrounding mine tunnels, pose a significant threat to miners and infrastructure. Traditional modeling techniques, often reliant on foreign commercial software, have struggled with limited computing capacity and efficiency. Wang and his team have addressed these issues head-on by leveraging the power of GPU parallel computing.
At the core of their innovation is the integration of a dynamic constitutive model into their proprietary StrataKing system. This model, developed over a decade, now incorporates the Zhu-Wang-Tang dynamic constitutive model, which is applicable across a wide range of strain rates. “By replacing the static cohesion in the Mohr-Coulomb criteria with dynamic cohesion, we can better account for the dynamic strength of the rock,” Wang explains. This enhancement, coupled with the introduction of viscous damping to replace local adaptive damping, allows for more accurate and efficient simulations of rock behavior under impact.
The implications for the energy sector are profound. Accurate modeling of roadway rockbursts enables better prediction and prevention strategies, ultimately enhancing mine safety and reducing downtime. “At high strain rates, the development of cracking regions at the sides of the roadway is very rapid,” Wang notes. “This continuous instability can lead to serious dynamic hazards, but with our model, we can better understand and mitigate these risks.”
The research also paves the way for future developments in anti-impact support systems for roadways. By providing a robust technical foundation, Wang’s work sets the stage for innovative solutions that can withstand the dynamic stresses of mining environments.
As the global demand for coal and other minerals continues to grow, so does the need for advanced technologies that can ensure safe and efficient extraction. Wang’s research, published in Coal Science and Technology, represents a significant step forward in this direction. By harnessing the power of parallel computing and dynamic modeling, the mining industry is better equipped to tackle the challenges of roadway rockbursts, ensuring a safer and more productive future for all involved.
