Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Experimental Investigation Of The Discharge Modes Of Nanosecond Pulsed Plasmas At Atmospheric Pressure, Md Ziaur Rahman

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The generation of repeatable and stable nanosecond pulsed atmospheric pressure plasmas is important to non-thermal plasma applications in various fields including medicine, material processing, food processing, and plasma ignition for combustion. This dissertation investigates the atmospheric pressure plasma initiation and formation under 10 – 200 ns pulsed power for electrode configurations applicable for transient plasma ignition (TPI) for combustion. The impacts of pulsed power parameters, gas condition, and electrode geometry on the discharge initiation and modes (i.e., streamer, transient spark and spark) are systematically evaluated for applying TPI for combustion. We evaluated the discharge modes driven by both longer and …

Unsupervised Learning For Minimum Error Adaptive Sampling Of Atmospheric Vertical Temperature Profiles, Alejandro Medina

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) collect atmospheric data on fixed schedules, and endurance limits make blind searching costly. This thesis develops an unsupervised representation that summarizes a multi-decade radiosonde archive into a compact library of atmospheric states, giving a UAS an expectation of the column before it flies. The method standardizes both axes of a profile against the sounding's own surface conditions, which makes the representation independent of season and of station elevation. Applied to 27,270 soundings from Norman, Oklahoma, over the lowest 1.5 km of the atmosphere, 12 representative profiles reconstruct the record to within 1.0 °C of mean absolute …

From Screening To Risk: Assessment Of Potentially Toxic Elements In Children's Toys Along The El Paso, Tx, U.S.A.-Ciudad Juarez, Chih, Mex Border Region, Jesus Rodriguez-Loya

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Children are uniquely vulnerable to potentially toxic elements (PTEs), absorbing them more readily than adults and encountering them through the hand-to-mouth behaviors of early childhood. Exposure carries element-specific consequences: lead (Pb) impairs cognitive development with no established safe threshold; cadmium (Cd) damages the kidneys and reduces bone mineralization; arsenic (As) is a recognized carcinogen and developmental neurotoxicant; hexavalent chromium (Cr) is carcinogenic and induces allergic dermatitis; nickel (Ni) is the leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis in children; and excess zinc (Zn) disrupts copper absorption and causes gastrointestinal distress. Toys are a distinctive source of such exposure, yet none had …

Integrated Framework For Tsn-Enabled Ot Networks And Scalable Edge Computing To Enable Real-Time Feedback Loop, Taposh Kumer Sarker

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The advent of Industry 5.0 envisions smart manufacturing characterized by human centricity, sustainability, and systemic resilience. Realizing this vision requires the seamless convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) networks. However, integrating massive, stochastic IT edge computing workloads with deterministic physical control loops introduces severe architectural friction, inherently threatening the safety guarantees required by industrial machinery. To resolve this fundamental incompatibility, this dissertation proposes the Edge-Augmented Real-Time Industrial Control System (EA-RICS).

EA-RICS is a comprehensive, multi-layered architecture designed to dismantle systemic bottlenecks across the physical data plane, the centralized control plane, and the edge operating system. First, the …

Theory-Informed Generative Agents For Human Behavioral Modeling In Disasters, Liming Lu

All Dissertations

This dissertation develops a theory-informed generative-agent framework for modeling human behavioral decisions in disasters. Existing flood and disaster preparedness models often emphasize physical hazards, infrastructure exposure, or statistical correlations, but they struggle to capture the heterogeneous and evolving choices households make. This limitation is especially important for climate-related hazards, where future damage depends not only on changes in rainfall, inundation, and urban development, but also on decentralized protective actions such as house elevation, flood insurance, evacuation, and early preparedness. The dissertation integrates two empirical studies: a flood-risk study in Charleston, South Carolina, and a household disaster-preparedness study across hurricane contexts. …

A Fuzzy–Neutrosophic Suitability Index For Selecting An Appropriate Reasoning Model Under Vagueness, Incompleteness, And Conflict, Nada A. Nabeeh, Ahmed Samy

