Numerical Simulation of the Stress Field in Repeated Mining of Coal Seams Based on In Situ Stress Measurement

We established an evaluation index of the rock mass stress state for underground coal mines using the strength-stress ratio based on the measured in situ stress and the generalized Hoek–Brown strength criterion. Three in situ stress states, σcm/σ1m < 1.4 (high), 1.4 < σcm/σ1m < 3.6 (medium), and σcm/σ1m > 3.6 (low), were established based on the value of the unconfined compressive strength (σcm) and the maximum principal stress of the rock mass (σ1m). This index classifies the Burtai mine as a medium-high in situ stress field, which is in agreement with the on-site situation, establishing the reliability of the index. The working face was a three-dimensional geological model based on the log sheets. The initial conditions for the model were determined using the combined measurements of the in situ stress regression model. We performed numerical simulations of the roof stress field distribution under repeated mining. Mining the overlying coal seam leads to significant variation in the value and direction of the main roof, σ1, within the range of the front abutment pressure under the pillar and gob. Along the main roof strike direction, σ1 under the pillar is 1.5 times that under the gob, and the σ1 direction under the pillar is deflected by 5°, which is 30° smaller than that under the gob. This provides a reference for optimized underground coal mining.

Main Roof Breakage and Vibration Induced Coal Burst Occurring in Longwall Roadways

Rock burst is one major threat to mining safety and economy. Rock burst occurring in the longwall mining roadway accounts for 85% of the total amount of burst events. This paper investigates the causality mechanism of rock burst in longwall roadways by establishing a finite elastic beam model in the working face based on the elastic foundation theory. The breakage process of the main roof and related dynamic effects are analysed. The result shows that the movement of the main roof shows free vibration under certain damping resistance. It is also found that the roof dominant vibration frequency increases with the increase in the thickness and elastic modulus of the roof. During roof vibration, the vertical stress applied on the coal mass is unloaded. The destressing of the roof-coal interface causes the coal mass in the roadway rib to slip into the roadway under the horizontal ground stress, resulting in rock burst. The possibility of rock burst increases with increase in the strength and thickness of the roof and horizontal ground stress within the coal mass. This mechanism explains the occurrence of rock burst in the mining roadway; it provides the fundamental theory for the prevention and controlling technologies of longwall roadway rock burst.

Rebound Mechanism and Control of the Hard Main Roof in the Deep Mining Roadway in Huainan Mining Area

Taking the occurrence conditions of the hard main roof in the deep 13-1 coal mining roadway in Huainan mining area as the research object, based on the mechanical parameters of the surrounding rock and the stress state of the main roof obtained by numerical simulation, a simply supported beam calculation model was established based on the damage factor D, main roof support reaction RA, RB, and critical range C (9 m) and B (7 m) at the elastoplastic junction of the solid coal side and mining face side (hereinafter referred to as “junction”). Considering that the damage area still has a large bearing capacity, the vertical stress of the main roof at the junction is K1γH (0.05γh, 0.15γh, and 0.25γh) and K2γH (0.01γh, 0.10γh, and 0.2γh). The maximum deflection is 21 mm, 324 mm, and 627.6 mm, respectively. According to the criterion of tensile failure, the maximum bending moment of the top beam is 209 mN·m at the side of the working face 3.1 m away from the roadway side when K1 = 0.15 and K2 = 0.10, and the whole hard main roof is in tensile failure except the junction. To control the stability of the top beam and simplify the supporting reaction to limit the deformation of the slope angle, RC and RD are used to construct the statically indeterminate beam. By adding an anchor cable and advance self-moving support to the roadway side angle, the problem of difficult control of the surrounding rock with a large deformation of the side angle roof is solved, which provides a reference for roof control under similar conditions.

Stability and Control of Retracement Channels in Thin Seam Working Faces with Soft Roof

To reduce the risk of roof falling and rib spalling during equipment retracement in thin coal seam faces with soft roofs, the 25070 working face of Xuehu Coal Mine was taken as the research object, and theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and field practice methods were used. Under different space relationships between retracement channels and main roof fracture, the load of hydraulic supports was quantitatively analyzed. The relationship between the working resistance of the hydraulic support and the sinking rotation angle of the immediate roof was analyzed, and a reasonable time for the arrangement of the retracement channel was determined. The sublevel excavation technology and the combined support technology of roof anchor cables and coal rib anchors were proposed. The field application shows that the falling height and rate of movable prop of the hydraulic supports, working resistance of the hydraulic supports, and the roof subsidence all meet the requirements of safety production during the terminal mining period, and the surrounding rock control effect of retracement channel was determined to be good. The safe and efficient mining of the coal mine is ensured, and the research results can provide guidance for similar working faces.

Research on the Mechanism of Main Roof Advanced Breaking and Supporting Technology When Long-wall Face Passing Through Abandoned Roadways

Unlike general long-wall mining, the roof activity is more intense when long-wall face passes through the abandoned roadway. Technically, the coal pillar between the abandoned roadway and the long-wall face will suddenly fail with a certain critical value of its width, leading to the roof breaks in advance and other production-restricted problems because of the support loss, which will be a great threat to underground mining activities. In order to guarantee a safe mining condition, therefore, it is greatly necessary to uncover how the roof breaks in advance and how to cope with it. From the stability maintaining of the key block perspective, this paper took for research that the 12404-1 long-wall face of Wulanmulun coal mine, China. The critical value of the coal pillar’s width was determined to be about 5m by theoretical analysis, likely, the appropriate support force of the abandoned roadway’s roof is about 4020KN per meter. Meanwhile, a numerical simulation method was adopted to study the ground pressure when the long-wall face passing through the abandoned roadway. Correspondingly, a compound supporting technology involving the roof presplit technique, anchor cable supporting and pumping pillar supporting were proposed for the roof of the abandoned roadway, and it practically worked well.

