Analysis and Improvement of Oversize Goaf Backfill Engineering Based on Fuzzy Theory
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The layout, form and scope of the publication, in my opinion, is coherent, clear and logical. You could describe the methodology and the scope of the analyzed variables even more, but it is not necessary and necessary to complete. For me, the publication is very interesting.
Author Response
DETAILED RESPONSES TO REVIEWERS’ COMMENTS
The authors are very grateful for valuable comments and suggestions of the editor and reviewers. We have revised the original manuscript in accordance with the comments suggested by the editor and reviewers.
Reviewer1’s comments and replies:
Comment #1:
- The layout, form and scope of the publication, in my opinion, is coherent, clear and logical. You could describe the methodology and the scope of the analyzed variables even more, but it is not necessary and necessary to complete. For me, the publication is very interesting.
Reply #1:
We added the following contents that has been shown in blue font in section 3.2 in our revised manuscript.
Generally, filling material is similar to cementitious materials, and their strength is greatly affected by the amount of cement and the water cement ratio. For concrete with different particle sizes, their strength also varies greatly. Therefore, when analyzing the mechanical properties of filling materials with less binder material, some analysis methods of ordinary concrete can still be used for reference.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The manuscript "Analysis and Improvement of Oversize Goaf Backfill Engineering Based on Fuzzy Theory" by Daiqiang Deng, Guodong Cao, Yihua Liang, Jinkuan Fan, Runze Wang and Yunfan Ma was submitted for peer review.
I read the submitted manuscript with great interest. The authors turned to a very urgent problem: creation of a backfill based on waste from ore processing and analysis of the created material characteristics using fuzzy mathematical analysis considering many factors. The use of backfill at mining enterprises increases the safety and reduces the loss of minerals. At the same time, the use of waste in backfill reduces the load on the environment by involving industrial waste into a closed production cycle.
The manuscript has significant flaws that need to be corrected. Correction of the shortcomings listed below must be done to improve the quality of the manuscript, enhance the ease of perception of the presented material and increase the interest of a readers.
Overall, the manuscript does not provide anything relevant to the current scientific knowledge.
A resubmission with complete characterization and laboratory tests on research is suggested. Major revision might be sufficient if these tests have been performed. Otherwise, the paper should be considered as rejected in the present form.
It is very difficult to comment on the manuscript and make recommendations in the absence of line numbers. In the presence of line numbering, the Reviewer can point to a certain line and give the comments.
1.) From my point of view, there are very few keywords. In addition, the keywords should be more direct and related to the manuscript content. Keywords enable the reader to quickly search for the necessary material and enable the author to popularize their research and increase interest and citations. But if this number of keywords satisfies the requirement of the journal, this comment is advisory.
2.) The abstract is not quite formed correctly. It is very blurry and framed incorrectly. It seems that the authors have taken certain phrases from the text and thus formed the abstract. The abstract should clearly indicate the purpose of the study, its importance for society (i.e. to characterize the problem), identify the methods and materials of the study, and the conclusions should be clearly and briefly formulated. There is no "starting point" in the abstract, that is, information about previous studies (one sentence is enough). From my point of view, in the abstract, such information begins with the statement: "Previously conducted studies have established that ...".
2.1) It is desirable to avoid narrative text in the abstract.
2.2) Try to use words and phrases: an analysis has been carried out; studied; developed; proposed; established and so on. It is advisable to start sentences in the abstract with these words and phrases.
2.3) At the end of the abstract, it is necessary to indicate the final result obtained by the authors, for example: A model has been developed that allows ...; A dependence has been established which is...; A pattern has been revealed...; An efficient system (technology) has been proposed, and so on.
The abstract should be revised.
3.) The manuscript has a sufficient reference list (45 references in total). But there is no comprehensive coverage of studies in terms of geography of citations. There are no references to international studies in the field, especially on the work of Eastern European, Ukrainian and Russian scientists. The list of references is intended to demonstrate the depth of the author's study of the material, the relevance and interest of their research.
3.1.) The depth of study is demonstrated with the number of references - is enough.
3.2.) Relevance – with the availability of research in recent years – is enough.
3.3.) Interest – with the availability of research by scientists from different countries - is not enough (practically absent).
Since you are publishing your manuscript in an international publication, it is necessary to demonstrate the international relevance and interest of this issue. This can be done by analyzing the studies of scientists from different countries. It is imperative to supplement the list of references with studies of scientists from different countries over the past 3-5 years to show geographical (general/global) interest and relevance.
The List of References needs to be completed.
4.) In the introduction when analyzing previous studies, the authors make inaccuracies or provide information that overloads the text and often their claims are not accompanied with evidence. It is important for readers to know the essence (main idea) of the research you are referring to when analyzing previous work. In the introduction, it is necessary to analyze the previously completed work and note what has been done, what are the shortcomings, and what has been done incorrectly. Such shortcomings are present throughout the Introduction. Authors need to revise the introduction, adjust, and supplement their statements with evidence.
5.) From my point of view, the authors abuse the names of scientists when mentioning the study, for example: Dong [11]. A reference [11] is sufficient. If the reader is interested in the name of the researcher, then it is easy to refer to the references list. It is important for the reader to know the essence (main idea) of the disclosed issue, not the name of the researcher.
6.) I would recommend avoiding group references, for example [1-4]. From my point of view, allowed up to three; more than three references are not acceptable and must be deciphered. Each paper you refer is unique and the studies you refer deserve more proper and careful review to demonstrate (and prove) its importance for the current research. It is necessary to demonstrate in detail the essence of each study and their need for your work. It has already been noted in recommendation (4) that you have many statements without indicating awareness. You will avoid group references by correcting this fact.