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Fuzzy reasoning and neutrosophic reasoning are both used to handle uncertainty, but they are not intended for the same uncertainty structure. Fuzzy reasoning is suitable when uncertainty appears mainly as gradual vagueness, where a value may belong to a concept such as ``high risk'' or ``good performance'' to a certain degree. In this case, a membership value is often sufficient. Neutrosophic reasoning is more suitable when the problem also contains incomplete information, undecided evidence, or conflict between sources. In such cases, one membership degree may be too limited because it cannot represent support, rejection, and indeterminacy separately. This study introduces …

Foundations Of Neutrosophic N-Semirings Theory And Structural Properties, Raja Muhammad Hashim, Muhammad Gulistan, Muhammad Shahzad

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

In this paper the concept of neutrosophic n-semirings (S∪ I, ∗ ₁, ∗ _2, ∗ ₃,..., ∗ _n, ∗ _n+1) has been introduced. The substructure of n-semirings (S∪ I, ∗ ₁, ∗ _2, ∗ ₃,..., ∗ _n, ∗ _n+1) has been defined and some useful results have been proved. Moreover, in order to familiarize the readers with these concepts some worthy examples have been coined. The left, right and two sided ideals of neutrosophic n-semirings have been paid a special heed. Finally we have turned our discussion towards the compatible and congruence …

Neutrosophic Time-Truncated Acceptance Sampling Plans Based On The Exponentiated Weibull Distribution For Reliability Applications, Divya P.R., Preethi John

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Classical acceptance sampling plans require precisely specified parameter values, an assumption routinely violated by measurement uncertainty and gauge imprecision in practice. This article develops Neutrosophic Time-Truncated Acceptance Sampling Plans (N-TTASP) for the Exponentiated Weibull (EW) distribution by representing the scale parameter as a neutrosophic interval. The neutrosophic sample size n_N ∈ [n_L, n_U] and acceptance number c_N ∈ [c_L, c_U] are obtained by minimizing n_U subject to dual producer and consumer risk constraints on the neutrosophic Operating Characteristic interval. A new indeterminacy ratio η is introduced as a …

Evaluating Generative Ai-Based User Interfaces Using An Integrated Neutrosophic Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Framework, Nada Mohamed, Alshaimaa A. Tantawy

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

User Interface (UI) design can be seen as an essential aspect of human-computer interaction (HCI) and makes communication easier between people and technology. In today's digital economy, interface quality has become one of the most important business concerns, since it has a direct impact on customer satisfaction and retention while affecting revenue. Although creating user-centered and accessible interfaces is crucial, doing so is a difficult and time-consuming process, which leads to burnout for many usability professionals. Although conventional artificial intelligence (AI) was utilized for design assessment and automation, the arrival of generative AI technology has created new possibilities for automated …

Systematic Review Of The Institutionalization Of Service Learning In Higher Education, Wilmer Hernan Cruz Gutierrez

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

An increasing number of universities are integrating service-learning (SL) to fulfill their social mission. However, sustainable institutionalization of SL remains a persistent challenge. This study identifies and analyzes the factors, actors, and strategies that drive and inhibit SL institutionalization in higher education. Using the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic literature review analyzed 52 documents from seven academic databases (including WoS, Scopus, and ERIC). The findings were grouped into three sections: cultural (integration into institutional values/missions), process (articulation within teaching, research, and outreach), and structural dimensions (dedicated support entities). The results obtained reveal a reciprocal relationship where cultural alignment enables processual …

Digraphicsoft Sets And Bidigraphicsoft Sets: Directed And Bidirected Extensions Of Graphicsoft Modeling, Takaaki Fujita, Ajoy Kanti Das, Suman Das, Sankar Prasad Mondal, Volkan Duran, Mithun Datta

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Uncertainty has been modeled through a wide variety of mathematical frameworks, including fuzzy sets, neutrosophic sets, rough sets, and plithogenic sets. Among these approaches, soft sets offer a parameterized representation of uncertain information and have inspired numerous extensions, such as multisoft sets, double-framed soft sets, hypersoft sets, SuperHyperSoft sets, TreeSoft sets, ForestSoft sets, IndetermSoft sets, and IndetermHyperSoft sets.
This paper focuses on GraphicSoft Sets, which extend the classical soft-set framework by assigning a subset of the universe to each subgraph of an attribute graph. In this way, relationships among attributes are incorporated directly into the parameterized model. Building on …

