Stability analysis of longwall top-coal caving face in extra-thick coal seams based on an innovative numerical hydraulic support model

The relationship between support and surrounding rock is of great significance to the control of surrounding rock in mining process.In view of the fact that most of the existing numerical simulation methods construct virtual elements and stress servo control to approximately replace the hydraulic support problem,this paper establishes a new numerical model of hydraulic support with the same working characteristics as the actual hydraulic support by integrating numerical simulation software Rhino,Griddle and FLAC3D,which can realize the simulation of different working conditions.Based on this model,the influence mechanism of the supporting strength of hydraulic support on surrounding rock stress regulation and coal stability in front of the top coal caving face in extra thick coal seam were researched.Firstly,under different support intensity,the abutment pressure of the bearing coal and the coal in front of it presents the “three-stage”evolution characteristics.The influence range of support intensity is 15%–30%.Secondly,1.5 MPa is the upper limit of impact that the support strength can have on the front coal failure area.Thirdly,within a displacement range of 2.76 m from the coal wall,a support strength of1.5 MPa provides optimal control of the horizontal displacement of the coal.

Prediction and control of rock burst of coal seam contacting gas in deep mining

By analyzing the characteristics and the production mechanism of rock burstthat goes with abnormal gas emission in deep coal seams,the essential method of eliminatingabnormal gas emission by eliminating the occurrence of rock burst or depressingthe magnitude of rock burst was considered.The No.237 working face was selected asthe typical working face contacting gas in deep mining;aimed at this working face,a systemof rock burst prediction and control for coal seam contacting gas in deep mining wasestablished.This system includes three parts:① regional prediction of rock burst hazardbefore mining,② local prediction of rock burst hazard during mining,and ③ rock burstcontrol.

Relationship between joint development in rock and coal seams in the southeastern margin of the Ordos basin

To predict joint development characteristics of coal seams, joint characteristics of rock seams from 88field stations were observed and comparisons were made between joint characteristics of coal and rock seams at 10 coal outcrops. Additionally, detailed joint measurements of underground coal seams were taken at two coal mines. This study investigated the effects of seam thickness, lithology, and structure on joint development and established the relationship between joint development of coal and rock seams, which allowed predictions of predominant joint densities for the No.5 coal seam in the southeastern margin of the Ordos basin. The results show that outcrop and underground coal seams exhibit the same joint systems as rock seams. The joints are mainly upright. Predominant joints strike 55° on average, followed by joints striking 320°. The joint density of the coal seam is 18.7–22.5 times that of the sandstone seam at the same thickness. The predominant joint density of the No.5 coal seam, controlled by the structure, is 4–20 joints per meter. Joint densities exhibit high values at intersecting areas of faults and folds and decrease values in structurally stable areas. The permeability increases exponentially with increasing density of the predominant joints.

Study on the Theory and Method on Identification of the Mobile Block in the Face-Contacted Blocks Structure in Rocks Between Coal Seams to Mine the Left-over Coal Above the Gob

In mining the left-over coal above the gob,stope wall rock of mining area have hard limestone.through field observation,the face-contacted block structure was found in rocks between coal seams to mine the left-over coal above the gob.In order to probe into the movement law of rock strata and strata control measures,it is very important to identify the mobile block in face-contacted block structure of rocks between coal seams.This paper relies on the thought of block theory to establish appropriate parameter matrix and figure out its discrimination matrix in view of the fact that the block in face-contacted block structure has high intensity and stiffness,the

Reflectivity forward modeling and a CSSI method seismic inversion study of igneous intrusive area,coked area,and gas-enriched area located within a coal seam

We applied the reflectivity method and the constrained sparse spike inverse modeling(CSSI) method to the interpretation of coal field lithologic seismic data.After introducing the principles of these two methods we discuss some parameters of a geological model involving possible gas enriched areas or intruded igneous rock.The geological model was constructed and a 60 Hz seismic response profile was obtained looking for igneous rock intrusion and coked areas of the coal seam using the reflectivity method.Starting from synthesized logging data from two wells and a synthesized seismic wavelet we calibrated the model to show accurate strata.Finally,we predicted the lithology within a 10 m igneous rock area,a 3 m coal seam area,and a coked area using the CSSI technique.The results show that the CSSI technique can identify hard to recognize lithologic features that normal profil-ing methods might miss.It can quantitatively analyze and evaluate the intrusive area,the coked area,and the gas-enriched area.