7.) At the end of the introduction, there is no brief conclusion of the analytical study of earlier papers. The authors did not summarize their analysis and did not identify unresolved issues. This conclusion should make it possible to characterize the actual question posed, the purpose of the study and the tasks to be solved to achieve this goal. For example: Analyzing the above, it can be noted that ... is a very topical issue. Therefore, the purpose of this study is ... and to achieve this, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: 1); 2); ... Such a conclusion allows the reader to understand the vector of the study, and the authors to correctly formulate the conclusions. It needs to be improved.
8.) Considering the comments (3) and (4), I would like to note that the authors have very poorly disclosed the main subject of the study. There have been many studies on the introduction of technology with backfill in mining enterprises.
The impact of industrial waste on the environment is great, so the issues of reducing this impact are very relevant and scientists around the world are trying to minimize it. In recent years, a lot of work has been carried out on the study of a material based on tailings with the aim of their subsequent use in a closed, waste-free (low-waste) production or for products intended for civil engineering. The optimization of the backfill composition is a very topical task, and a lot of work is devoted to it.
For example,
8.1) Kongar-Syuryun, Ch.; Ubysz, A.; Faradzhov, V. Models and algorithms of choice of development technology of deposits when selecting the composition of the backfilling mixture. IOP Conf. Series: Earth Environ. Sci. 2021, 684(1), 012008. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/684/1/012008.
In this study, the authors propose a methodology of selecting a mineral deposit development technology and a rational backfill composition. The structure of the methodology includes fuzzy models and algorithms that provide processing of large amounts of information. The methodology includes many factors that shape the significance of the external environment. At the same time, each factor has a coefficient of significance, that is, the weight that the factor has on the general external environment.
8.2) Khayrutdinov, M.M.; Golik, V.I.; Aleksakhin, A.V.; Trushina, E.V.; Lazareva, N.V.; Aleksakhina, Y.V. Proposal of an Algorithm for Choice of a Development System for Operational and Environmental Safety in Mining. Resources 2022, 11, 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources11100088.
The article describes the algorithm for choosing the optimal development system for the safe mining. The authors proposed a zonal division of the mass to determine the initial structure of a multi-agent system. The authors start from the original static point, that is, the initial source of perturbation (destruction). The results of the practical implementation of the proposed mathematical model are presented and an algorithm is compiled. Strain changes and stress concentration are key criteria in the proposed mathematical model. The proposed algorithm allows to determine the preferred deposit development system.
8.3) Ermolovich, E.A.; Ivannikov, A.L.; Khayrutdinov, M.M.; Kongar-Syuryun, C.B.; Tyulyaeva, Y.S. Creation of a Nanomodified Backfill Based onthe Waste from Enrichment of Water-Soluble Ores. Materials 2022, 15, 3689. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15103689.
The authors study a composite based on waste from the processing of water-soluble ores. To increase the strength characteristics of the created composite, fullerene-astarlene is used as a nanomodified additive. From my point of view, this work should be used in the analysis of previously performed studies, since it uses the methods of mechanical, microstructural, X-ray phase and petrographic analyzes to confirm arguments. This paper describes quite well the method of backfill preparation.
8.4) Kongar-Syuryun, Ch.; Aleksakhin, A.; Khayrutdinov, A.; Tyulyaeva, Y. Research of rheological characteristics of the mixture as a way to create a new backfill material with specified characteristics. Materials Today: Proceedings 2021, 38, 2052-2054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.10.139.
In this study, the authors study a backfill based on the waste from ore processing. Particular attention is paid to the study of the material transportability with maintaining the specified strength characteristics. Since the backfill is to be transported to the place of laying, it is necessary to pay attention to rheological characteristics or analyze previously performed work in this area.
If the authors become familiar with the works presented in (8.1), (8.2), (8.3), (8.4) they will be able to properly form the introduction, enrich their manuscript with international research by scientists from Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Russia, Germany and demonstrate the depth of their material, as well as eliminate the remarks (3) and (4).
9) The authors claim: In order to satisfy the second-step pillar mining, goaf needs to be filled as soon as possible to avoid weakening a large area of surrounding rock which may cause the geological disaster. From my point of view, it is not geological disasters, but man-made/anthropogenic disasters, i.e. disasters associated with human activities.
10.) It is necessary to indicate who made Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4? If this is the author's merit, then it is necessary to indicate: done by the authors; if this is a borrowed drawing, then it is necessary to indicate the source.
11.) I have a question about the appropriateness of using figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the manuscript. These figures do not characterize the course of the study and do not confirm its results. From my point of view, it is necessary to provide a technological scheme for the backfill preparation used at the enterprise and modernized by the authors.
12.) From my point of view, the first 5 sentences of section 2.1 are redundant. The name of the area is sufficient. The rest of the information does not relate to the main object of research and is available on the Internet.
13.) When describing an experiment to create a backfill, it is necessary to specify:
13.1) the brand of Portland cement and preferably the manufacturer which was used by the authors;
13.2) chemical-mineralogical and fractional composition of tailings;
13.3) how was the convergence of the results achieved;
13.4) how was the homogenization (mixing) carried out; what is the mixing tool; what is the mixing velocity and time;
13.5.) what is the sequence of filling of the components when mixing;
13.6) it is also not clear how the homogeneity of the composition (thoroughness of mixing) was achieved, provided that the amount of some components in the composite is minimal.