Evaluating Machine Learning Models On Classification Of Novel Cyber Attacks In The Healthcare Domain, Promise Ehimen

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The increasing adoption of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has improved healthcare delivery through connected medical devices while simultaneously expanding the cybersecurity risks facing healthcare organizations. Although machine learning based intrusion detection systems have demonstrated high detection accuracy, their ability to respond reliably to previously unseen cyberattacks remains uncertain. This study investigated how a Neural Network model and a Logistic Regression model classified novel cyberattacks within the IoMT environment. The Neural Network and Logistic Regression models were both trained and tested using a subset of the CICIoMT2024 benchmark dataset. The Neural Network achieved 99.82% test accuracy and a 0.94 …

Enhanced Transdermal Immunization Via Solid-In-Oil Nanodispersions Incorporating Dendritic Cell-Targeting Peptide, Md Samiul Islam, Md. Shahin Ekka Sarker, Yoshirou Kawaguchi, Rie Wakabayashi, Noriho Kamiya, Muhammad Moniruzzaman, Masahiro Goto

Publications and Research

Transdermal immunization represents a promising needle-free alternative to conventional vaccination. However, efficient antigen delivery and robust immune activation remain major challenges. In this study, a solid-in-oil (S/O) nanodispersion system comprising a dendritic cell-targeting peptide (HR8), ovalbumin (OVA), and an adjuvant was developed for transdermal immunization. The HR8 peptide along with OVA was successfully incorporated into an S/O nanodispersion with an optimal hydrodynamic diameter of particles (< 200 nm) and exhibited stable physical properties for up to 90 days. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated enhanced antigen delivery with insignificant skin irritation in C57BL/6N mice. Moreover, in vivo transdermal immunization studies demonstrated that the addition of the HR8 peptide enhanced OVA-specific IgG responses (~1.5-fold). Notably, the HR8 peptide also promoted an approximately 2.5-fold increase in IgG2c levels, suggesting a shift toward a more T helper type 1-biased immune response, as reflected by an increased IgG2c/IgG1 ratio. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the incorporation of HR8 peptide into an S/O nanodispersion enables efficient transdermal antigen delivery and improved immunogenicity, highlighting its potential as a simple, non-invasive, and patient-friendly immunization strategy.

Emergent De Sitter Expansion And Closed Topology From The Cosmic Fabric Model As An Open Thermodynamic System: Resolving The Negative Bulk Modulus Paradox, T G. Tenev, C B. Ward, T F. Tenev, M F. Horstemeyer

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Cosmic Fabric Model establishes a continuum-mechanics isomorphism to General Relativity by representing physical space as an elastic three-dimensional hyperplate embedded in a four-dimensional spatial bulk. Reproducing vacuum kinematics requires a vanishing P-wave modulus, which in turn implies a negative bulk modulus—an apparent thermodynamic instability in a closed system. This paradox is resolved by recasting the framework as an open system: the instability is not pathological but instead drives cosmic expansion. In this interpretation, the observable universe is a lower-energy solid formed through continuous solidification from a higher-dimensional precursor fluid. Using multiplicative kinematics from finite-growth mechanics, the model shows that …

Mapping And Modeling Threat-Evoked Brain States After Early Life Adversity, Taylor W. Uselman

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Early life adversity (ELA) increases lifelong neuropsychiatric vulnerability. Yet how ELA reorganizes brain-wide activity and circuit coordination across later experience remains unclear. This dissertation tests the hypothesis that ELA alters adult brain-wide activity and responses to threat through disrupted coordination among neural systems that regulate emotional experience, including prefrontal-limbic and monoaminergic systems. Longitudinal manganese-enhanced MRI of adult mice exposed to standard or fragmented early care, combined with computational processing and statistical modeling, quantified brain states before, during, and long after innate predator threat. These studies established that acute threat evokes large-scale, distributed brain activity that evolves over time. ELA potentiates …

