The Stability of Roadway Groups under Rheology Coupling Mining Disturbance

The deep roadway groups play an important role in transportation and ventilation in coal mine production. Therefore, it is very important to comprehensively analyze the coupling effect of rheological deformation and coal mining on the stability of the roadway groups. In this paper, the disturbance effects of different stop-mining lines on roadway groups under long-term rheology were investigated by numerical simulation, and the failure mechanism of roadway groups with large sections and multiple disturbances in a deep well was revealed. The results show that the long working face will lead to the collapse of key strata, and the influence range will spread to the adjacent roadway groups. When the distance between the working face and the stop-mining line is 100 m, the roadway groups cannot be affected by the working face mining, and the reserved width of the coal pillar can be determined to be 100 m, which increases the stability of the roadway’s surrounding rock and maintains the mine safety production. This paper aims to provide a reference for groups design and control under similar conditions.

Mechanism of Hard-Roof Rock Burst Control by the Deep-Hole Blasting: Numerical Study Based on Particle Flow

In underground coal mines, the deep-hole blasting (DHB) technology is generally adopted for thick hard-roof control. This technology uses the energy released by explosives to weaken the energy storage capacity of hard roof so as to prevent hard-roof rock burst disasters. In this paper, a numerical simulation model of roof DHB was established based on particle flow and the damage range of single-hole blasting with concentrated cylindrical charge was studied. The temporal and spatial evolutions of overlying strata, the distribution of the force chain structure, and the working resistance of hydraulic pressure in the mining process before and after the application of DHB were contrastively analyzed. The following beneficial conclusions were drawn. The blasting-induced single-hole damage range is generally characterized by annular zoning. After the application of DHB, overall the collapse morphology of the key strata in the mining process changes from long-distance instantaneous slipping instability to stratified short-arm stepped synergistic subsidence. The density and strength of force chains in the overburden are notably reduced; the peak value of compressive force chain strength in the key strata in the mining process falls by 17.85% as a result of DHB. The monitoring results of the working resistance of hydraulic support reveal that the DHB technology can effectively shorten the step distance of periodic weighting and reduce the variation amplitude of overburden load during weighting. In summary, the mechanism of hard-roof rock burst control by DHB is reflected by both static load reduction and dynamic load reaction.

Influence of Upper Seam Extraction on Abutment Pressure Distribution during Lower Seam Extraction in Deep Mining

Pressure-relief coal mining provides an effective way to decrease stress concentration in deep mining and ensures mining safety. However, there is currently a lack of research and field verification on the pressure-relief efficiency and influencing factors during upper seam extraction on the lower seam. In order to make up for this deficiency, in this study, field measurements were conducted in panel Y485, which has a maximum depth of 1030 m and is partially under the goaf of the upper 5# seam in the Tangshan coal mine, China, and evolution of advanced abutment pressure was analyzed. Numerical simulations were conducted to study of influence of key strata on advanced abutment pressure. Influence mechanisms of the upper seam extraction on the advanced abutment pressure distribution during lower seam extraction were revealed. The results indicate that the distribution of advanced abutment stress is influenced by the key strata in the overlying strata. The key strata above the upper coal seam were fractured due to the upper coal seam mining, and the advanced abutment stress was only influenced by the key strata between the two seams during lower coal seam mining. When key strata were present between two seams, the extraction of the lower seam still faces potential dynamic disasters after the extraction of the upper seam. In this case, it would be necessary to fracture the key strata between the two seams in advance for the purpose of mining safety. Key strata in the overlying strata of the 5# seam were fractured during extraction, and advanced abutment pressure was only influenced by the key strata located between the two mined seams. The influence distance of advanced abutment pressure in panel Y485 decreased from 73 m to 38 m, and the distance between the peak advanced abutment pressure and the panel decreased from 29 m to 20.5 m, achieving a pronounced pressure-relief effect.