14.) To eliminate remarks (13.1-13.6), I would recommend reading the work (8.3). The recommended paper is similar to the one submitted for peer review and describes the methodology in detail.
15.) The authors often use definitions that have an estimated (not exact) value, which is unacceptable for scientific research, for example: «The low-concentration tailings slurry», «predetermined concentration», «concentration of the tailings in the silo was high», «Only high-pressure water» etc. Such inaccuracies are present throughout the manuscript. From my point of view, it is necessary to indicate specific values or boundaries so that the reader can repeat the experiment.
16.) Cementitious materials were then added to the uniform tailings slurry in a mixing hopper. How much cement was added?
17) In my view, the conclusion is wrongly formed. The authors briefly describe the research in Conclusion, which is incorrect. Conclusion – is summary of the study without repeating the wording given earlier in the manuscript. Conclusions should briefly characterize the result of the study, for example:
As a result of the study
(1) the dependence of … was obtained.
(2) it was found that ...
(3) and so on.
The conclusion needs to be revised.
Summary: The manuscript is not a finished research work. The corrections are needed. The chosen research topic is relevant. From my point of view, the authors failed to present their research correctly and clearly, which reduced its value and worsened the ease of perception of the material presented.
From my point of view, the manuscript cannot be published in the open press without correction in accordance with my suggestions.
Author Response
DETAILED RESPONSES TO REVIEWERS’ COMMENTS
The authors are very grateful for valuable comments and suggestions of the editor and reviewers. We have revised the original manuscript in accordance with the comments suggested by the editor and reviewers.
Reviewer2’s comments and replies:
Comment #1:
1.) From my point of view, there are very few keywords. In addition, the keywords should be more direct and related to the manuscript content. Keywords enable the reader to quickly search for the necessary material and enable the author to popularize their research and increase interest and citations. But if this number of keywords satisfies the requirement of the journal, this comment is advisory.
Reply #1:
Thanks for the reviewer’s advice. This number of keywords satisfies the requirement of the journal.
Comment #2:
2.) The abstract is not quite formed correctly. It is very blurry and framed incorrectly. It seems that the authors have taken certain phrases from the text and thus formed the abstract. The abstract should clearly indicate the purpose of the study, its importance for society (i.e. to characterize the problem), identify the methods and materials of the study, and the conclusions should be clearly and briefly formulated. There is no "starting point" in the abstract, that is, information about previous studies (one sentence is enough). From my point of view, in the abstract, such information begins with the statement: "Previously conducted studies have established that ...".
2.1) It is desirable to avoid narrative text in the abstract.
2.2) Try to use words and phrases: an analysis has been carried out; studied; developed; proposed; established and so on. It is advisable to start sentences in the abstract with these words and phrases.
2.3) At the end of the abstract, it is necessary to indicate the final result obtained by the authors, for example: A model has been developed that allows ...; A dependence has been established which is...; A pattern has been revealed...; An efficient system (technology) has been proposed, and so on. The abstract should be revised.
Reply #2:
According to the reviewer’s comments, we have revised the abstract.
Comment #3:
3.) The manuscript has a sufficient reference list (45 references in total). But there is no comprehensive coverage of studies in terms of geography of citations. There are no references to international studies in the field, especially on the work of Eastern European, Ukrainian and Russian scientists. The list of references is intended to demonstrate the depth of the author's study of the material, the relevance and interest of their research.
3.1.) The depth of study is demonstrated with the number of references - is enough.
3.2.) Relevance – with the availability of research in recent years – is enough.
3.3.) Interest – with the availability of research by scientists from different countries - is not enough (practically absent).
Since you are publishing your manuscript in an international publication, it is necessary to demonstrate the international relevance and interest of this issue. This can be done by analyzing the studies of scientists from different countries. It is imperative to supplement the list of references with studies of scientists from different countries over the past 3-5 years to show geographical (general/global) interest and relevance.
The List of References needs to be completed.
Reply #3:
We added the relevant references from different countries.
Comment #4:
4.) In the introduction when analyzing previous studies, the authors make inaccuracies or provide information that overloads the text and often their claims are not accompanied with evidence. It is important for readers to know the essence (main idea) of the research you are referring to when analyzing previous work. In the introduction, it is necessary to analyze the previously completed work and note what has been done, what are the shortcomings, and what has been done incorrectly. Such shortcomings are present throughout the Introduction. Authors need to revise the introduction, adjust, and supplement their statements with evidence.
Reply #4:
According to the reviewer’s opinion, we modified our Introduction.
Comment #5:
5.) From my point of view, the authors abuse the names of scientists when mentioning the study, for example: Dong [11]. A reference [11] is sufficient. If the reader is interested in the name of the researcher, then it is easy to refer to the references list. It is important for the reader to know the essence (main idea) of the disclosed issue, not the name of the researcher.
Reply #5:
We have revised the type of references.
Comment #6:
6.) I would recommend avoiding group references, for example [1-4]. From my point of view, allowed up to three; more than three references are not acceptable and must be deciphered. Each paper you refer is unique and the studies you refer deserve more proper and careful review to demonstrate (and prove) its importance for the current research. It is necessary to demonstrate in detail the essence of each study and their need for your work. It has already been noted in recommendation (4) that you have many statements without indicating awareness. You will avoid group references by correcting this fact.
Reply #6:
According to the reviewer’s opinion, we have revised references in Section 1.