Dynamic Reconstruction Engineering Of Anti-Corrosion Ni-Based Anodes For Alkaline Seawater Electrolysis, Yi-Gang Zhang, Wen-Wen Xu, Tian-Yu Zhang, Zhi-Yi Lu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Green hydrogen production via alkaline seawater electrolysis offers an environmentally sustainable and potentially cost-effective route to address both energy and climate challenges. Achieving long-term anode stability under complex ionic environments and industrial current densities remains a central bottleneck. Specifically, Ni-based anodes exhibit intense surface reconstruction during the oxygen evolution reaction, necessitating dynamic anti-corrosion strategies. This mini review systematically summarizes reconstruction engineering approaches to develop anti-corrosion Ni-based anodes of alkaline seawater electrolysis across increasingly complex ionic environments from simulated seawater to real seawater: (i) Cl^– dominated; (ii) Cl^– with co-existing oxyanions, and (iii) Cl^–  with co-existing Br^{– …}

Preparation And Performance Study Of In-Situ Self-Assembled Biphasic Smmn2O5-Nimn2O4 Composite Cathode, Neng-Chu Xia, Yu Zhou, Qin Wang, Jia-You Zhang, Chun Yu, Yang Zhang, Wan-Bing Guan, Jian-Xin Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Mullite-structured oxides exhibit excellent oxygen reduction reaction activity, possess a low thermal expansion coefficient due to their unique crystal structure, and can eliminate the need for a barrier layer and simplify the preparation process as they contain no alkaline earth elements. Thus, they hold great promise as novel cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells. In this work, a mullite-spinel-structured SmMn₂O₅-NiMn₂O₄ (SMO-NMO) composite cathode was one-step synthesized via a solid-liquid composite route, and its in-situ self-assembly enabled good compatibility with the electrolyte without any barrier layer. Characterization results showed that the SMO:NMO = …

In Situ Stm Visualization Of Molecular Structural Evolution During Electrochemical Oxidation Coupling Of Para-Aminothiophenol On Au(111), Zi-Wei Ma, Tai-Rui Wu, An-Ni Zheng, Lai-Ke Chen, Yuan-Hui Xiao, Zhao-Bin Chen, Qing-Na Zheng, Jian-Zhang Zhou, Jia-Wei Yan, De-Yin Wu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Para-aminothiophenol (PATP) is not only a widely-used probe molecule in the field of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), but also an important model molecule for interfacial reactions, exhibiting distinct photo- and electro-oxidation pathways, so that PATP is selectively activated under different external fields. The evolution of products and intermediates during electrochemical oxidative coupling remains unknown. In this study, we have investigated the dynamic electrochemical oxidation process of PATP on the Au(111) surface using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical (EC)-SERS, and in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM). The results showed that PATP forms an unsaturated adsorption coverage on Au(111) in an acidic solution. …

Multiscale Network Modeling Of Native And Modified Photosynthetic Light-Harvesting Complexes, Zane E. Armijo

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes harvest solar energy and direct electronic excitations toward reaction centers with exceptional efficiency. This dissertation models the Fenna--Matthews--Olson complex of green sulfur bacteria, coupled to the PscA1 reaction center, as a chromophoric network. Forster resonance energy transfer theory, validated against numerically exact hierarchical equations of motion, was implemented in kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to resolve fine-grained excitation-transport pathways. The predicted charge-transfer efficiency of 77\% agrees with experiment, with the FMO2 monomer and its gateway pigment governing interfacial transfer. Systematic single, multi, and symmetry-preserving site removals, interpreted through Mobius inversion, identify critical pigments and show that cooperative effects …

Non-Traditional Rare-Earth-Doped Oxide Glass As A Gain Medium, Jared S. Tolliver

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

There is a need for mid-infrared(MIR) lasers in defense, medical, and environmental monitoring. A large part of this technological development is the study of gain media. One class of materials of special interest is glasses with a low maximum phonon energy. These have the fiberization and broad spectral features of glass, whereas glasses with high maximum phonon energy exhibit higher rates of multi-phonon relaxation and can be opaque in the MIR, both of which are detrimental to laser operation. Recent advances in container-less processing have allowed for the study of new glasses that aren’t possible with conventional fabrication techniques. One …