Formation mechanism of stress arch during longwall mining based on key strata theory

The traditional stress arch hypothesis during longwall mining fails to elucidate the formation mechanism of stress arch, and the morphological characteristics and evolution of stress arch are indefinite. To solve these problems, a mechanical model was established for elucidating the formation mechanism of stress arch in overlaying strata. The influencing of key strata on the morphological characteristics of the stress arch was studied. Finally, the evolution of the stress arch during longwall mining was studied through numerical simulation. The results show that the bearing structure of the overlying strata served as the key strata, and the stress arch was formed when the key strata were subjected to deflection after playing a bearing structure role. This was the result of coordination and redistribution of major principal stress in the key strata. The morphological characteristics of the stress arch changed accordingly with the change in key strata. When the thickness of key strata and the distance between key strata and coal seam were gradually increased, the height and width of the stress arch increased accordingly; however, its height was always terminated at the top interface of key strata. At this time, the peak value of the abutment pressure of the working face gradually decreased while the influencing range gradually increased. During longwall mining, the stress arch developed upward by leaps and bounds with the bearing and fracture of key strata. When the overlying key strata were completely fractured, the stress arch disappeared. The results were verified using the field measurement data on the abutment pressure of the Y485 longwall face in Tangshan Mine.

Mechanism and Evolution Control of Wide Coal Pillar Bursts in Multithick Key Strata

Coal mine pillar burst frequently occurs in Western China, which seriously restricts safe production. This paper takes the 35 m coal pillar of the 3102 working face of MKQ coal mine as the engineering background. The mechanism and evolution control of pillar bursts in multithick key strata are studied using field investigation, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulation. The mechanism of dynamic and static stress-induced pillar bursts was revealed combining the “O-X” broken features for key strata and numerical simulation of pillar stress evolution. A prevention scheme is put forward for strata presplit blasting and adjusting coal pillar width to minimize the dynamic and static stresses. The results demonstrate the following. (1) In the multithick strata, the first and second near-field subkey strata have perpendicular “O-X” broken features, whereas the third far-field subkey has parallel “O-X” broken features. The working face has three kinds of periodic weighting phenomena: long, medium, and short. (2) The simulated vertical stress curve of 35 m coal pillar goes through three states: two-peak, asymmetric trapezoidal and symmetrical trapezoidal shape with the different advancing position of working face. The stress concentration is extensively promoting a high-risk area for rock burst. (3) The coal pillar burst was induced by the superposition of energy released by the key strata breaking and the elastic energy accumulated in the wide coal pillar. (4) The monitoring data showed that the long, medium, and short periodic weighting steps of multithick key strata are 141.6 m, 43.2–49.6 m, and 17.6–27.2 m, respectively. The microseismic events energy, frequency, and stress of hydraulic support increment are the highest during the long periodic weighting, and the spatial distribution of microseismic events coincides with the stress concentration area. The theoretical analysis is confirmed with the field practice.

Stability Analysis of Roadway Groups under Multi-Mining Disturbances

The roadway stability has been regarded as the main challenging issue for safety and productivity of deep underground coal mines, particularly where roadways are affected by coal mining activities. This study investigates the −740 m main roadway in the Jining No. 2 Coal Mine to provide a theoretical basis for the stability control of the main deep roadway affected by disturbances of adjacent working activities. Field surveys, theoretical analyses, and numerical simulations are used to reveal mechanisms of the coal mining disturbance. The field survey shows that the deformation of roadway increases when the work face advances near the roadway group. Long working face mining causes the key strata to collapse based on the key strata theory and then disturbs the adjacent roadway group. When the working face is 100 m away from the stop-mining line, the roadway group is affected by the mining face, and the width roadway protection coal pillar is determined to be about 100 m. Flac3D simulations prove the accuracy of the theoretical result. Through reinforcement and support measures for the main roadway, the overall strength of the surrounding rock is enhanced, the stability of the surrounding rock of the roadway is guaranteed, and the safe production of the mine is maintained.