Comment #7:
7.) At the end of the introduction, there is no brief conclusion of the analytical study of earlier papers. The authors did not summarize their analysis and did not identify unresolved issues. This conclusion should make it possible to characterize the actual question posed, the purpose of the study and the tasks to be solved to achieve this goal. For example: Analyzing the above, it can be noted that ... is a very topical issue. Therefore, the purpose of this study is ... and to achieve this, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: 1); 2); ... Such a conclusion allows the reader to understand the vector of the study, and the authors to correctly formulate the conclusions. It needs to be improved.
Reply #7:
At the end of the introduction, we added a brief conclusion of the analytical study of earlier papers. Also, the major content of our study is also stated.
Comment #8:
8.) Considering the comments (3) and (4), I would like to note that the authors have very poorly disclosed the main subject of the study. There have been many studies on the introduction of technology with backfill in mining enterprises.
The impact of industrial waste on the environment is great, so the issues of reducing this impact are very relevant and scientists around the world are trying to minimize it. In recent years, a lot of work has been carried out on the study of a material based on tailings with the aim of their subsequent use in a closed, waste-free (low-waste) production or for products intended for civil engineering. The optimization of the backfill composition is a very topical task, and a lot of work is devoted to it.
For example,
8.1) Kongar-Syuryun, Ch.; Ubysz, A.; Faradzhov, V. Models and algorithms of choice of development technology of deposits when selecting the composition of the backfilling mixture. IOP Conf. Series: Earth Environ. Sci. 2021, 684(1), 012008. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/684/1/012008.
In this study, the authors propose a methodology of selecting a mineral deposit development technology and a rational backfill composition. The structure of the methodology includes fuzzy models and algorithms that provide processing of large amounts of information. The methodology includes many factors that shape the significance of the external environment. At the same time, each factor has a coefficient of significance, that is, the weight that the factor has on the general external environment.
8.2) Khayrutdinov, M.M.; Golik, V.I.; Aleksakhin, A.V.; Trushina, E.V.; Lazareva, N.V.; Aleksakhina, Y.V. Proposal of an Algorithm for Choice of a Development System for Operational and Environmental Safety in Mining. Resources 2022, 11, 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources11100088.
The article describes the algorithm for choosing the optimal development system for the safe mining. The authors proposed a zonal division of the mass to determine the initial structure of a multi-agent system. The authors start from the original static point, that is, the initial source of perturbation (destruction). The results of the practical implementation of the proposed mathematical model are presented and an algorithm is compiled. Strain changes and stress concentration are key criteria in the proposed mathematical model. The proposed algorithm allows to determine the preferred deposit development system.
8.3) Ermolovich, E.A.; Ivannikov, A.L.; Khayrutdinov, M.M.; Kongar-Syuryun, C.B.; Tyulyaeva, Y.S. Creation of a Nanomodified Backfill Based onthe Waste from Enrichment of Water-Soluble Ores. Materials 2022, 15, 3689. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15103689.
The authors study a composite based on waste from the processing of water-soluble ores. To increase the strength characteristics of the created composite, fullerene-astarlene is used as a nanomodified additive. From my point of view, this work should be used in the analysis of previously performed studies, since it uses the methods of mechanical, microstructural, X-ray phase and petrographic analyzes to confirm arguments. This paper describes quite well the method of backfill preparation.
8.4) Kongar-Syuryun, Ch.; Aleksakhin, A.; Khayrutdinov, A.; Tyulyaeva, Y. Research of rheological characteristics of the mixture as a way to create a new backfill material with specified characteristics. Materials Today: Proceedings 2021, 38, 2052-2054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.10.139.
In this study, the authors study a backfill based on the waste from ore processing. Particular attention is paid to the study of the material transportability with maintaining the specified strength characteristics. Since the backfill is to be transported to the place of laying, it is necessary to pay attention to rheological characteristics or analyze previously performed work in this area.
If the authors become familiar with the works presented in (8.1), (8.2), (8.3), (8.4) they will be able to properly form the introduction, enrich their manuscript with international research by scientists from Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Russia, Germany and demonstrate the depth of their material, as well as eliminate the remarks (3) and (4).
Reply #8:
We have added the above references in the Introduction. Ref.[3-6].
Comment #9:
9) The authors claim: In order to satisfy the second-step pillar mining, goaf needs to be filled as soon as possible to avoid weakening a large area of surrounding rock which may cause the geological disaster. From my point of view, it is not geological disasters, but man-made/anthropogenic disasters, i.e. disasters associated with human activities.
Reply #9:
We have modified the sentence,“To prevent the occurrence of such secondary man-made geological disasters, the goafs must be backfilled to effectively protect the surface and ensure safe and continuous large-scale mining”
Comment #10:
10.) It is necessary to indicate who made Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4? If this is the author's merit, then it is necessary to indicate: done by the authors; if this is a borrowed drawing, then it is necessary to indicate the source.
Reply #10:
The photos were taken by us at the construction site.
Comment #11:
11.) I have a question about the appropriateness of using figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the manuscript. These figures do not characterize the course of the study and do not confirm its results. From my point of view, it is necessary to provide a technological scheme for the backfill preparation used at the enterprise and modernized by the authors.
Reply #11:
The author is very grateful for the question raised by the reviewer and has explained the following contents in the revised manuscript, which has been shown in blue font in the corresponding revised manuscript.
The process of compressed air pulping and filling slurry preparation was observed, which were used to visually analyze the problems in the filling slurry preparation process. Figure 3 is the pneumatic mixing tailings slurry in the tailings silo. Figure 4 is the uniform backfill slurry produced after adding cemented materials.”
Comment #12:
12.) From my point of view, the first 5 sentences of section 2.1 are redundant. The name of the area is sufficient. The rest of the information does not relate to the main object of research and is available on the Internet.
