Experimental study of energy attenuation of protruding shock waves in mines under elastic device buffering

As coal mining deepens underground, coal and gas outburst occur frequently, making it difficult to eradicate this risk. To reduce the consequential losses from such disasters, an elastic device is proposed using a previously developed theoretical model. Installed on the two walls of the roadway, this device is intended to attenuate the shock wave of coal mining outbursts. Through an experimental analysis, this paper aims to reveal the effect of energy attenuation that the elastic buffer device has on the shock wave generated by outbursts under three different outburst pressures (600, 800, and 1000 kPa) and three types of configurations (with the effective cross-sectional area of the elastic device being unchanged, smaller, and larger, respectively). According to the experimental results, the elastic device significantly reduces overpressure at the end of the pipeline than without it, with a sharp decline in the time taken for the pressure to drop below 20 kPa. The attenuation of outburst pressure becomes more significant with pressure. This device is applicable to reduce both the overpressure at the end of the pipeline and the time taken to reach a safe level. It is concluded that this device is effective in attenuating shock wave energy, with the best effect achieved when the effective cross-sectional area is unchanged. The above research results provide theoretical guidance for the prevention and control of mine disasters, which is significant for reducing the energy of outburst shock waves and ensuring the safety of mine personnel.