Water-weakening effect is one of the most important factors inducing large deformation and stability problems of shale strata in the Huangjiazhai Tunnel. The influence of water on shale with various water contents and its mechanism still needs more study. In this paper, the X-ray diffraction and water absorption test were first conducted to determine the influence of mineral components on water-rock interaction. Then, a series of rock mechanical tests, including uniaxial compressive test, Brazilian disk test, and triaxial compressive test, were carried out on shale under dried condition, wetted condition with various water contents, and saturated condition. For the uniaxial compression, tension, and triaxial compression, the softening coefficient could reach 0.38, 0.63, and 0.52, respectively. Based on the macroscale experiments, a numerical case study of tunnel excavation was investigated to evaluate the water effect. Finally, with the aid of scanning electron microscope and failure morphology, the mechanism of water-weakening effect on shale was discussed from microscopic and macroscopic perspectives. The thickness of the double layer increases with the increase of water immersion time. This paper provides a set of useful data for reference in construction in shale strata, and a methodology to evaluate water-weakening effect through laboratory and numerical modelling approaches.

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Many waste clay bricks have been produced when brick concrete buildings are demolished; at the same time, grouting treatment in goaf ground needs lots of cement. Waste‐clay‐brick‐powder (WCBP) is proposed to replace a large part of the cement to prepare environmentally friendly slurry suitable for ground grouting in mine goaf. Laboratory tests of replacing 50–90% of cement with WCBP are carried out. Bentonite and water‐reducing agent are used to optimize the slurry based on the performance indexes of water‐separation ratio, stone rate, viscosity, setting time, and compressive strength. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests are also conducted to investigate the microscopic mechanism of some WCBP‐cement samples. Test results show that the slurry made of 20% cement, 70% WCBP, 10% bentonite, and 0.15% water‐reducing agent can meet the needs of ground grouting in mine goaf, and its stone rate is 12% higher than that of pure cement slurry. SEM results show that the WCBP in the early stage mainly exerts the microaggregate effect, and the pozzolanic activity in the later stage plays a role in supplementing the strength.

Grouting treatment is the main technology to reduce or eliminate the residual deformation and activation deformation of foundations in the goaf sites. Under the influences of the overburden of the mining, the distribution of grouting in goaf foundation is quite different from that of conventional grouting mechanism in porous media. In this paper, considering the time-dependent viscosity and diffusion path of the slurry, the conventional permeation diffusion mechanism of Bingham fluid is derived based on the seepage motion equation in porous media. The theoretical formula is modified according to the fracture distribution characteristics of caving zone and fault zone of the goaf foundation and the superposition effect of porous grouting. Combined with the laboratory test, the theoretical formulas for four working conditions ((i) only considering the time-dependent viscosity, (ii) considering the time-dependent viscosity and diffusion path, (iii) combining the fracture distribution characteristics of goaf foundation, and (iv) combining the fracture distribution characteristics and the superposition effect of porous grouting) are verified, respectively. The results of theoretical formula are used to compare with the design scheme of an engineering example. The research results have an important engineering significance for revealing the mechanism of seepage grouting in goaf foundation and designing the optimal spacing between grouting holes.

Waste concrete powder (WCP) is proposed to replace part of the cement to seek environmentally friendly grouting materials for ground improvement in mine goaf. The optimal mixing proportion was selected based on the performance indexes of the water-separation ratio, stone rate, viscosity, setting time, and compressive strength. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were also conducted to analyze mineralogical phases and investigate the microscopic mechanism. Test results show that the slurry prepared by the substitution rate of 70% and adding 0.05% water-reducing agent meets well the requirements of ground grouting in mine goaf. The WCP produced by grinding mainly exerts microaggregate effect in the slurry due to low activity. A lot of pores on the surface of WCP were shown by SEM which can absorb the water in the slurry and increase the stone rate. The WCP application for ground grouting in mine goaf can not only recycle WC but also provide new grouting materials for goaf ground.