Experimental and theoretical investigation on mechanisms performance of the rock-coal-bolt(RCB)composite system

For coal mines,rock,coal,and rock bolt are the critical constituent materials for surrounding rock in the underground engineering.The stability of the“rock-coal-bolt”(RCB)composite system is affected by the structure and fracture of the coal-rock mass.More rock bolts installed on the rock,more complex condition of the engineering stress environment will be(tensile-shear composite stress is principal).In this paper,experimental analysis and theoretical verification were performed on the RCB composite system with different angles.The results revealed that the failure of the rock-coal(RC)composite specimen was caused by tensile and shear cracks.After anchoring,the reinforcement body formed inside the composite system limits the area where the crack could occur in the specimen.Specifically,shearing damage occurred only around the bolt,and the stress-strain curve presented a better post-peak mechanical property.The mechanical mechanism of the bolt under the combined action of tension and shear stress was analyzed.Additionally,a rock-coal-bolt tensile-shear mechanical(RCBTSM)model was established.The relationship(similar to the exponential function)between the bolt tensile-shear stress and the angle was obtained.Moreover,the influences of the dilatancy angle and bolt diameter of the RCB composite system were also considered and analyzed.Most of the bolts are subjected to the tensile-shearing action in the post-peak stage.The implications of these results for engineering practice indicated that the bolts of the RCB composite system should be prevented from entering the limit shearing state early.

Similarity model tests of movement and deformation of coal-rock mass below stopes

For a study of the movement and deformation of coal-rock mass and low protected seams below a stope,as well as for fracture developments and rules of evolution of permeability,we designed a plane strain model test stand to carry out model tests of similar materials in order to improve the effect of gas drainage from low protected seams and to measure the movement and deformation of coal-rock mass using a method of non-contact close-range photogrammetry.Our results show that 1) using paraffin melting to take the place of coal seam mining can satisfy the mining conditions of a protective seam;2) coal-rock mass under goafs has an upward movement after the protective seam has been mined,causing floor heaving;3) low protected seams become swollen and deformed,providing a good pressure-relief effect and causing the coal-rock mass under both sides of coal pillars to become deformed by compression and 4) the evolution of permeability of low protected seams follows the way of initial values→a slight decrease→a great increase→stability→final decrease.Simultaneously,the coefficient of air permeability increased at a decreasing rate with an increase in interlayer spacing.

Experimental investigation on behaviors of bolt-supported rock strata surrounding an entry in large dip coal seam

In order to investigate the behaviors and stability of rock strata surrounding an entry with bolt supporting in large dip coal seams (LDCSs) dipping from 25° to 45°, a self-developed rotatable experimental frame for similar material simulation test was used to build the model with the dip of 30°, based on analyses of geological and technological conditions in Huainan mine area, Anhui, China. The strata behaviors, such as extracting- and mining-induced stresses development, deformation and failure modes, were synthetically integrated during working face advancing. Results show that the development characteristics of mining-induced stress and deformation are asymmetrical in the roadway. The strata behaviors are totally different in different sections of the roadway. Because of asymmetrically geometrical structure influenced by increasing dip, strata dislocating, rock falling and breaking occur in roof. Then, squeezing, collapsing and caving of coal happen in upper- and lower-rib due to shearing action caused by asymmetrical roof bending and dislocating. Owing to the absence of supporting, floor heaving is very violent and usually the zone of floor heaving develops from the lower-rib to upper-rib. Engineering practices show that, due to the asymmetrical characteristics of rock pressure and roadway configuration, it is more difficult to implement bolt supporting system to control rock stability of roadways in LDCSs. The upper-rib and roof of entries are the key sections. Consequently, it is reliable to use asymmetrical bolt-mesh-cable supporting system to control rock stability of roadways based on the asymmetrical characteristics of roadway configuration and strata behaviors.