Reply #12:
The Caolou iron mine was originally designed to have an annual yield of 1.5 million tons. In recent years, its production capacity has been expanded to 3 million tons per year and up to 3.3 million tons. The primary production and sales businesses of the mine include iron ore mining, mineral processing, and the production of iron powder. Because the mine is covered by 170 m of Quaternary strata, there are 1–4 flow sand layers between the two layers of strata, and the surface area is occupied by dense villages, ponds, and farmland, there are high risks of surface subsidence and sand conduction damage in the mining environment.”
Comment #13:
13.) When describing an experiment to create a backfill, it is necessary to specify:
13.1) the brand of Portland cement and preferably the manufacturer which was used by the authors;
13.2) chemical-mineralogical and fractional composition of tailings;
13.3) how was the convergence of the results achieved;
13.4) how was the homogenization (mixing) carried out; what is the mixing tool; what is the mixing velocity and time;
13.5.) what is the sequence of filling of the components when mixing;
13.6) it is also not clear how the homogeneity of the composition (thoroughness of mixing) was achieved, provided that the amount of some components in the composite is minimal.
Reply #13:
Water, tailings (with a SiOâ‚‚ content of 68 to 72% in tailings), and PC32.5 cement were added to the mixer in turn. They are premixed with a dual horizontal shaft mixer with a rotational speed of 40 to 65 rpm/min, and then strongly stirred with a high-speed activation mixer with a rotational speed of 300 to 600 rpm/min. The mixing and homogenization time is about 30 to 45 seconds. When the outflow of filler slurry does not contain agglomerated cement particles, it is considered that various materials have been mixed evenly.
Comment #14:
14.) To eliminate remarks (13.1-13.6), I would recommend reading the work (8.3). The recommended paper is similar to the one submitted for peer review and describes the methodology in detail.
Reply #14:
The methodology was described in detail in our modified paper.
Comment #15:
15.) The authors often use definitions that have an estimated (not exact) value, which is unacceptable for scientific research, for example: «The low-concentration tailings slurry», «predetermined concentration», «concentration of the tailings in the silo was high», «Only high-pressure water» etc. Such inaccuracies are present throughout the manuscript. From my point of view, it is necessary to indicate specific values or boundaries so that the reader can repeat the experiment.
Reply #15:
Thanks for the reviewer’s advice.
Comment #16:
16.) Cementitious materials were then added to the uniform tailings slurry in a mixing hopper. How much cement was added?
Reply #16:
The amount of cement is 11~20%.
Comment #17:
17) In my view, the conclusion is wrongly formed. The authors briefly describe the research in Conclusion, which is incorrect. Conclusion – is summary of the study without repeating the wording given earlier in the manuscript. Conclusions should briefly characterize the result of the study, for example:
As a result of the study
(1) the dependence of … was obtained.
(2) it was found that ...
(3) and so on.
The conclusion needs to be revised.
Summary: The manuscript is not a finished research work. The corrections are needed. The chosen research topic is relevant. From my point of view, the authors failed to present their research correctly and clearly, which reduced its value and worsened the ease of perception of the material presented.
From my point of view, the manuscript cannot be published in the open press without correction in accordance with my suggestions.
Reply #17:
We have revised the conclusion.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The presented article is devoted to an important topic - the definition of the most important and influential factors on the quality of backfill. The preparation and supply of well-grounded backfill mix compositions will allow forming a stable and safe backfill mass in underground voids to protect the pattern surface. The article provides a lot of general information regarding the operation of an underground mine with a backfill. I would like to see more scientific results. Nevertheless, these results are present, although there are a few comments and recommendations below. The value of the article lies in the fact that, based on the analysis of the influencing factors, the shortcomings in the backfilling technology are subsequently eliminated. The article corresponds to the subject of the journal.
Notes and recommendations:
1. In the annotation add the obtained scientific results, a few sentences. The authors present there more research methodology. I recommend summaries.
2. Add "backfill" to the keywords.
3. In the introduction, before the last paragraph in the introduction, I recommend to note what studies were carried out on a comprehensive account of the factors affecting the quality of the backfill. There are several studies using neural networks. Consider them. And then in 1-2 sentences I recommend to note what exactly is not sufficiently studied today and what is not given attention to a comprehensive analysis of factors affecting the quality of backfill (if so).
4. Based on the above, you can shorten the text above in the introduction, since the recommendation in paragraph 3 will be more valuable to you.
5. I would like the structure of the article to be clearly expressed, try to single out the methodology and results separately.
6. It is not clear to me why, out of many influencing factors, the authors chose A1, A2, A3, A4, A5? Prove the importance of these factors.
7. I recommend to note what kind of experts they were? Are they specialists in the field of backfilling?
8. I recommend adding directly the processing of the results of these expert assessments. How did you get the importance of the factors? Show it in more detail. This is important because your article needs to strengthen the scientific part.
9. Ranking the importance of factors in the form of a histogram. Without this, the importance of ranking in plain text is lost.
10. I think it would also be useful for the authors to consider and take into account in their study the following articles:
Petlovanyi, M., & Mamaikin, O. (2019). Assessment of an expediency of binder material mechanical activation in cemented rockfill. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 14(20), 3492-3503
Petlovanyi, M.V., Zubko, S.A., Popovych, V.V., & Sai, K.S. (2020) Physicochemical mechanism of structure formation and strengthening in the backfill massif when filling underground cavities. Voprosy Khimii i Khimicheskoi Tekhnologii, (6), 142-150. https://doi.org/10.32434/0321-4095-2020-133-6-142-150
These articles focus on backfill issues in a large iron ore mine operating with backfill technology. By the way, 1-1.2 million m3 of filling mixture is also produced there annually, and the annual production is 4 million tons.
