Potential Disaster Research Articles

Elevation and Slope as Key Determinants of Landslide-Prone Areas in Murang’a County, Kenya

Landslide studies in Kenya have received less interest as opposed to other regions of the world. Murang’a County in Central Kenya presents a unique case of geographical interest not only due to its positioning within the alpine Aberdare Ranges but also because it has experienced serious, deadly and repeated landslide disasters. This study seeks to ascertain whether elevation and slope are key determinants of landslide in the county. Primary data collection instruments were Household (HH) questionnaires where a sample size of 393 HH was sampled at a confidence level of 95%. Secondary data for elevation and slope were derived from satellite imagery. A significant 95.5% of the respondents said that slope was a major landslide causal/trigger factor. A significant number of people (r=0.806) who had migrated to their current locations described steepness as a major causal/trigger factor. Elevation factor was mentioned by 90.2% of the respondents as a key factor contributing to the occurrence of landslides. The study concludes that elevation and slope are key and significant landslide causal/trigger factors in Murang’a County. The study recommends that people living in areas delineated as ‘high-risk zones’ should be advised to relocate to safer grounds to avert huge losses from potential landslide disasters

Effect of microwave heating on rock damage and energy evolution

Rock fragmentation efficiency can be increased by microwave heating. The mechanical properties and energy evolution characteristics of coarse sandstone specimens under different microwave heating conditions are compared in this paper. The effects of microwave heating time and power on coarse sandstone specimens of peak stress, elastic modulus, brittleness index, damage variable, and impact energy index are analyzed. The results indicate that the microwave heating power and microwave heating time are inversely proportional to peak stress and elastic modulus and directly proportional to peak strain. With the increase of microwave heating power and microwave heating time, the brittleness index and damage variable of rock specimens increase, the impact energy index decreases. The microwave heating power and microwave heating time increase the rock brittleness index. The energy absorption rate of rock specimens decreases with the increase of microwave heating time. The impact energy index is inversely proportional to microwave heating power and microwave heating time. High-power and long-time microwave heating can reduce the possibility of rockbursts and the intensity of potential dynamic disasters. The research conclusion can provide the theoretical and technical basis for breaking rock by microwave heating.

Youth Climate Questions

AbstractAnthropogenic climate change and environmental crises are pressing challenges of our time, with changes to the climate system observed in every global region. Disastrous impacts on nature, including people, have already been observed in the form of drought, floods and extreme heat events across the planet. This study examines the role of an interdisciplinary approach to exploring different responses to climate-related disasters and potential disasters. The work we report takes place in the context of recent research on dialogue on climate interventions with youth. Climate interventions are large-scale interventions into the Earth’s climate system and include proposals such as solar radiation management, ocean liming, and carbon capture and storage technologies. Research and development of climate interventions as a response to one set of disasters (in the present and in-the-making), created as a result of anthropogenic climate change, are associated with much uncertainty and controversy. We explored these uncertainties and controversies with young people, scientists and policymakers, resulting in a set of illustrated climate conversation cards. In this paper, we analyse the questions produced by young people to find requests for data and knowledge from across disciplines, and for an exploration of ethics, feelings, positions and priorities. We also found problematisations of technofixes and desire for socio-political action. The implications for science and disaster education are discussed.

Evaluating the Incidence, Response, and Management Proficiency of Medical Emergencies in Dental Practices

Background: Dental professionals must be ready to respond quickly and effectively to medical emergencies that may arise in unexpected locations, such as dental offices. Given its sizable population and expanding dental sector, Pakistan is not exempt from such potential catastrophes. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of medical emergencies in dental outpatient departments (public and private). In addition, we aimed to pinpoint any inadequacies in procedures that impede efficient administration and offer ideas for enhancing the capacity to handle medical crises in dental offices. Methods: In a six-month cross-sectional study, dental professionals were given a reliable, closed-ended questionnaire to evaluate their attitudes, procedures, and level of expertise in handling medical emergencies. A total of 271 responses were evaluated. Results: Most instances recorded in medical crises were syncope (36%), followed by hypoglycemia (26%). The majority of reported medical situations (77.8%) were managed successfully within the hospital according to the findings of the study. Of the practitioners, approximately 55.9% adhered to all required guidelines for handling medical emergencies, while 34.8% only partially did so. Approximately 69.6% of practitioners did not follow the protocol when it came to using emergency equipment or drugs. Approximately 65% of practitioners stated that the most difficult aspects of handling medical emergencies were panic or disorientation and a lack of training. Dental professionals and personnel were trained in basic life support (39%), demonstration/lectures (21%), and addressing medical crises (figure 2). Conclusion: The fact that medical emergencies at dental offices are uncommon does not mean that a large percentage of dentists are well-equipped to manage these circumstances. By filling these gaps, the dental profession can improve patient safety and emergency practitioner competencies.