Controlling Effects of Surrounding Rock to Coal Seam Gas Occurrence

Surrounding rock of coal seam was one of the important factors to gas occurrence. The coal seam gas occurrence was studied by the index of roof strata thickness or sand content rate;we found that there were certain shortcomings. In order to reasonably evaluate the influence of coal seam surrounding rock on gas occurrence in Panji mining area, we quantitatively evaluated the effect of coal seam surrounding rock on gas occurrence by influence coefficient of roof strata thickness, and built six mathematical models of the variational gas content in the mining area which is divided into six gas geological units. The results shows that the coal seam gas content is mainly influenced by 20 mroof strata in each gas geological unit, the gas content presents the tendency of increase, and with the influence coefficient of strata thickness increases, they exist a significant linear relationship.

Lateral Stress Concentration in Localized Interlayer Rock Stratum and the Impact on Deep Multi-Seam Coal Mining

To explore the impact of lateral stress concentration in interlayer rock stratum on the exploitation of protected coal seam, a field experiment was carried out in a multi-seam mining structure. Lateral stress redistribution and interlayer rock failure behavior were surveyed. Then an assistant numerical investigation was implemented to evolve the effect of liberated seam mining and its influence on stress reconstruction in surrounding rock mass. The cause of lateral stress concentration and its impact were discussed finally. Key findings turn out that a certain lateral stress increases in interlayer rock stratum and concentrates on its lower region. Lateral stress concentration and interlayer rock failure are interactional. The former is an inducing factor of the latter;the latter promotes the increase of concentration degree. Extent of lateral stress concentration increases to the maximum as seam distance is about 50 m. But the efficacy of liberated seam mining decreases as the seam spacing gets larger. Protected seam mining is then classified based upon the impact of lateral stress concentration, which helps to prevent the rock burst hazard and then to achieve a reliable mining in deep mines.

Stress distribution rule of roadway affected by overhead mining in gently inclined coal seams group

In light of the severe deformation and destruction of the district raise tunnel in the mining area at the northern part of the Lubanshan colliery, by the theoretic analysis and numerical simulation, both the mining stress distribution in seams group and the deformation and destruction mechanism of floor district raise were investigated. The results show that, at the maximum vertical distance of 40 m, the abutment stress has an influence on the recovery of 2# and 3# coal seam and 8# coal seam at distance of 30 m. As a result, the recovery of 8# is rather than those of 2# or 3# coal seam, which contributes to the deformation and destruction of the district raise surrounding rock. The major factors affecting the abutment stress include the mining depth, mining height, residual gob space, adjacent working faces and short spacing coal seam recovery.

Analysis of the Harmfulness of Water-Inrush from Coal Seam Floor Based on Seepage Instability Theory

A theory of seepage instability was used to estimate the harmfulness of water-inrush from a coal seam floor in a particular coal mine of the Mining Group,Xuzhou. Based on the stratum column chart in this coal mine,the distribu-tion of stress in mining floors when the long-wall mining was respectively pushed along to 100 m and to 150 m was simulated by using the numerical software (RFPA2D). The permeability parameters of the coal seam floor are described given the relationship between permeability parameters. Strain and the water-inrush-indices were calculated. The wa-ter-inrush-index was 67.2% when the working face was pushed to 100 m,showing that water-inrush is possible and it was 1630% when the working face was pushed to 150 m,showing that water-inrush is quite probable. The results show that as long-wall mining is pushed along,the failure zone is enlarged,the strain increased,and fissures developed cor-respondingly,resulting in the formation of water-inrush channels. Accompanied by the failure of the strata,the perme-ability increased exponentially. In contrast,the non-Darcy flow β factor and the acceleration coefficient decreased ex-ponentially,while the increase in the water-inrush-index was nearly exponential and the harmfulness of water-inrush in the coal mine increased accordingly.

Stability control of gob-side entry retained under the gob with close distance coal seams

In multi-seam mining,the interlayer rock strata between the upper coal seam(UCS)and the lower coal seam(LCS)appear damage and strength weakening after mining the UCS.Ground stability control of the gob-side entry retaining(GER)under the gob with close distance coal seams(CDCS)is faced with difficulties due to little attention to GER under this condition.This paper focuses on surrounding rock stability control and technical parameters design for GER under the gob with CDCS.The floor rock strata damage characteristics after mining the UCS is first evaluated and the damage factor of the interlayer rock strata below the UCS is also determined.Then,a structural mechanics model of GER surrounding rock is set up to obtain the main design parameters of the side-roadway backfill body(SBB)including the maximum and minimum SBB width calculation formula.The optimal SBB width and the water-to-cement ratio of high water quick-setting material(HWQM)to construct the SBB are determined as 1.2 m and 1.5:1.0,respectively.Finally,engineering trial tests of GER are successfully carried out at#5210 track transportation roadway of Xingwu Colliery.Research results can guide GER design under similar mining and geological conditions.