Investigation on the Movement and Fracture Characteristics of an Extra-Thick Hard Roof during Longwall Panel Extraction in the Yima Mining Area, China

As an extra-thick hard roof is a significant contributing factor to frequently induced sudden roof collapse accidents and coal bursts, this study investigates the relationship between extra-thick hard roof movement and mining-induced stress using physical experiments and numerical simulation methods based on mining activities in a longwall panel in the Yima mining area, Henan province, China. The results suggested that the movement and failure processes of the extra-thick roof could be divided into three main periods: the undisturbed, movement stabilization, and sudden collapse periods. The roof displacement remained essentially unchanged during the undisturbed period. During the movement stabilization period, the displacement gradually increased into the upper roof. However, the extra-thick main roof remained undisturbed until the immediate roof experienced its fourth periodic caving in the physical model. Consequently, the displacement expanded rapidly into the extra-thick main roof during the sudden collapse period and the strain energy was violently released when it accumulated in the extra-thick main roof. Additionally, the mining-induced stress was characterized by a sudden decrease in the gradual increase trend when the extra-thick roof instantly collapsed. The deformation and fracture of the extra-thick roof could cause a sudden decrease in the mining-induced stress and lead to continuous and unstable subsidence pressure exerted on the mining panel and roadway. This significantly contributes to the occurrence of coal bursts.

Field and Numerical Investigation on the Coal Pillar Instability of Gob-Side Entry in Gently Inclined Coal Seam

In order to study the coal pillar stability of gob-side entry in gently inclined coal seam, a comprehensive method including theoretical analysis, numerical modeling, and field monitoring was applied to study its fracturing and instability mechanism. The results show that the uneven horizontal stress was the internal cause of entry asymmetric deformation and failure in inclined coal seam. In gently inclined coal seam, the rotation movement of the main roof and stress distribution were closely related to inclination of the coal seam. Based on the asymmetric deformation characteristics and mechanisms of entry, a collaborative control technology of roof cutting for pressure relief and support strengthening has been put forward. The research results have practical significance for revealing the mechanism of entry damage in gently inclined coal seam mining and proposing engineering measures to prevent coal pillar damage and disaster occurrence.

Mechanism of Support Optimization and Confined Blasting of Thick and Hard Rock with a Wedge-Structure Immediate Roof: A Case Study

Based on the occurrence conditions of a thick and hard main roof and wedge-structure immediate roof in the Zhuxianzhuang Coal Mine, the fracture characteristics and instability migration law of a thick and hard roof (THR) were examined via physical simulations. Mining zones were divided with respect to the strata behaviors and roof control difficulty levels, and the principles and methods of zonal control under THR were put forward. This study proposed a coordinated control strategy of using confined blasting in water-filled deep holes, and reasonable support optimization, which could effectively reduce the roof fracture size, increases the supporting intensity and eliminate roof-control disasters. The length of confined blasting blocks and supporting intensity were calculated using a mechanical model for roof control in the strong strata behavior zone and less-strong strata behavior zone. These key parameters were determined as 20–25 m and 1.15–1.28 MPa, respectively, and the mining strategy was successfully applied in working face 880, performing high security and reasonable economical efficiency.

Field Investigation of Face Spall in Moderate Strength Coal Seam at Vang Danh Coal Mine, Vietnam

Face spall in moderate strength coal seam occurs less frequently but can be more severe and takes a longer time to remedy compared to face spall in the weak coal seam. This paper presents a field investigation of face spall in moderate strength coal seam at Face I-8-1, Vang Danh coal mine, Quang Ninh coal field, Vietnam. The leg pressure of shield support and face condition were monitored within two months, and on-site remedial measures to the spall were discussed. The monitoring results confirmed that the front and rear leg pressure profiles are consistent with world-wide observations. The coal face condition in actual operation was found to be more stable than that in project design. The face spall occurred along face dip direction, but mostly in small extent of less than 0.5 m deep and during transitional time between working shifts. Proper ground control near gate ends by using higher capacity shield supports and supplemental hydraulic props was identified to improve face stability in the area. On-site remedial measures proved their efficiency in small to moderate face spall extent. For main roof rupture-associated face spall, technical measures have been applied but they need further investigation to clarify their effectiveness. The paper’s results can be consulted to improve longwall face stability control in similar coal seam conditions.

A Novel Mining Method for Longwall Panel Face Passing through Parallel Abandoned Roadways

Mining pressure behavior in the process of longwall panel face passing through the parallel abandoned roadways (PARs) is different from the ordinary longwall panel face. It is easy to induce the accident of roof falling, coal wall spalling, and crush accident of shield. In order to reduce the occurrence of mine pressure accidents and ensure safe mining, a new mining method named “swing-inclined” mining method was proposed and was employed in the E13103 of Cuijiazhai coal mine. Based on the process of the longwall panel face passing through the PARs, a long-span and multisupport mass-structure model of the roof was established. The maximum support capacity of shield was calculated combined with stability relation between “roof-shield-PAR-‘similar pillar (SP)’-coal wall.” It provided the basis for determining the reasonable support capacity of shield. Moreover, the sensitivity analysis of influenced factors to the maximum support capacity of shield was carried out by using Matlab software. The sensitivity analysis results indicated that different factors had a different effect on the support capacity of shield. And, the process of passing through the PARs can be divided into 3 stages, depending on the relation between support capacity of shield and width of SP. In different stages, the change degree of support capacity of shield was different. The support capacity of shield is mainly influenced by the hanging distance of the main roof and the horizontal distance between the support point of the coal wall and the breaking position of the main roof. By on-site measurement, the sensitivity analysis results were verified.