Efficient risk-based inspection framework: Balancing safety and budgetary constraints

Efficient equipment maintenance is paramount across various industries to mitigate energy wastage and avert potential disasters such as hazardous emissions, fires, and explosions. Within this context, the adoption of risk-based inspection strategies has emerged as a crucial method for assessing equipment integrity. This study integrates the principles of Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) with a novel two-objective mathematical model, resulting in a comprehensive framework for equipment inspection programs. The primary aim of this framework is to reduce overall risk exposure while optimizing inspection expenditures. Unlike conventional approaches, this methodology eliminates the necessity to define threshold risk levels. By integrating inspection costs into the model, the assessment of Failure Consequences, and thereby, the decision-making process has been streamlined. This innovative algorithm effectively balances the reduction of failure likelihood with the minimization of inspection costs, enhancing decision-making capabilities. Importantly, this approach offers significant protection against energy wastage and the occurrence of leaks through robust risk management strategies. The algorithm employs specialized operators to expedite the discovery of optimal solutions. Empirical validation through a case study conducted at a Petrochemical Plant highlights the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed framework.

Analysis of postdisaster economy using high-resolution disaster and economy simulations.

We present an integrated framework that utilizes high-resolution seamless simulations of disasters and national economies for estimating the economic impacts of disasters. The framework consists of three components: a physics-based simulator to simulate the disaster and estimate the response of the infrastructure; a tool that estimates the losses suffered by the infrastructure based on its response; and an agent-based economic model (ABEM) that simulates the national economy considering the infrastructure damage and postdisaster decisions of the economic entities. The ABEM used in the framework has been implemented in a high-performance computing environment to simulate large economies at 1:1 scale. Furthermore, it has been calibrated to the Japanese economy using publicly available macroeconomic data and validated to the Japanese economy under the business-as-usual scenario. We demonstrate the integrated framework by simulating a potential Nankai-trough earthquake disaster and estimating its impacts on the Japanese economy. The seismic response of 1.8 million buildings of the Osaka-bay area has been estimated using a large-scale earthquake disaster simulator and corresponding repair costs are estimated using the Performance Assessment Calculation Tool. As per our estimates, repair costs amount to approximately 15 trillion Yen. Considering the investments made by impacted households and firms toward recovery, the postdisaster economy is simulated using the ABEM for 5 years under two recovery scenarios. Industrial production is expected to recover in three quarters whereas 10-13 quarters will be required to finish all the repairwork.

Dental education amid armed conflict in Sudan: Unveiling the impact on training.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has severely disrupted the health professions education, notably in dentistry. This study aims to explore the impact of the armed conflict on dental education and training. A mixed-method cross-sectional study encompassed 29 dental schools in Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan States, and Merowe City. Five key informants from the Sudanese Medical Specialization Board, the Human Resource Development Administration, and a university offering clinical dental master's programs were interviewed. Quantitative data on attacks against dental schools were collected through a structured Google form, and qualitative data on postgraduate training were obtained through semi-structured key informant interviews. Findings reveal that 79.3% of dental schools faced military assaults, with 73.9% experiencing looting and 60.9% repurposed as military bases. Notably, 44.8% of schools shifted to online education,3.4% collaborated with other universities, and 27.6% adopted a combined approach. Key informants' interviews unveiled disruptions in specialty training and housemanship, limiting access to crucial training facilities. The primary proposed solution was overseas training. Recurrently emphasized strategies to enhance the resilience of the training system included establishing dental centers in all states, collaborating with external training bodies, and anticipating and preparing for potential disasters. The adverse effects of the conflict on both undergraduate and postgraduate dental education are discernible, manifested through resource limitations, a shortage of dental materials and supplies within training facilities, and direct disruptions to clinical training due to attacks on healthcare institutions. The imperative need for urgent interventions is underscored to alleviate these consequences and safeguard the continuity of educational and training efforts.