Characteristics of stress distribution in floor strata and control of roadway stability under coal pillars

Given the difficulties encountered in roadway support under coal pillars,we studied the characteristics of stress distribution and their effect on roadway stability,using theoretical analysis and numerical simulation.The results show that,under a coal pillar,vertical stress in a floor stratum increases while horizontal stress decreases.We conclude that the increased difference between vertical and horizontal stress is an important reason for deformation of the surrounding rock and failures of roadways under coal pillars.Based on this,we propose control technologies of the surrounding rock of a roadway under a coal pillar,such as high strength and high pre-stressed bolt support,cable reinforcement support single hydraulic prop with beam support and reinforcement by grouting of the surrounding rock,which have been successfully applied in a stability control project of a roadway under a coal pillar.

Surrounding rock control theory and longwall mining technology innovation

To accommodate surrounding rock structure stability control problem in underground mining, we study the coupling effect principle between hydraulic support and surrounding rock, and develop a series of longwall mining technology and equipment, which solves four common technical problems that significantly undermine coal mining safety, efficiency, and high recovery and extraction rates. Based on the coupling characteristic between mining-induced stress field and supporting stress field of hydraulic support, we identify six controllable factors in the application of hydraulic support to surrounding rock, and further reveal the relationship between hydraulic support and surrounding rock in terms of the strength, the stiffness, and the stability coupling. Our findings provide a plausible solution to the longwall mining technical problem with 6-8 m mining height. By analyzing the dynamic disequilibrium characteristics between hydraulic support and surrounding rock, we propose the intelligent top coal caving control method and the high-coal-recovery-rate tech- nology for fully mechanized caving faces. With the invention of this technology, China is likely to lead the world in terms of the fully mechanized top coal caving mining technology. We are also the first to employ the intelligent coupling technology between hydraulic support and surrounding rock, and automated mining mode, and supporting system coop- erative control with automatic organization. We develop the comprehensive multi-index intelligence adjusting height decision-making mechanism and three-dimensional navigation automatic adjusting straightness technology based on shearer cutting height memory association, cutting power parameters, vibration, and video information, leading to the first set of intelligent longwall mining technology and equipment for thin seam. Our innovation makes a solid contribution to the revolution of intelligence mining technology. With the innovative use of three-dimensional coupling control principle for surrounding rock, we successfully resolve the technological difficulties of longwall mining equipment and surrounding rock control for steep dipping seam, making a breakthrough of longwall mining technology with steep dipping seam.

Study on Application of Highwall Mining System under Weak Geological Condition in Thailand

The EGAT Mac Moh coal mine is an open-cut coal mine in Thailand that produces about 16 million tons of lignite annually to generate 2,400 MW of electricity. The surface mine pit covers is 4 km by 7 km with mining depths ranging up to 260 m. A large pit slope is formed with the progression of the mining operation. However, massive slides in the pit slope occur often due to the existence weak planes such as faults and bedding, and the weak mechanical properties of the rocks. Hence, 200 m to 300 m boundaries of rock block including coal seams are left in front of faults in order to prevent slides and maintain the stability of the pit slope. As a result, there are significant coal reserves beneath the abandoned area along the pit slope. The focus of this paper is on the applicability and design of the highwall mining for recovering much of the coal left along the pit slope.