Author Response
The authors are very grateful for valuable comments and suggestions of the editor and reviewers. We have revised the original manuscript in accordance with the comments suggested by the editor and reviewers.
Reviewer3’s comments and replies:
Comment #1:
In the annotation add the obtained scientific results, a few sentences. The authors present there more research methodology. I recommend summaries.
Reply #1:
The author is very grateful for the question raised by the reviewer and has explained the following contents in the revised manuscript, which has been shown in blue font in the corresponding revised manuscript.
Abstract: For the mine of large goaf, there are many factors affects the filling quality. In order to improve the filling quality, it is necessary to identify the factors that have a significant impact. In this paper, the fuzzy mathematical method was used to analyze the five main factors (PC32.5cement sand ratio, slurry concentration, number of slurry lowering, and dehydration and drainage, and tailing particle size grading) affecting the filling quality. And the priority of each influence factor was calculated and the priority set was established. It is found that slurry launching point and particle size grading of the tailings have obvious effect in filling quality. After increasing the slurry launching point and optimizing the particle size grading, the strength and uniformity of filling body are improved.
Comment #2:
Add "backfill" to the keywords.
Reply #2:
The author is very grateful for the question raised by the reviewer and has explained the following contents in the revised manuscript, which has been shown in blue font in the corresponding revised manuscript.
Keywords: fuzzy math; oversize goaf; backfill; hazardous waste treatment; membership matrix; evaluation factor; ecological environment
Comment #3:
In the introduction, before the last paragraph in the introduction, I recommend to note what studies were carried out on a comprehensive account of the factors affecting the quality of the backfill. There are several studies using neural networks. Consider them. And then in 1-2 sentences I recommend to note what exactly is not sufficiently studied today and what is not given attention to a comprehensive analysis of factors affecting the quality of backfill (if so).
Reply #3:
The author is very grateful for the question raised by the reviewer and has explained the following contents in the revised manuscript, which has been shown in blue font in the corresponding revised manuscript.
As a relatively popular research direction in recent years, many researches about backfill method have provided beneficial help to solve practical problems [1-3]. A methodology of selecting a mineral deposit development technology and a rational backfill composition was developed. The structure of the methodology includes fuzzy models and algorithms that provide process of large amounts of information [4]. The algorithm for choosing the optimal development system for the safe mining is developed. The authors proposed a zonal division of the mass to determine the initial structure of a multi-agent system [5]. To increase the strength characteristics of the filling material, fullerene-astarlene is used as a nanomodified additive [6]. The rheological behavior is important for transportation in the pipe [7]. In the daily mining process of metal deposits, in order to improve the production efficiency and reduce the production cost, enterprises generally choose the Vertical Crater Retreat mining method (VCR method) according to the condition that the stability of ore body and surrounding rock allow [8]. However, when a large number of ore body is continuously mined from the ore bed, lots of goaf will produce. To prevent the occurrence of such secondary man-made geological disasters, the goafs must be backfilled to effectively protect the surface and ensure safe and continuous large-scale mining [9-11]. The filling quality of mined-out area has a important influence on the second-step pillar mining. If the homogeneity or strength of the backfill is poor, the blasting vibration in the second-step mining may cause the stability problem of the backfill. And the large-area collapse of the backfill will cause a surge in the ore loss rate and dilution rate, thus greatly increasing the cost of mining and beneficiation. After fully considered the actual situation of backfill, the quality of backfill in the study of two-step mining technology was analyzed[12]. In order to control the filling quality from the source, the main influencing factors in the design of the filling system were regulated, which plays a good role in the application of filling [13-14].
The operation effect of the filling system is usually a comprehensive reflection of the interaction of multiple factors, including both the performance of the filling material and the operation stability of the filling system. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the main influencing factors and take appropriate technical measures to continuously improve the filling quality on the original basis [15-17]. For example, in Wancheng Lead-zinc Mine with expanding production scale, the capacity of the original filling system can no longer meet the demand of goaf filling. Therefore, the optimization design of sand bin circulation, slurry preparation, transportation efficiency and other aspects has been carried out, and the demand of safe mining has been met after the improvement of filling capacity [18]. In the ultra-deep mining process of Hongtuoshan Copper and Zinc Mine, the conveying range of filling slurry has been extended by laying underground vertical sand silo and pumping system, and the failure rate of transportation has been reduced while the filling quality has been significantly improved [19]. In order to improve the backfill material of mechanical properties, some research about filling aggregate and PC32.5 cement materials were carried out. The effect of mineral composition of filling materials on micro and macro performance of backfill was analyzed. Under reasonable condition of production, these studies promote the improvement of the quality of the filling material [20-22]. A fast and reliable detection method of elemental analysis was used to investigate the effect of sulfur ion migration on the strength and quality of backfill [23]. The use of alkali excitation can promote the hydrolysis of blast furnace slag, so as to generate sufficiently stable hydrolytic products to effectively consolidate high-sulfur tailings [24]. In terms of improving the performance of coarse aggregate filling materials, researchers conducted performance tests on cementitious materials and crushed stone composite materials, and obtained an optimal plan for grinding time of cementitious materials through experimental analysis[25]. In terms of investigating the properties of some filling materials, relevant research adopts neural network principles to highlight the adjustment of main influencing factors. By improving material combinations and some engineering conditions, reasonable solutions are provided for obtaining excellent mechanical properties of filling materials [26-27].