Study of the patterns of ice lake variation and the factors influencing these changes in the western Nyingchi area

Abstract The current ice lake dataset in the western region of Nyingchi requires further improvement. Due to the intricate distribution of ice lakes and imprecise boundary delineation, research tends to overlook small-scale ice lakes in this area. Moreover, most related studies have focused solely on variations in ice lake areas within key regions, such as the Himalayas, with little attention given to changes occurring in southeastern Tibet. The frequency of ice and snow disasters in the study area has been steadily increasing over the years. Therefore, this study utilizes Landsat satellite images and employs visual interpretation methods to generate more precise and comprehensive maps depicting the distribution of ice lakes in the western region of Nyingchi Province for the years 1994, 2010, 2018, and 2022. Additionally, changes in scale and spatial patterns of different types of ice lakes were investigated. Between 1994 and 2022, the ice lake area in the study area significantly increased by 22.5%, reaching a total of 35.8 ± 3.0 km2. This expansion was primarily driven by glacier-fed lakes, which experienced a remarkable growth rate of 30.8%. In contrast, the non-glacier-fed lakes experienced an increase by only 15.6%. Notably, ice lakes at higher elevations exhibited a peak in expansion, with those above 5143.0 m experiencing the most substantial growth rate of 44.8%. The long-term expansion rate of ice lakes is investigated through the measurement of changes in their boundaries, with the aim to understand the factors contributing to their growth. These findings indicate the rapid expansion of the ice lake near the glacier, with an annual growth rate of 1.3% per annum. Specifically, the glacial-fed section exhibited an expansion rate of 1.1% per annum, while the nonglacial-fed section experienced a growth rate of 0.6% per annum. The seasonal variability in marine glaciers is the primary factor influencing the expansion of ice lakes in this region, with temperature and precipitation serving as the principal driving forces impacting the transformation of these lakes. The data provided by the research results will facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics and mechanisms governing the ice lake in western Nyingchi, thereby contributing to an enhanced scientific comprehension of potential disaster risks associated with this ice lake.

Influence of different cooling methods on the creep characteristics and damage model of layered limestone after thermal treatment

In the actual underground energy extraction projects, the long-term stability of the well wall surrounding rock through the layered rock body often faces the influence of complex factors such as joints, thermal and cooling. The laminated limestone as a common rock type with obvious laminated structure and petroleum reservoirs, under high temperature environment can directly relate to the stability and safety of underground engineering structures. This paper investigates the creep characteristics of laminated limestone under high-temperature natural cooling and water cooling, analyzing the correlation between creep deformation, creep rate, long-term strength, and the angle of laminations, temperature, cooling mode. It then introduces a non-constant fractional-order cohesive body to construct an improved model based on these findings. The results indicate that under the same temperature and cooling method, as the lamination angle increases, the long-term strength shows a V-shaped trend, while the creep rate shows an inverted V-shaped trend. Specifically, the water cooling conditions at 500 °C (0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°) are 85.75 MPa, 71.24 MPa, 42.30 MPa, 61.52 MPa, and 87.40 MPa, respectively. For specimens with the same lamination angle, the creep mechanical properties of specimens cooled by water are more deteriorated than those cooled naturally. Taking the 100 °C action stratified limestone, long-term strength (0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°) corresponding to natural cooling are 120.15 MPa, 106.12 MPa, 72.71 MPa, 91.43 MPa, and 123.32 MPa, respectively, while the long-term strengths corresponding to water cooling are 116.96 MPa, 100.97 MPa, 70.65 MPa, 85.34 MPa and 119.63 MPa, respectively. Finally, by comparing with the experimental results of nodular limestone under different cooling methods, it is found that the creep damage model proposed in this paper is not much different from the experimental curves, and it can effectively express the creep deformation and mechanical behavior of laminated limestone after high temperature. The results and findings are important for optimizing the design and prevention of potential underground energy extraction project disasters, and also provide important data support.

Impact of the “Mengabu (Facing Ash Storms) Disaster Preparedness” Program on Adolescents’ Knowledge About Disaster Preparedness in Kresik Tuo Village, Kayu Aro District, Kerinci Regency, Jambi