Algorithmic Sculpting Of Complex Fused Silica Surfaces For Nondestructive, Mode-Matched Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics: Adaptive Co2 Milling And Simulation-Guided Ultrafast Inscription, From Fiber Fabry-Perot Cavities To Monolithic Architectures, Meagan E. Parker

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Quantum sensors achieve exceptional measurement sensitivity through coherent, well-isolated quantum systems, but practical deployment is hindered by destructive readouts that require repeated state preparation and create long system dead times. Optical cavities enable continuous, nondestructive measurements with minimal back-action, yet integrating high-finesse cavities into scalable quantum devices remains limited by existing fabrication methods. To overcome these constraints, an adaptive CO₂ laser-milling platform was developed. Guided by glass thermodynamics and melt dynamics, this closed-loop system uses in-situ phase-shifting interferometry to sculpt complex fused-silica surfaces with sub-nanometer root-mean-square roughness. The platform was validated by fabricating extended-length fiber Fabry–Pérot cavities and monolithic micro-cavity …

Wildfire Impacts On Fluvial Hydrology From Watershed To National Scales, Paige G. Tunby

Civil Engineering ETDs

Wildfires alter the water quantity and quality in downstream river networks. Fires promote biodiversity, maintain habitat, and provide many ecosystem services in a fire-adapted landscape. However, changes in the natural fire regimes can alter ecosystem function and threaten the water security of impacted downstream communities. The magnitude, timing, and persistence of these impacts are difficult to predict due to the lack of high-resolution datasets with adequate coverage to evaluate spatiotemporal trends after a fire. This dissertation moves us beyond the status quo to evaluate post-fire fluvial responses across scales, from the event-scale impacts after the Hermit’s Peak-Calf Canyon wildfire in …

Simulations Of Atmospheric Pressure Streamer Discharges: Mechanisms Of Streamer Propagation And Related Physics, Dejan Nikic

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Gas discharge simulations are performed with particular focus on photoionization process in a positive streamer discharge. The effects of this process are investigated by isolating the change in photoionization mean free path (MFP) and keeping the additional processes constant. Furthermore, comparison are made between various effects of simulation parameters, such as initial conditions, geometry extent, simula- tion particle count etc. All of these simulations are performed using a modern Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Particle-in-Cell (DSMC-PIC) code developed by Sandia Na- tional Laboratories. Large scale simulations including 1 cm and 5 cm electrode gaps are performed under standard atmospheric condition air. …

Stop Blaming My Users: Illumination Of The Technocentric Mythos Bias, Ervin H. Frenzel, Richard Lightcap

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

 Abstract -This conceptual essay addresses the need for systemic and systematic transdisciplinary analytical techniques within cybersecurity and technical security. This conceptual essay is contingent upon recognition that cybersecurity is not simply technical in nature, it does not need an adversary, and more importantly it is based upon systems engineering and systems thinking.  The essay contributes a socio-technical attribution chain and field-specific ontology/taxonomy which distinguish user-triggered events from root causes, latent conditions, technical debt, validation failures, governance failures, and attribution bias before assigning responsibility to end users. It systematically defines an ontology inclusive of developer technical debt, organizational debt arising from …

History, Current Status, And Implications Of The Exploration And Exploitation Of Coal Resources In Guangxi, China, Wang Hui, Han Xiaozhong, Peng Zhilong, Li Huoying, Qin Baojian, Lu Ankang, Qin Xiaoyan, Peng Feifei, Xu Huiheng, Lan Bingui

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Based on a comprehensive review of the history and current status of coal exploration and exploitation, this study presents an analysis of both the endowment characteristics and the exploration and research levels of coal resources in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. From the perspective of coal self-sufficiency capacity and energy security guarantee, this study proposes several recommendations for the exploration and exploitation of coal resources in the region. Methods The exploration level, current status of exploitation, and supply-demand imbalance of coal resources in Guangxi are determined through a systematic literature review, surveys of coal mine enterprises, and exchanges with relevant …

Research And Practice Of Four-Dimensional In-Situ Stress Fields For Deep Coalbed Methane Production: A Case Study Of The Daning-Jixian Block, Ordos Basin, Wang Chengwang, Chen Yiyu, Gao Deli, Zhao Haifeng, Chen Gaojie