Comment #4:
Based on the above, you can shorten the text above in the introduction, since the recommendation in paragraph 3 will be more valuable to you.
Reply #4:
The author is very grateful for the question raised by the reviewer and has explained the following contents in the revised manuscript, which has been shown in blue font in the corresponding revised manuscript.
Through the analysis of the filling case of many mines, it is found that the main factors influencing the strength of filling body are continuous and stable aggregate and binding material, the admixture, water and the preparation of the filling paste. Therefore, according to the field conditions, some mining needs to actively seek potential filling materials. Due to the great differences in the performance of filling materials in different regions, it is necessary to conduct corresponding analysis and research for specific mines to guide on-site production. For example, Chen conducted rheological and mechanical properties research on cemented paste backfill with the addition of anionic polyacrylamide and the research on heavy metal leaching characteristics provided a reliable basis for ecological and environmental protection treatment of solid waste [28]. As a large-scale underground mining mine in the Huaibei Plain area, the current production capacity of the Caolou iron mine in this study has reached 3 million t/a. The surrounding area of the mine is densely populated and covered with fertile fields, which requires high-quality backfill to protect the surface from collapse. Therefore, it is extremely urgent to study its daily and future backfill conditions. In order to improve the mining efficiency and reduce the cost, Caolou iron mine mainly uses VCR method to mine ore bodies [29-30]. After sampling by geological drilling, it was found that the backfill slurry of Caolou iron mine had been seriously segregated and stratified, and the partial backfill body showed the character of loose sand, and the RQD value was low. This will bring great safety risks to pillar mining [31]. Therefore, in order to realize the safe mining of the second-step pillar, it is necessary to take appropriate measures to improve the quality of the filling to provide reliable engineering conditions. In the two-step mining process, the safety and stability of the ore body and rock layers can significantly improve the utilization rate of mineral resources, create economic benefits for enterprises, and at the same time, bury harmful solid waste deep underground, thus achieving the goal of eliminating the harm of heavy metals and harmful substances.
Comment #5:
I would like the structure of the article to be clearly expressed, try to single out the methodology and results separately.
Reply #5:
Thanks for the reviewer’s advice.
Comment #6:
It is not clear to me why, out of many influencing factors, the authors chose A1, A2, A3, A4, A5? Prove the importance of these factors.
Reply #6:
The author is very grateful for the question raised by the reviewer and has explained the following contents in the revised manuscript, which has been shown in blue font in the corresponding revised manuscript.
Comment #7:
I recommend to note what kind of experts they were? Are they specialists in the field of backfilling?
Reply #7:
The author is very grateful for the question raised by the reviewer and has explained the following contents in the revised manuscript, which has been shown in blue font in the corresponding revised manuscript.
Experts are all experts in the field of goaf filling.
Comment #8:
I recommend adding directly the processing of the results of these expert assessments. How did you get the importance of the factors? Show it in more detail. This is important because your article needs to strengthen the scientific part.
Reply #8:
The author is very grateful for the question raised by the reviewer and has explained the following contents in the revised manuscript, which has been shown in blue font in the corresponding revised manuscript.
Comment #9:
Ranking the importance of factors in the form of a histogram. Without this, the importance of ranking in plain text is lost.
Reply #9:
Thanks for the reviewer’s advice.
Comment #10:
I think it would also be useful for the authors to consider and take into account in their study the following articles:
Petlovanyi, M., & Mamaikin, O. (2019). Assessment of an expediency of binder material mechanical activation in cemented rockfill. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 14(20), 3492-3503
Petlovanyi, M.V., Zubko, S.A., Popovych, V.V., & Sai, K.S. (2020) Physicochemical mechanism of structure formation and strengthening in the backfill massif when filling underground cavities. Voprosy Khimii I Khimicheskoi Tekhnologii, (6), 142-150. https://doi.org/10.32434/0321-4095-2020-133-6-142-150
These articles focus on backfill issues in a large iron ore mine operating with backfill technology. By the way, 1-1.2 million m3 of filling mixture is also produced there annually, and the annual production is 4 million tons.
Reply #10:
The author is very grateful for the question raised by the reviewer and has explained the following contents in the revised manuscript, which has been shown in blue font in the corresponding revised manuscript.
[3] Petlovanyi, M.V., Zubko, S.A., Popovych, V.V., & Sai, K.S. (2020) Physicochemical mechanism of structure formation and strengthening in the backfill massif when filling underground cavities. Voprosy Khimii I Khimicheskoi Tekhnologii, (6), 142-150.
[25] Petlovanyi, M., & Mamaikin, O. (2019). Assessment of an expediency of binder material mechanical activation in cemented rockfill. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 14(20), 3492-3503.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
The manuscript presents a study on the backfill quality of oversize goaf by a fuzzy math analy[1]sis considering multiple factors. The results showed that the fuzzy theory analysis can accurately reflect the actual impacts of the different factors on the backfill quality. This topic is important and interesting for the fields of mine disaster prevention and mitigation. The title of the manuscript is suitable.
However, the manuscript is not well-documented and is poorly organized. The originality and scientific reliability of the work is not clear. Firstly, the evaluation factor set used in your fuzzy math analysis appears insufficient to fully capture the multitude of factors affecting backfill quality. Additionally, your methodology for determining the weightings of each factor and their impact on backfill quality is not adequately described and is therefore difficult to evaluate. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the engineering measures used to adjust the factors is not thoroughly evaluated, and the transferability of these findings to other mine sites is unclear. As a result, the implications of your study's conclusions are limited.
