Triaxial compression behaviour of gangue solid wastes under effects of particle size and confining pressure

Underground coal mining leads to environmental problems such as gangue pollution, surface subsidence and soil erosion, etc. Solid backfilling coal mining (SBCM) can control the strata movement, reducing gangue discharge and environmental pollution in mining areas. Gangue solid wastes (GSW) are backfilled into the goaf space as the supports for the overburden strata in solid backfilling coal mining. In this case, GSW are under triaxial compression. The deformation characteristics of the GSW under this loading condition are the key factors determining the control efficiency of strata movement and surface subsidence. The influence of the particle size grade and the confining pressure condition on the deformation and breakage characteristics of the GSW is studied based on large-scale triaxial compression tests in this paper. Also, the effect of particle breakage on the deformation of the GSW is revealed. The results indicate that in the triaxial compression process, the GSW exhibits strain hardening characteristics and volume decrease under compressive loading. The maximum load-bearing stress is more sensitive to the confining pressure condition but less sensitive to the particle size grade. The maximum load-bearing stress increases linearly with the confining pressure. Particle breakage of the GSW is notably influenced by the particle size grade but almost independent of the confining pressure condition. The S1 specimen with a reasonable proportion has the minimum relative breakage index, while the S3 specimen that mainly contains large particles has the maximum relative breakage index. The research outcomes are significant to the understanding of the mechanical characteristics of GSW, the selection and preparation of the backfilling materials in the field practices and the ensurence of the backfilling efficiency.