Mining-Induced Redistribution of the Abnormal Stress under the Close Bearing Coal Pillar for Entry Design

Underground space is vulnerable to large deformation influenced by the abnormal stress induced by the bearing coal pillar. A numerical simulation model was established to determine the redistribution of the abnormal stress induced by the mining activities. The double-yield model, the strain softening model, the interface model, and the Mohr–Coulomb model were determined to simulate the gob compaction effect, the pillar strength reduction effect, the structure plane discontinuity effect, and the rock mechanical behavior, respectively. This numerical simulation model is reliable to predict the abnormal stress under the bearing coal pillar by the comparison of the abutment stress from this model and the existing theoretical model as well as the entry roof surface displacement from this model and the field measuring method. The results from the validated numerical model indicate that the abnormal stress including stress concentration coefficient, stress gradient, and lateral pressure coefficient will redistribute to another state that the stress concentration coefficient and stress gradient increase gradually and then decrease, and the lateral pressure coefficient decreases gradually, then increases, and finally decreases sharply with the approach of the mining working face. Their maximum increasing rates are calculated as 121.05%, 198.56%, and 236.82%, respectively. This predicted mining-induced redistribution of the abnormal stress is available for designing the underground entry layout in the determination of the entry position, determination of the driving operation time, mining disturbing range warning, and the prediction of the strengthening support area.