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Deep coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs are characterized by well-developed microstructures and natural fractures, along with highly heterogeneous rock mechanical properties and in-situ stress field distribution. The CBM production of the reservoirs tends to cause constantly evolving formation pressure and in-situ stress within the control ranges of CBM wells, further enhancing the complexity of stress distribution. Additionally, severe fracturing channeling can be observed between new and old wells. This phenomenon is primarily triggered by in-situ stress variations induced by large-scale fracturing and CBM production. Therefore, accurately assessing the dynamic evolutionary patterns of in-situ stresses in reservoirs after fracturing and during …

Enrichment Mechanisms Of U And Th Elements In The Bauxite Rock Series Of The Benxi Formation, Lower Carboniferous, Central North China Block, Bian Yukang, Zhang Xiaoyang, Chen Jinfeng, Lyu Dawei, Zhu Dongya, Liu Quanyou, Meng Qingqiang, Shen Xiaoli, Li Qing, Kong Weijiang, Dou Yunfei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Uranium (U) and thorium (Th) in rocks and minerals are the material basis for the generation and release of crust-derived helium. Methods The enrichment characteristics and mechanisms of U and Th are key to understanding the accumulation of crust-derived helium reservoirs. Taking the bauxite series of the Benxi Formation in the central North China Block as the research object, this study reveals the enrichment mechanisms of U and Th in the bauxite series and calculates the helium generation rate by means of petrogeochemical and chronological research methods, combined with detrital zircon dating, sedimentary environment identification, and mass balance calculation. …

Sand Tank Experiments On The Seepage And Water Pressure Distribution During Single-Well Dewatering At The Bottom Of A Confined Aquifer, Wang Wenxue, Zhang Mengying, Li Yang, Fang Yuan, Zhao Shuli, Shen Mengjun

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Depressurization through dewatering using inclined wells arranged at the aquifer bottom represents a crucial technical approach to the prevention and control of water-sand inrush disasters during coal mining beneath aquifers. However, the mechanisms underlying seepage-pressure interactions and water-preserved depressurization remain poorly understood. Methods Based on the water-yield properties of confined aquifers and the distribution characteristics of inclined wells for dewatering, this study developed a fan-shaped sand tank experimental system for simulating dewatering and seepage from confined aquifers. Using the experimental system, this study carried out seepage experiments using a partially penetrating well at the bottom of a confined aquifer …

Load Sharing Patterns And Their Key Influencing Factors For The Composite Structure Of A Lined Hard Rock Cavern For Compressed Air Energy Storage, Hu Lihua, Zhou Qiming, Zhang Kai, Yu Liyuan, Liang Xin, Sun Qiang, Wu Yun, Hu Chengguo, Li Wei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Compressed air energy storage (CAES) in a lined hard rock cavern holds great prospects. However, the load sharing mechanisms of the cavern’s composite structure, comprising a sealing layer, lining, and surrounding rocks, remain poorly understood.Methods Based on the elastic analytical solutions of stress fields, this first study derived the radial load equilibrium equations for the composite structure of a lined hard rock cavern for CAES. Accordingly, a novel method for calculating the load sharing ratios of the composite structure was developed. Then, an analysis scheme for the load sharing ratios was designed. Using this scheme, this study investigated …

Cnn-Based Assessment Of The Degrees Of Fracture Development In Bedrocks And Classification Of Bedrock Weathering Zones, Lei Jian, Lu Haifeng, Fan Yufei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Bedrock weathering zones exhibit distinct vertical gradational characteristics. Accurately identifying the degrees of fracture development in the zones is critical to the safe production of mines in shallowly buried coal seams covered by thick water-bearing unconsolidated layers. Methods Focusing on the Qinan coal mine in Anhui Province, this study proposed a hybrid convolutional neural network (CNN) model, which enabled feature extraction using a synergistic architecture consisting of conventional convolutional layers and inception modules. Specifically, based on conventional log data and calculated shale content and fracture development index, combined with core observations, this study constructed a dataset containing labels that …