Abstract

A new perspective is presented for evaluating the slope stability of coal and lignite mines due to rainfall. The case of Greek lignite mining areas is employed to illustrate the methodology. Initially, past climatic records of rainfall are documented and analyzed; rainfall intensity varies from light (0.8 mm/h) to heavy (up to 9 mm/h). Few extreme phenomena are documented, with the maximum intensity being 17 mm/h. Furthermore, climatic projections of future trends are performed with open-access tools to anticipate possible deviations from the baseline conditions. Although the mean temperature is expected to increase, projections show that the past rainfall range is not expected to change. Finally, the effect of rainfall infiltration on the stability of a typical open-pit lignite mining slope is investigated by finite element analysis. The precipitation range defined by the environmental analysis is used. The SF is practically constant for the lower rainfall intensities (0.8–2.2 mm/h). For the higher intensities of 6.4 mm/h, 9 mm/h, and 17 mm/h, the SF decrease is almost the same (from 2.08 to 1.9), with reduction rates of 8.3%, 8.9%, and 9.3%, respectively. The effect of the critical geotechnical properties—groundwater table depth, unsaturated zone properties, and soil permeability—is also examined for a complete evaluation.

Highlights

  • Coal and lignite have contributed to global energy needs for several decades, accounting for 30% of the global energy production in 2010 and 27% in 2020 [1]

  • The present study presents a methodological framework including the assessment of past and current rainfall, future rainfall projections, and numerical analysis of the effect

  • For the case example of Greek lignite mines, it is concluded that slope stability is not jeopardized due to rainfall for the range of the parameters involved

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Summary

Introduction

Coal and lignite have contributed to global energy needs for several decades, accounting for 30% of the global energy production in 2010 and 27% in 2020 [1]. The transition to cleaner energy has led to mine closures in Europe and globally. With the shift in the energy mix and the groundbreaking changes in the economy’s structure, coal regions should not be left behind, and the economic and social impact of mine closures should not be ignored. For the reclamation of these areas, their safety and stability are crucial, as they are jeopardized by several factors. Rainfall is typically such a crucial factor, given the effect of climate change on its evolution

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