Investigation on Surrounding Rock Stability Control Technology of High Stress Roadway in Steeply Dipping Coal Seam

There are a large amount of steeply dipping coal seams deposited in China, the safe and effective extraction of which are the challenge for coal operators due to the complicated geological characteristics, in particular, when the underground roadway is excavated in the steeply dipping coal seams with limited seam distance. The Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC) was adopted in the present research to explore the stress distribution of surrounding rock of the roadway. Based on the numerical simulation, the damage coefficient was proposed and then used to classify the roof conditions into four groups. After that, the asymmetric support technique was proposed and put into practical applications. It is indicated that the stress concentration on the floor is the main feature of the extraction of steeply dipping coal seams. Moreover, the distributions of the maximum vertical stress and horizontal stress which are much different from each other mainly attributed to the effect of the large dip angle. This research also verified the feasibility of using the asymmetric and partition support technique to maintain the integrity of the surrounding rock, as from the case study conducted at the 12032 longwall coal face of Zhongwei coal mine.

A case study of the periodic fracture control of a thick-hard roof based on deep-hole pre-splitting blasting

A thick-hard roof implies a large hanging-roof and high-frequency dynamic strata behaviour during mining, which may jeopardise personnel safety and equipment. To alleviate these hazards, deep-hole pre-splitting blasting is employed to control periodic fractures in thick-hard roof seams in Datong mining area. Based on loading and instability characteristics, a mechanical model of thick-hard roof periodic collapse is established to investigate the relationships and optimal parameters among the collapse interval, fracturing angle and support working resistance. LS-DYNA was employed to analyse the fracture evolution to determine the optimal charge parameters. The minimum weakening width and average fragmentation of the pre-split roof are obtained. Universal distinct element code simulations were used to determine the thick-hard roof collapse morphology and strata behaviour to confirm the optimal pre-splitting parameters. The deep-hole pre-splitting blasting on-site implementation reduces thick-hard roof collapse intervals, and the supports loading is verified to be safe with sufficient allowance, which show a good control effect on thick-hard roof seams.

Numerical Analyses on Deformation and Failure Characteristics of Surrounding Rock of Gob-Side Entry Retention by Roof Cutting

Universal distinct element code (UDEC) is a simulation software based on the discrete element method, widely used in geotechnical mining. However, in the UDEC, when simulating large-scale excavation, the subsidence of the fractured zone is almost equal to the mining height, which makes the deformation value calculated in the study of gob-side entry retention too large. To solve this problem, in this paper, the double-yield constitutive model is applied to the whole caving zone to analyze the deformation and failure characteristics of surrounding rock along gob-side entry retaining by roof cutting. The results of the simulation are in good agreement with the result of drilling peeking (drilling observation by borehole televiewer) and field condition (observation and measurement in the field). Finally, by using this numerical method, the effects of roadway width, temporary support, and coal side support on the failure of the roof and the arc coal side are studied.

Failure of an under-dip shale slope and its response under excavation conditions

A landslide has occurred in the cut slope located in Chongqing Xi railway station. This slope belongs to a shale under-dip slope and has a complex failure mechanism. Some on-site investigations have been made to explore the deformation characteristics of this slope, and structural geology analyses and outcomes of geological investigations in situ are firstly described. The progressive failure process of the slope during unloading excavation has also been simulated by the Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC). The obtained deformation characteristics of the slope have proven to well match the field measurements, which verifies the practicability of the UDEC model.

Optimizing Method of Main Caverns in Large Underground Water-Sealed Storage Caverns