Natural disasters have become an integral part of people's lives in Indonesia, disrupting daily activities and causing significant impacts. Indonesia, located in the Ring of Fire, faces a high risk of volcanic eruptions, including the active Mount Kerinci which has the potential to cause disasters such as volcanic ashfall. Kresik Tuo Village, located near Mount Kerinci, faces a direct threat from this eruption. The community, especially the youth, need to improve their preparedness and knowledge to deal with potential disasters. The "MENGABU Siaga dalam Bencana" program is designed to improve the preparedness of the Kresik Tuo Village community in dealing with potential volcanic ashfall, with the hope of contributing to the development of community preparedness strategies in disaster-prone areas. To improve the knowledge of youth in Kresik Tuo Village related to disasters and disaster preparedness. The study used the Pre-Experimental research method with a Prepost Test Design. Sampling used a non-probability sampling technique with convenience sampling according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria of 40 respondents. Wilcoxon test shows that there is a significant increase in the knowledge of youth preparedness for the eruption of Mount Merapi after being given the "Mengabu Siaga dalam Bencana" program. All respondents experienced an increase in knowledge, as indicated by a positive ranks value of 40 and a p value = 0.000. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that there is a significant effect of the "Mengabu (Mengabu Storm Ash) Siaga Dalam Bencana" Program on Youth Preparedness Knowledge for Disasters in Kresik Tuo Village, Kayu Aro District, Kerinci Regency, Jambi in increasing youth knowledge.

Penyusunan rencana kontinjensi epidemi penyakit menular disebabkan oleh virus di Kota Banda Aceh [Development of contingency plan for infectious disease epidemics caused by viruses in Banda Aceh City

Contingency Plan for Outbreak/Epidemic Disaster in Banda Aceh City is a document that contains the process of identifying and preparing future plans based on potential disaster conditions. The purpose of making a Contingency Plan document that becomes a reference in the disaster outbreak/epidemic of Infectious Diseases Caused by Viruses in the City of Banda Aceh. Method The preparation process involved all disaster management institutions and actors, both government and non-government. The scope of activities carried out are: Technical Team Meeting, Public Seminar, and Plan Finalization. The results obtained by the issuance of the Banda Aceh Mayor's Regulation for the Contingency Plan for the epidemic of infectious diseases caused by viruses in the city of Banda Aceh which is regulated in a Banda Aceh Mayor's Regulation No. 68 of 2021 concerning the Contingency Plan for the Epidemic of Infectious Diseases Caused by Viruses in the City of Banda Aceh. In conclusion, Banda Aceh City has realized preparedness for the threat of epidemics of diseases caused by viruses by involving multi-sectors. To improve the function and sustainability of the document, data updates and projections of resource needs are needed to support the implementation/activation of the contingency plan that has been prepared.

Characterization of Seismic Signal Patterns and Dynamic Pore Pressure Fluctuations Due to Wave-Induced Erosion on Non-Cohesive Slopes

Wave erosion of slopes can easily trigger landslides into marine environments and pose severe threats to both the ecological environment and human activities. Therefore, near-shore slope monitoring becomes crucial for preventing and alerting people to these potential disasters. To achieve a comprehensive understanding, it is imperative to conduct a detailed investigation into the dynamics of wave erosion processes acting on slopes. This research is conducted through flume tests, using a wave maker to create waves of various heights and frequencies to erode the slope models. During the tests, seismic signals, acoustic signals, and pore pressure generated by wave erosion and slope failure are recorded. Seismic and acoustic signals are analyzed, and time-frequency spectra are calculated using the Hilbert–Huang Transform to identify the erosion events and signal frequency ranges. Arias Intensity is used to assess seismic energy and explore the relationship between the amount of erosion and energy. The results show that wave height has a more decisive influence on erosion behavior and retreat than wave frequency. Rapid drawdown may potentially cause the slope to slide during cyclic swash and backwash wave action. As wave erosion changes from swash to impact, there is a significant increase in the spectral magnitude and Power Spectral Density (PSD) of both seismic and acoustic signals. An increase in pore pressure is observed due to the rise in the run-up height of waves. The amplitude of pore pressure will increase as the slope undergoes further erosion. Understanding the results of this study can aid in predicting erosion and in planning effective management strategies for slopes subject to wave action.

Harnessing text information for enhanced hurricane resilience and public engagement: Unveiling disaster perspectives through social media

The recent disaster by hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Mexico, exemplifies how natural disasters, particularly hurricanes, can often arrive with a force that defies prediction despite technological advancements. Their impact, coupled with secondary disasters, underscores the urgency for efficient preemptive measures. Resilience research in the face of such calamities necessitates the creation of a safeguard before incurring irreversible losses. This research leverages big data, explicitly harnessing information obtained from social media about hurricanes, to bolster the efficacy of hurricane response efforts. The focus lies in amplifying the dissemination of adequate warnings and enhancing rescue operations. Concurrently, the research aims to delve into potential disaster rescue suggestions by tracking and analyzing high-interaction discussions on social media — X. This exploration seeks to unveil public focal points during hurricane disasters and identify valuable perspectives for future disaster response strategies. The research findings show that dynamic public discussions on X failed to adequately focus on crucial aspects such as hurricane rescue and warnings. Instead, certain discussions tended to target specific groups and individuals. By unveiling these trends, this research highlights the need to develop a nuanced understanding of interpreting and engaging with social media discussions during significant hurricane events.

