Evolution from gas outburst to coal outburst: An analysis from the perspective of asynchronous transfer difference of gas mass and coal deformation

Considering that coal and gas outburst is a highly complex nonlinear process, the synchronous energy criterion based on the gas expansion energy and the coal deformation potential energy is often adopted to evaluate the hazard. However, the synchronous energy criterion without considering the transfer difference of gas mass and coal deformation has defects in describing the evolution characteristics of coal-rock gas dynamic disasters. Hence, it is necessary to investigate the asynchronous characteristics of the gas expansion energy and the coal deformation potential energy. In this study, the deformation characteristics of coal injected with He and CH4 were measured respectively with the aid of a self-developed device for observing the asynchronous characteristics of effective stress and adsorption-induced deformation. Besides, the differentiated propagation characteristics of gas pressure and adsorption-induced deformation were obtained, and the asynchronous propagation starting point and propagation rate difference between them were analyzed and determined. Furthermore, based on the calculation formula of gas expansion energy and coal deformation potential energy, the values and propagation differences of the two types of energy at different times were revealed. Finally, the typical outburst phenomena were explained using the energy asynchronous theory. The following research findings were yielded. The adsorption-induced expansion process lasts longer than the gas pressure reduction process, which is the reason for asynchronous propagation of gas expansion energy and coal deformation potential energy. The coal deformation potential energy can be further divided into mechanical compression strain energy and desorption shrinkage strain energy. In the initial stage of outburst, the main sources of energy are free gas expansion energy and mechanical compression strain energy. As time progresses, the effect of desorption gas expansion energy and desorption shrinkage strain energy gradually strengthens. From the perspective of energy asynchrony, outburst occurrence at a low gas concentration in deep regions and delayed outburst in cross-cut coal uncovering can be explained as the result of dynamic load instability in surrounding stopes brought about by lagging superimposed deformation disturbances after gas desorption, or the result of self-induced lagging shrinkage deformation formed under special boundary conditions. The findings of this study are helpful to guide the design and connection of the prevention and control methods of deep coal-rock gas dynamic disasters.