Deformation failure and acoustic emission characteristics of continuous graded waste rock cemented backfill under uniaxial compression

In order to study the effect of backfill aggregate particle size on the compressive strength and failure mode of cemented backfill, uniaxial compression tests were carried out on seven kinds of cemented backfills with different particle size gradations. By analyzing the AE characteristics during the failure process of the backfill, the damage evolution mechanism of the cemented backfill with different particle size gradations was discussed. The test results show that with the increase of the Talbot gradation index n, the compressive strength of the backfill specimens first increases and then decreases, and the failure mode gradually changes from shear failure to tensile failure. With the increase of particle size gradation, the particle size of aggregate increases, the interface between aggregate and cement matrix is more likely to be fractured, and the characteristic parameters of acoustic emission are more active. During the failure process of backfill, the AE energy rate increases rapidly in the plastic development stage, and reaches maximum value before and after the peak stress, which can be used as the precursor to judge the failure of waste rock cemented backfill. According to the test results, the damage model and constitutive equations of waste rock cemented backfill with different Talbot particle size gradations are established, which can provide engineering guidance for filling mined-out areas with waste rock to ensure safe production of mines.