LABORATORY EXPERIMENT DESIGN FOR BACKFILLING IN BARAPUKURIA COAL MINE

Abstract

Backfilling, an essential process in mining and construction subsequent to foundation and utility work, involves filling excavated areas around structures with sand or gravel to ensure stability, support, and insulation. It ranges from simple to complex, often requiring specialized equipment. This procedure not only minimizes the need for costly dilution and surface storage but also aids in mitigating mining instability and subsidence. Our exploration delved into various facets of backfilling, particularly focusing on how finite element method analysis can elucidate its intricacies. Through examining cases designed with different ratios of outlet and inlet diameters and employing varied velocities to flow backfill materials through the model, we gained insights into the process. ANSYS, a finite element analysis (FEA) tool, played a pivotal role in characterizing the qualities of backfill. Consequently, these analyses yielded comprehensive simulations of backfill material flow patterns and pressure distributions. The laboratory experiment's backfilling design model was effectively simulated utilizing finite element simulation methodology. Notably, the k-epsilon constants of Cmu emerged as the predominant influential factor within the simulation process. Within the laboratory setting, the designed experimental box featured dimensions of 20 cm in width and 40 cm in height. To optimize functionality, it is imperative to set the pump's flow velocity capacity at 1 m/s, incorporating a safety factor of 2, resulting in a pressure transducer reading of 6700 Pascal. Moreover, for the efficient distribution of flow, the ideal ratio of the outlet to the inlet pipe diameter in the experimental setup should be maintained at 0.33.