Roof structure of shallow coal seam group mining in Western China

In order to realize roof control of shallow coal seam group mining in Western China, combining with engineering statistics, physical simulation and theoretical analysis, the roof weighting characteristics during lower coal seam mining were revealed, and the classification of shallow coal seam group was proposed. Based on this, mechanical models of roof structure were set up, and the calculation method of support resistance was determined. The results show that the roof weighting is closely related to the interburden thickness and the mining height of lower coal seam, considering the ratio of interburden thickness to the mining height, as well as the key stratum structure, the classification of shallow coal seam group was put forward. The first type is shallow coal seam group with no key stratum (SCSG-No), its roof pressure is mainly affected by caving roof of upper coal seam, and the interburden roof forms slanting pillar-beam structure. The second type is shallow coal seam group with single key stratum (SCSG-S), interburden roof represents step voussoir beam structure. The third type is shallow coal seam group with double key strata (SCSG-D), interburden roof can form double key strata structure, the lower key stratum forms slanting step voussoir beam structure, while the upper key stratum forms voussoir beam structure, besides, longwall face represents large—small periodic weighting. Through establishing the roof structure models, the calculation formulas of support resistance were determined, it can provide basis for roof control and promote safe mining in Western China.

Three-Dimensional Physical Simulation and Control Technology of Roof Movement Characteristics in Non-Pillar Gob-Side Entry Retaining by Roof Cutting

An overlying rock structure plays a key role in controlling the roof deformation of nonpillar gob-side entry retaining by roof cutting. On the bases of the actual geological conditions of II 632 Haulage Roadway at the Hengyuan coal mine, a similar three-dimensional simulation experiment of roof precutting is conducted. Thereafter, the caving characteristics and migration law of the roof strata in the strike and dip directions are obtained. Moreover, the roof of the retained roadway and key strata of the goaf can form a hinge structure of the key blocks. By monitoring the deformation of the surrounding rock and stress distribution of the roof, the skew deformation characteristics of roadway roof are obtained. By observing the borehole peeping technology, the roof subsidence near the goaf is determined to be greater than that of the solid coal side, and the roof subsidence of the gob-side entry retained by roof cutting is greater than that of the floor heave and two sides approaching. Results of the three-dimensional similar simulation experiment indicate that the mechanical structure model of the key block of the retained roadway roof is constructed, and the mechanical analytical solution of the required support resistance of the retained roadway roof is obtained. This study proposes the constant resistance and large deformation anchor cable reinforcement support method to control the roof deformation of the retaining roadway. Through engineering application, the maximum value of the roof and floor movement of the retained roadway is stable at approximately 650 mm. The retained roadway can meet the demand of the next mining face.

The Mechanical Analysis of Dynamic Disturbance and Static Stress under Different Mining Methods

In order to study the occurrence mechanism of rock-burst accidents under different mining methods, the overburden structural characteristics during long-wall face mining period were studied in detail, and the Elastic Foundation Beam theory was used to analyze the dynamic disturbance and static stress under different mining methods. The results show that, the deflection of the main roof and the composite beam can be calculate and then the energy of them contained; due to the difficult for gangues to support the fractured main roof, the scope of caved overburden is largest and the coal seam share the largest volume of the hanging overburden; the large cutting height mining have the max the concentration coefficient and the thin seam or the top slice mining have the min the concentration coefficient; the structural characteristics of near field key strata largely depend on caving height of the gob, and the deflection and the weighting interval of the main roof changes with variation of mining methods, and then their energy released. Above all, it can be conclude that mining method has large impact on dynamic disturbance induced by the main roof, and further analysis indicate that the structural characteristics of both far field and near field key strata under different mining methods lead to this difference; the mining depth, the proportion coefficient, the tensile strength of the main roof, the main roof’s thickness have large impact on the deflection of the beam and energy released by the main roof and the composite beam, and the elasticity modulus of the main roof, the blank space height in a voussior beam structure have little impact on the deflection and energy released.