As a main method of petroleum strategic reserve in China, underground water-sealed storage cavern owns lots of outstanding advantages, such as low operating costs, high safety, and land resource conservation. Main caverns are important structure in underground project and the layout parameters and excavation scheme will have significant impact on overall project quality. The optimization method of main cavern layout and excavation scheme was put forward by a proposed large-scale underground water-sealed cavern project in China. First, based on field survey results, the Hoek-Brown strength criterion combined with rock mass quality Q classification system was used to estimate the equivalent mechanical parameters of rock mass. Second, the numerical experiments were carried out by relying on 3 Dimensions Distinct Element Code (3DEC). The discontinuous medium model was adopted, and displacements of key points, maximum displacement values and volume of the plastic zone were used as evaluation indicators. Axial direction, buried depth, spacing and excavation scheme of main caverns have been optimized. Results showed that axial direction should adopt NW325°, buried depth of cavern roof should locate at -100m, and distance between adjacent main caverns should be 1.5 times the span (36m). The “jump excavation” mode was recommended in construction. That is, the caverns on both sides should be excavated first, and the middle cavern should be excavated later. This mode could effectively reduce the interaction effect between caverns. This method has the characteristics of easy data acquisition and strong operability. It could be used to guide design and construction of similar projects . As a main method of petroleum strategic reserve in China, underground water-sealed storage cavern owns lots of outstanding advantages, such as low operating costs, high safety, and land resource conservation. Main caverns are important structure in underground project and the layout parameters and excavation scheme will have significant impact on overall project quality. The optimization method of main cavern layout and excavation scheme was put forward by a proposed large-scale underground water-sealed cavern project in China. First, based on field survey results, the Hoek-Brown strength criterion combined with rock mass quality Q classification system was used to estimate the equivalent mechanical parameters of rock mass. Second, the numerical experiments were carried out by relying on 3 Dimensions Distinct Element Code (3DEC). The discontinuous medium model was adopted, and displacements of key points, maximum displacement values and volume of the plastic zone were used as evaluation indicators. Axial direction, buried depth, spacing and excavation scheme of main caverns have been optimized. Results showed that axial direction should adopt NW325°, buried depth of cavern roof should locate at -100m, and distance between adjacent main caverns should be 1.5 times the span (36m). The “jump excavation” mode was recommended in construction. That is, the caverns on both sides should be excavated first, and the middle cavern should be excavated later. This mode could effectively reduce the interaction effect between caverns. This method has the characteristics of easy data acquisition and strong operability. It could be used to guide design and construction of similar projects .

Extensive study on the impact of joint inclinations on the earth pressure in rock ground

The impact of different joint inclinations on the earth pressure was extensively carried out in this study, using Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC) which is based on discrete element method. Numerical parametric investigations, which considered varying joint inclinations and rock types, were conducted after the numerical method had been verified through a physical model test. The joint angles considered ranged from 0º to 90º in the interval of 5º and the rock types are hard, slightly and moderately weathered rocks. The results of the analyses were subjected to statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of significance, and compared with empirical earth pressure envelope for sand ground. The comparisons showed that earth pressures in rock ground are substantially varied from those in sand ground. The result of ANOVA revealed that joint inclinations have statistically significant effect on magnitude of the earth pressure, and practitioners should consider this factor while designing retaining structure in rock masses.

Mechanisms of Rock Burst in Horizontal Section Mining of a Steeply Inclined Extra-Thick Coal Seam and Prevention Technology

Rock bursts have recently become a serious problem in the horizontal section mining of steeply inclined extra-thick coal seams (SIETCSs). However, few studies have been carried out to investigate their mechanisms and prevention. In this study, numerical simulation and field measurements were carried out to investigate the mechanism of rock bursts in the horizontal section mining of an SIETCS. A Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC) Trigon model was built, based on the Yaojie No.3 Coal Mine, and calibrated through laboratory tests and RQD methods. The results demonstrate that the coal in the elastic zone around the roof is in a high static stress state, due to the asymmetric clamping and squeezing of the roof and floor. Strong dynamic loads are formed by breakage of the roof and the failure of multiple hinged beam structures during the evolution process of the overlying strata. Rock bursts occur on the roof side when the superimposition of the static stress σs and stress increment σd induced by such dynamic loads is greater than the critical stress σmin of the coal and rock. We propose a technical prevention scheme for the considered mine. Field studies suggest that the proposed technology can effectively prevent and control rock bursts in the horizontal section mining of SIETCSs.

Risk Assessment of Rock Falls Released from the Former Quarry Near Spitz (Austria)

In the former quarry near Spitz an der Donau (Austria), many rockfalls have occurred during operation as well as after closure. They have endangered a railway, the Wachau bicycle route, an important road, and the left Danube riverbank. Thus, future detachment scenarios were investigated and, in addition, weather and occurrence statistics were analyzed to determine the occurrence probabilities of these scenarios. Simulations of possible future rockslides were performed using the Distinct Element Code 3DEC in order to estimate the damage caused by these events. Based on these results, the risks of the scenarios were calculated according to the definition of risk as the product of damage and occurrence probability. By this means, the profitability of mitigation measures (e.g., a massive retaining structure fixed to the ground by bored piles) can be evaluated.