Stability Analysis of Open-Cast Coal Mine Overburden Dump Slopes Reinforced with Nano-Composite Coated Jute Geotextile Through Numerical Modeling
摘要
As India's energy demands continue to rise, the significance of coal as a primary source has peaked. Open-cast mining, the prevailing method of coal extraction, generates substantial overburden material, posing challenges in land acquisition and slope stability during disposal. In addressing these challenges, this study evaluates the effectiveness of nano-composite coated jute geotextile (NCJGT) as a reinforcement material for improving the height and slope angle of overburden dump slopes. Extensive testing was conducted to assess the physicomechanical properties of both JGT and overburden material. From the obtained results, it has been found that the NCJGT exhibited a 55.7% and 51.0% increase in tensile strength for machine and cross-machine directions, respectively, compared to untreated JGT. Moreover, the interface friction angle between NCJGT and OB dump material was 25.87°, which is greater than two-thirds of the friction angle of dump material. Following that, numerical modeling was carried out to evaluate the safety factor of the dump slope with height and slope angle of 40 m and 40°, respectively, using Slide 3 software of Rocscience Inc. The results illustrate that the implementation of NCJGT remarkably enhances the safety factor from 1.37 to 1.52, allowing for improved overburden dumping in a constrained area. Furthermore, the relaxation of land area requirements, coupled with a thorough cost analysis, unveils a significant opportunity, resulting in a relaxation of 24.009 hectares of land area and a cost savings of 9.04%. This research underscores the potential of NCJGT as a viable solution for reinforcing overburden dump slopes in open-cast coal mines, offering improved slope stability and risk mitigation.