The relevance of risk perception and coping strategies for COVID-19 situation reports

Introduction: Various measures have been implemented worldwide to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast to epidemiological data, psychosocial parameters such as coping strategies in the population were rarely considered in assessments of the course of the pandemic, a point that experts criticized. Based on the transactional model of stress and coping as well as the psychometric paradigm of risk perception, this paper addresses the relevance of psychosocial data for COVID-19 situation reports by highlighting the role of risk perception and coping within the German population. Method: We collected quantitative data on risk perception and coping strategies in four surveys conducted at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 in Germany. We present descriptive as well as bivariate results to examine our research questions statistically. Results: Data contribute to psychosocial aspects of the general situation report such as variations of risk perception during the pandemic (e.g., declining risk perception) and by sociodemographic (e.g., age) as well as location. Furthermore, Germans characterize the COVID-19 pandemic as a crisis with catastrophic potential, but as easily reducible through behavior. Besides, coping strategies are more problem-focused and most respondents listen to experts’ advice and try to behave appropriately. Conclusion: These data are helpful and necessary to provide a complete and substantial situation report in crises and disasters and support crisis managers and public authorities to adequately address the public regarding their concerns.

Design and Development of an IoT-Based Leakage Detection System for Kitchens

In Nigeria, the frequent loss of lives and properties due to LPG usage for cooking necessitates urgent intervention. This paper presents an Internet of Things (IoT) based detection system to monitor LPG leakage in kitchens. Key components include a solenoid valve for gas flow control, an MQ6 sensor for LPG monitoring, and an STM32F411CEU6 microcontroller, programmed in embedded C, as the central processing unit of the system. The system introduces an emergency shutdown mechanism using an MMBT3904 NPN transistor. Upon detecting a leak, the MQ6 sensor informs the microcontroller, which prompts the user with a Short Message Service (SMS) and calls, and then triggers the transistor to close the solenoid valve if the leakage poses an explosion risk, thus preventing potential disasters. Additionally, a custom mobile app allows for remote monitoring and control of LPG leakage. To address Nigeria's unreliable electricity supply, the system includes a 5V power pack, a solar panel, and a battery for continuous power supply to the system. Deploying this system will significantly reduce the risks associated with LPG leaks in kitchens across Nigeria.

Crowd behavior detection: leveraging video swin transformer for crowd size and violence level analysis

In recent years, crowd behavior detection has posed significant challenges in the realm of public safety and security, even with the advancements in surveillance technologies. The ability to perform real-time surveillance and accurately identify crowd behavior by considering factors such as crowd size and violence levels can avert potential crowd-related disasters and hazards to a considerable extent. However, most existing approaches are not viable to deal with the complexities of crowd dynamics and fail to distinguish different violence levels within crowds. Moreover, the prevailing approach to crowd behavior recognition, which solely relies on the analysis of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and overlooks the integration of online social media video content, leads to a primarily reactive methodology. This paper proposes a crowd behavior detection framework based on the swin transformer architecture, which leverages crowd counting maps and optical flow maps to detect crowd behavior across various sizes and violence levels. To support this framework, we created a dataset comprising videos capable of recognizing crowd behaviors based on size and violence levels sourced from CCTV camera footage and online videos. Experimental analysis conducted on benchmark datasets and our proposed dataset substantiates the superiority of our proposed approach over existing state-of-the-art methods, showcasing its ability to effectively distinguish crowd behaviors concerning size and violence level. Our method’s validation through Nvidia’s DeepStream Software Development Kit (SDK) highlights its competitive performance and potential for real-time intelligent surveillance applications.Graphical abstract

Comparative Study of Rapid Assessment Methods for Earthquake-Triggered Landslides Based on the Newmark Model—A Case Study of the 2022 Luding Ms6.8 Earthquake

