Strength Characteristics and Air-Leakage Determinations for Alternative Mine Seal Designs

During the normal course of underground coal mining, it sometimes becomes necessary to seal off abandoned areas to eliminate the need to ventilate them. Seals also are used to isolate fire zones or areas susceptible to spontaneous combustion. The objective of the research is to determine whether seals constructed from various materials and designs can withstand a 20-psig methane-air explosion without losing their structural integrity.