Behavior of CFRP-Confined Sand-Based Material Columns under Axial Compression

Area of Science:

• Civil Engineering
• Materials Science
• Mining Engineering

Background:

• Underground mines in arid regions face water scarcity, limiting traditional support methods.
• Existing mine support systems often require significant water resources for backfill materials.
• Developing water-efficient and high-performance support is crucial for sustainable mining in arid environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate an innovative pumpable standing support system for underground mines in arid regions.
• To investigate the mechanical behavior of a novel sand-based material (SBM) confined within a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) shell.
• To optimize the composition and design parameters of the CFRP-confined SBM support for enhanced performance and reduced water consumption.

Main Methods:

• Experimental investigation of CFRP-confined SBM columns under uniaxial compression.
• Systematic variation of key parameters: water-to-powder ratio, sand mixing amount, and CFRP tube thickness.
• Analysis of mechanical response, including strain hardening behavior and axial deformation.

Main Results:

• CFRP-confined SBM columns demonstrated typical strain hardening behavior with acceptable axial deformation.
• Increased bearing capacity was achieved by using high-strength cementing material, thicker CFRP tubes, and higher sand mixing ratios.
• The novel pumpable standing support showed reduced consumption of high-water cementing materials compared to pure cementing material supports with similar mechanical performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed pumpable standing support, utilizing CFRP-confined SBM, offers a viable solution for underground mines in water-scarce arid regions.
• The structural integrity and bearing capacity of the support can be effectively tuned by adjusting material composition and confinement thickness.
• This innovation contributes to more sustainable mining practices by conserving water resources and reducing cementitious material usage.