Numerical and theoretical study of large-scale failure of strata overlying sublevel caving mines with steeply dipping discontinuities

The deformation and fracture evolution mechanisms of the strata overlying mines mined using sublevel caving were studied via numerical simulations.Moreover,an expression for the normal force acting on the side face of a steeply dipping superimposed cantilever beam in the surrounding rock was deduced based on limit equilibrium theory.The results show the following:(1)surface displacement above metal mines with steeply dipping discontinuities shows significant step characteristics,and(2)the behavior of the strata as they fail exhibits superimposition characteristics.Generally,failure first occurs in certain superimposed strata slightly far from the goaf.Subsequently,with the constant downward excavation of the orebody,the superimposed strata become damaged both upwards away from and downwards toward the goaf.This process continues until the deep part of the steeply dipping superimposed strata forms a large-scale deep fracture plane that connects with the goaf.The deep fracture plane generally makes an angle of 12°-20°with the normal to the steeply dipping discontinuities.The effect of the constant outward transfer of strata movement due to the constant outward failure of the superimposed strata in the metal mines with steeply dipping discontinuities causes the scope of the strata movement in these mines to be larger than expected.The strata in the metal mines with steeply dipping discontinuities mainly show flexural toppling failure.However,the steeply dipping structural strata near the goaf mainly exhibit shear slipping failure,in which case the mechanical model used to describe them can be simplified by treating them as steeply dipping superimposed cantilever beams.By taking the steeply dipping superimposed cantilever beam that first experiences failure as the key stratum,the failure scope of the strata(and criteria for the stability of metal mines with steeply dipping discontinuities mined using sublevel caving)can be obtained via iterative computations from the key stratum,moving downward toward and upwards away from the goaf.

Structure instability forecasting and analysis of giant rock pillars in steeply dipping thick coal seams

Structure stability analysis of rock masses is essential for forecasting catastrophic structure failure in coal seam mining. Steeply dipping thick coal seams （SDTCS） are common in the Urumqi coalfield, and some dynamical hazards such as roof collapse and mining-induced seismicity occur frequently in the coal mines. The cause of these events is mainly structure instability in giant rock pillars sand- wiched between SDTCS. Developing methods to predict these events is important for safe mining in such a complex environment. This study focuses on understanding the structural mechanics model of a giant rock pillar and presents a viewpoint of the stability of a trend sphenoid fractured beam （TSFB）. Some stability index parameters such as failure surface dips were measured, and most dips were observed to be between 46° and 51°. We used a digital panoramic borehole monitoring system to measure the TSFB＇s height （△H）, which varied from 56.37 to 60.50 m. Next, FLAC^3D was used to model the distribution and evolution of vertical displacement in the giant rock pillars; the results confirmed the existence of a TSFB structure. Finally, we investigated the acoustic emission （AE） energy accumulation rate and observed that the rate commonly ranged from 20 to 40 kJ/min. The AE energy accumulation rate could be used to anticipate impeding seismic events related to structure failure. The results presented provide a useful approach for forecasting catastrophic events related to structure instability and for developing hazard prevention technology for mining in SDTCS.

Monitoring strata behavior due to multi-slicing top coal caving longwall mining in steeply dipping extra thick coal seam

For studying the strata behavior due to multi-slicing top coal caving longwall mining along-the-strike direction in steeply dipping extra thick coal seams,the shield support pressures of the upper and lower slices of panel 37220 in Dongxia Coal Mine were monitored using the KJ513 dynamic monitoring system.The set up rooms adopted the "horizontal line-arc segment-inclined line" form and used different types of shield supports.The results show that the strata pressure of upper slice panel 37220-1 changed slightly along the strike direction,while along the dip direction it exhibited strong to weak pressure from bottom to top.The first weighting interval of lower slice panel 37220-2 was about 60.8 m,and the average periodic weighting interval were about 22.6 m.The strata behavior of panel 37220-2 exhibited a spatiotemporal characteristic in that periodic weighting occurred first in the middle-upper part,followed by the middle and upper parts,arc segment,and finally the lower part.During the periodic weighting,the weighting interval and intensity also exhibited strong space characteristics.The average dynamic load coefficient was 1.48 and the maximum lateral load of the side shield was 20-25 MPa.

Breaking and mining-induced stress evolution of overlying strata in the working face of a steeply dipping coal seam

The breaking features and stress distribution of overlying strata in a steeply dipping coal seam(SDCS)differ significantly from those in a near-horizontal one.In this study,the laws governing the evolution of vertical stress release and shear stress concentration in the overlying strata of coal seams with different dip angles are derived via numerical simulation,rock mechanics tests,acoustic emissions,and field measurements.Thus,the stress-driven dynamic evolution of the overlying strata structure,in which a shear stress arch forms,is determined.Upon breaking the lower pari of the overlying strata,the shear stress transfers rapidly to the upper part of the working face.The damaged zone of the overlying strata migrates upward along the dip direction of the working face.The gangue in the lower part of the working face is compacted,leading to an increase in vertical stress.As the dip angle of the coal seam increases,the overlying strata fail suddenly under the action of shear stresses.Finally,the behavioral response of the overlying strata driven by shear stresses in the longwall working face of an SDCS is identified and analyzed in detail.The present research findings reveal the laws governing the behavior of mine pressure in the working face of an SDCS,which in turn can be used to establish the respective on-site guidance.

Three-dimensional strata movement around coal face of steeply dipping seam group

Steeply dipping seam group, which has complex occurrence conditions, belongs to the steeply dipping seam. The research on the strata movement around the coal face not only improves safe production technology in practice, but also develops the mining theory. By using physical simulation experiments, numerical simulation and site test, the deformation, failure and movement of surrounding rock in Iongwall working face were analyzed. According to the analysis, characteristics of the seam group were formed which is different from the single seam. Asymmetry mechanics, sequential changes and imbalance of strata movement along the tendency working face were summarized. Furthermore the features of upper and lower seams were different. The mining of the lower seam induced more complex strata movement along the strike. Multi-section mining disturbed surrounding rocks in larger areas than the single section mining did, which had an impact on and dynamic loading function to the support when mining the lower seam, and produced a great influence on the stability of support-rock system.

Steeply dipping structural target-oriented viscoacoustic least-squares reverse time migration and its application

Steeply dipping structural imaging is a significant challenge because surface geophones cannot obtain seismic primary reflection wave information from steeply dipping structures.Prismatic waves with a significant amount of steeply dipping information can be used to improve the imaging eff ect on steeply dipping structures.Subsurface attenuation leads to amplitude loss and phase distortion of seismic waves,and ignoring this attenuation during imaging can cause blurring of migration amplitudes.In this study,we proposed a steeply dipping structural target-oriented viscoacoustic least-squares reverse time migration(LSRTM)method with prismatic and primary waves as an objective function based on the viscous wave equation,while deriving Q-compensated wavefield propagation and joint operators of prismatic and primary waves and the Q-compensated demigration operator.Numerical examples on synthetic and field data verified the advantages of the proposed viscoacoustic LSRTM method of joint primary and prismatic waves over conventional viscoacoustic LSRTM and non-compensated LSRTM when using attenuating observed data.