Polypropylene fiber's effect on the features of combined cement-based tailing backfill: Micro- and macroscopic aspects

Abstract

In undercut-and-fill mining, backfills show weak tensile strength and poor ductility properties since they act as artificial pillars to support stope roofs. Hence, the enhancement of the stability of mining structures and backfills is a crucial requisite for underground mining backfill operations. This study addresses the reinforcing effect of polypropylene (PP) on the strength features of combined cement-based tailing backfill (CCTB) with varied cement/tail ratios (c/t: 1:8 to 1:4) at both macroscopic and microscopic levels. Fill specimens containing a fixed solid content of 70 wt% were reinforced with fiber (0.6 wt%) and with no fiber (classified as a reference sample). They were then cast in mold sizes of 160 x 40 x 40 mm3, and cured for 7 days. Following curing, some experiments covering three-point bending assisted by DIC and SEM were performed to inspect the microstructure and strength features of CCTB. The results illustrate that the flexural strength of fiber-oriented CCTB increases along with the c/t fraction, but it is not greater than that of specimens with a high c/t fraction without fiber. Adding PP fiber, the peak deflection of CCTB specimens was improved, and the increment of peak deflection increased linearly with rising c/t fraction, enhancing CCTB's bending characteristics. CCTB damage starts from the bottom to the middle, and the main cause of the damage is the stress distribution at the lowest section. The addition of fiber to CCTBs increases the ability to dissipate energy, which helps to hinder crack extension and prevent brittle damage from occurring. The microstructure shows that AFt and CSH were key hydrate materials in CCTB. As a result, this study develops the security of mining with backfill and helps to determine its design properties for safe production inputs and sustainable filling operations.