Earthquake-triggered landslides represent a significant seismic-related disaster, posing threats to both the lives and property of individuals in affected areas. Furthermore, they can result in road and river blockages, as well as other secondary disasters, significantly impacting post-earthquake rescue efforts. Efficient, accurate, and rapid assessment of high-risk landslide zones carries important implications for decision making in disaster response and for mitigating potential secondary disasters. The high-intensity zones VII to IX of the Luding Ms6.8 earthquake on 5 September, 2022, were used as a case study here. Based on the simple Newmark model, the difference method and the cumulative displacement method were employed to assess earthquake-triggered landslides. The assessment results from both methods demonstrated that the areas posing an extremely high risk of earthquake-triggered landslides were predominantly situated on the western side of the Xianshuihe Fault. Verification using actual landslide data showed that both methods had high predictive accuracy, with the difference method slightly outperforming the cumulative displacement method. Moreover, this study recommends determining threshold values for each landslide risk interval having physical meanings using previous data on strong earthquakes when utilizing the difference method to assess the risk of earthquake-triggered landslides.

Application of different earthquake-induced landslide hazard assessment models on the 2022 Ms 6.8 luding earthquake

Following the earthquake, prompt evaluation of the distribution of coseismic landslides and estimation of potential disaster losses are crucial for emergency response and resettlement planning. The Luding earthquake of 2022 offers a valuable opportunity to conduct a rapid assessment of coseismic landslides using various models. In this study, we utilize the Logistic Regression (LR)-based Xu2019 model, a new-generation model developed in China, alongside the Newmark model to perform the rapid hazard assessment of coseismic landslides. Assessing the accuracy and applicability of these two models based on the coseismic landslides from the Luding earthquake, we find that within intensity area of IX, the high probability area identified by the Newmark model aligns closely with the actual distribution of landslides. However, the Newmark model’s prediction is overestimated in the intensity area of VIII. For the Xu2019 model, the prediction results are in good agreement with the distribution of actual landslides. Most landslides are located in high probability areas, such as Detuo town, Wandong, and Xingfu villages, indicating that the model has a higher prediction accuracy. Overall, two models have good practical utility in emergency hazard assessment of coseismic landslides. However, the Newmark model requires multi-input parameters and the assignment of these parameters will increase the uncertainty and subjectivity in the practical application of the modeling assessment.

Early warning system on harmful aquatic organisms at a regional sea scale: Components and mechanisms

The introduction of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens (HAOP) via the ballast water of ships can endanger human health, the environment, economic resource-related systems, as well as impair biological diversity. Early warning systems (EWS) are highly effective instruments for mitigating risks and enhancing readiness in the face of potential disasters, including those resulting from HAOP. The establishment of a regional EWS for the identification and notification of harmful organisms is a complex marine policy process involving communication with stakeholders, technical development, engagement of regional knowledge, and, ultimately, harmonization between key authorities and Participating States. The purpose of EWS is to promptly communicate the findings of HAOP to the appropriate stakeholders, such as government agencies and commercial companies. The paper elucidates in detail the criteria and procedure for developing a regionally standardized EWS, including its mechanism, the technical information platform that is required, and the obligations of EWS data providers. It also discusses the decision-making process for issuing alerts and identifies the intended recipients of the warning signals. The system has been operational in the Baltic Sea region for over two years, and the knowledge and insights gathered during its development may prove beneficial in other areas as well.

Mechanical response of coal pillar-backfill composite confined by CFRP jackets: parametrical study

The composite structure consisting of the coal pillar and backfill material is the critical component for the room-and-pillar mining system, the stability of which is mainly relevant to the interface in between. To eliminate the premature instability and potential disasters attributed to the breakage of the weak interface, the innovative strengthening technique incorporating the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) jacket was recently developed and the comprehensive studies including the uni-axial compression tests and the numerical investigation were carried out. In the present study, the digital interface of the coal-backfill composite was initially reconstructed with the 3D laser scanning and then imported into the mesoscopic continuum-discontinuity coupling model via the PFC-FLAC coupling method. Based on the analysis of the deformation characteristics and damage patterns of the coal -backfill composite, the strengthening mechanism of the exterior CFRP jacket was discussed. The results showed that both the load-bearing performance and the stability of the coal-backfill composite interface have been well enhanced mainly attributed to the effective lateral confinement provided by the exterior CFRP jacket. Moreover, the application of the CFRP jacket enhances the energy dissipation capacity of the coal-backfill composite as suggested by laboratory tests. It is also suggested that both the peak strength and elastic modulus of the coal-backfill composite exhibited the initial decrease and then rising as the interface angle increases. As demonstrated by the systematic research, the CFRP strengthening technique is effective in maintaining the stability of the coal-backfill composites for underground mines.