Overall, the reviewer believes that this could be a promising study (if well presented), however, this manuscript does not succinctly state the authors' most important findings.
Author Response
DETAILED RESPONSES TO REVIEWERS’ COMMENTS
The authors are very grateful for valuable comments and suggestions of the editor and reviewers. We have revised the original manuscript in accordance with the comments suggested by the editor and reviewers.
Reviewer4’s comments and replies:
Comment #1:
The manuscript presents a study on the backfill quality of oversize goaf by a fuzzy math analy[1]sis considering multiple factors. The results showed that the fuzzy theory analysis can accurately reflect the actual impacts of the different factors on the backfill quality. This topic is important and interesting for the fields of mine disaster prevention and mitigation. The title of the manuscript is suitable.
However, the manuscript is not well-documented and is poorly organized. The originality and scientific reliability of the work is not clear. Firstly, the evaluation factor set used in your fuzzy math analysis appears insufficient to fully capture the multitude of factors affecting backfill quality. Additionally, your methodology for determining the weightings of each factor and their impact on backfill quality is not adequately described and is therefore difficult to evaluate. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the engineering measures used to adjust the factors is not thoroughly evaluated, and the transferability of these findings to other mine sites is unclear. As a result, the implications of your study's conclusions are limited.
Overall, the reviewer believes that this could be a promising study (if well presented), however, this manuscript does not succinctly state the authors' most important findings.
Reply #1: Thanks for the reviewer’s advice. We have revised the conclusion and added the contribution, and revised the conclusion, and improved the English of our paper.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 5 Report
The topic is intriguing, and the manuscript is well written. However, the following remarks must be addressed:
1) The novelty and contribution are not clearly described!
2) More results should be added and discussed because the results section is too short.
3) The conclusion section should include future recommendations and directions.
4) English needs to be improved further.
Author Response
DETAILED RESPONSES TO REVIEWERS’ COMMENTS
The authors are very grateful for valuable comments and suggestions of the editor and reviewers. We have revised the original manuscript in accordance with the comments suggested by the editor and reviewers.
Reviewer5’s comments and replies:
The topic is intriguing, and the manuscript is well written. However, the following remarks must be addressed.
Comment #1:
1)The novelty and contribution are not clearly described!
Reply #1:
We have added the following contribution in conclusion.
When analyzing engineering problems using fuzzy mathematics theory, in order to better guide actual production with research conclusions, it is necessary to further select the influencing factors after preliminary screening. The effects of different influencing factors may vary with working conditions, so specific analysis is required for specific problems. The engineering case of goaf filling in this study is complex and variable. The method of converting qualitative indicators to quantitative indicators makes it easy to judge and adjust the influencing factors, thereby enabling the ingenious application of fuzzy mathematics in the process of improving mining efficiency, providing a good reference for expanding the application of mathematical knowledge in mining engineering and other aspects.
Comment #2:
2)More results should be added and discussed because the results section is too short.
Reply #2:
We have revised the conclusion and added the contribution.
Comment #3:
3)The conclusion section should include future recommendations and directions.
Reply #3:
We have revised the conclusion.
Comment #4:
4)English needs to be improved further.
Reply #4:
We have improved the English of our paper.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The manuscript "Analysis and Improvement of Oversize Goaf Backfill Engineering Based on Fuzzy Theory" by Daiqiang Deng, Guodong Cao, Yihua Liang, Jinkuan Fan, Runze Wang and Yunfan Ma was submitted for second review.
As can be seen from the submitted manuscript and the explanatory note to the review, the authors did a lot of work to make changes in accordance with the comments.
The revised manuscript is a completed scientific study on a highly relevant topic: creation of backfill based on waste from ore processing and analysis of the created material characteristics using fuzzy mathematical analysis considering many factors. The revised version of the manuscript, in my opinion, fully satisfies the requirements of a scientific article and can be published in the open press.
Author Response
Reviewer2’s comments and replies:
Comment #:
The manuscript "Analysis and Improvement of Oversize Goaf Backfill Engineering Based on Fuzzy Theory" by Daiqiang Deng, Guodong Cao, Yihua Liang, Jinkuan Fan, Runze Wang and Yunfan Ma was submitted for second review.
As can be seen from the submitted manuscript and the explanatory note to the review, the authors did a lot of work to make changes in accordance with the comments.
The revised manuscript is a completed scientific study on a highly relevant topic: creation of backfill based on waste from ore processing and analysis of the created material characteristics using fuzzy mathematical analysis considering many factors. The revised version of the manuscript, in my opinion, fully satisfies the requirements of a scientific article and can be published in the open press..
Reply #:
Thanks for the reviewer’s comments and advice.
Reviewer 3 Report
I carefully read the updated version of the paper.
The authors did a very good job updating the paper.
I am quite satisfied with the answers of the authors.
The article will be useful and interesting for expanding knowledge about definition of the most important and influential factors on the quality of backfill.
I wish the authors good luck in their further scientific research.
Sincerely,
Reviewer
Author Response
Reviewer3’s comments and replies:
Comment #:
I carefully read the updated version of the paper.
The authors did a very good job updating the paper.
I am quite satisfied with the answers of the authors.
The article will be useful and interesting for expanding knowledge about definition of the most important and influential factors on the quality of backfill.
I wish the authors good luck in their further scientific research.
Reply #:
Thanks for the reviewer’s comments and advice.
Reviewer 4 Report
I recommend that this paper be accepted.
Author Response
Reviewer4’s comments and replies:
Comment #:
I recommend that this paper be accepted.
Reply #:
Thanks for the reviewer’s comments and advice.