急倾斜深埋巨厚煤层掘巷冲击地压前兆特征及其灾害防治

随着冲击地压矿井逐渐向深开采,其巷道掘进伴随的冲击显现愈发强烈。针对巷道掘进过程中的冲击地压有效防治问题,以新疆乌东煤矿急倾斜煤层矿井为例,运用微震监测对巷道掘进的冲击地压时空前兆特征加以分析。结合巷道掘进的应力与能量变化数值模拟分析,揭示巷道掘进的冲击地压发生机理,提出急倾斜巨厚煤层巷道冲击地压防治策略,并完成现场工程实践验证。研究结果表明:急倾斜巨厚煤层巷道掘进的冲击地压发生前第2~5天出现微震总能量极低值,或存在至少4 d的能量潜伏期;冲击地压发生前5 d普遍存在3 d以上的最大能量占比高频波动期。冲击地压发生前存在明显缺震现象,发生位置集中分布在距离掘进工作面较近的微震能量极小值区间范围内,或位于微震能量极值区间附近的微震频次极小值区间范围内,且冲击地压事件位于冲击变形能指数较高区域。急倾斜巨厚煤层水平分段综放开采的坚硬覆岩结构不易破断,使得巷道掘进存在上水平采空区两侧“双翼型”应力集中,掘进工作面前方与巷道底部受顶底板岩层相互挤压的应力集中分布且能量积聚显著,随着巷道掘进深度增加其应力集中与能量积聚进一步增强,容易诱发冲击地压等动力灾害。综合分析形成急倾斜巨厚煤层巷道掘进的工作面爆破卸压、巷道钻孔卸压与补强支护、复杂区域架蓬的冲击地压防治策略。结合冲击地压时空前兆异常为及时加强卸压力度提供时机。通过工作面与巷道卸压使得掘进期间未发生单日累计1×105 J以上微震能量,在对支护优化调整与复杂区域重点防护后,巷道掘进日均微震能量降至2.2 kJ,其1 kJ以上微震事件占比下降且巷道断面整体平整。研究结果为急倾斜巨厚煤层巷道安全掘进提供了科学依据。

急倾斜特厚煤层冲击地压防治探索与总结

急倾斜特厚煤层开采顶板破断运动复杂,应力和能量演化规律特殊,在深部“三高一扰动”影响下,冲击地压防治不容乐观。基于某矿2016年冲击地压事故后急倾斜特厚煤层水平分段开采冲击地压防治经验,从急倾斜特厚煤层水平分段开采冲击地压发生机理、瓦斯突出与冲击地压综合防治和冲击地压管理详细介绍了该矿7年来急倾斜特厚煤层冲击地压防治经验。冲击地压发生机理方面,建立了顶板岩层倾斜悬臂梁模型,揭示了顶、底板覆岩结构破断失稳演化过程,划分了夹持煤体受力状态分区,提出了急倾斜特厚煤层冲击“夹持理论”。瓦斯突出与冲击地压综合防治方面,基于冲击地压灾害控制解危技术的强度弱化减冲理论,结合原有防突措施体系,提出了既能防冲且对防突有利的解危措施,形成了某矿瓦斯/CO_(2)突出-冲击地压“双防”技术体系,建立了适用于某矿急倾斜特厚煤层水平分段开采的冲击地压防治体系,以钻屑量和瓦斯吸解值验证了瓦斯突出防治的强度保障,同时以加强实施卸压措施工作面的微震事件分布及各能级总频次和能量对比,论证说明了卸压方案防治效果的有效性。冲击地压管理方面,形成了预测评价、监测预警、治理预防、效果检验、安全防护和教育培训“六位一体”综合防治架构,基于《煤矿安全规程》和《防治煤矿冲击地压细则》等各项规定,制定了Q/YJMD-—FC 0104-2022《窑街煤电集团有限公司煤矿冲击地压防治第四部分:冲击地压防治技术规范》。

富水沟谷区浅埋煤层导水裂隙演化特征

富水沟谷区域下浅埋煤层赋存条件特殊,采场上覆岩层导水裂隙发育演化特征复杂。为了揭示沟谷区浅埋煤层在回采扰动作用下覆岩裂隙演化规律,以朱家峁煤矿1305-2工作面过沟谷区回采阶段为工程背景,采用理论分析、物理相似模拟、数值模拟与现场效果验证的方法,建立了覆岩裂隙−渗流场概念模型,开展了覆岩结构发育与微震能量演化研究,分析了覆岩变形与塑性破坏分布特征,提出了针对沟谷区下浅埋煤层导水裂隙防治措施,并应用于现场工程实践。结果表明:开采扰动下裂隙−渗流场模型呈“梯台”结构,并依次划分为初渗区域、稳渗区域、紊渗区域3个区域;将所研究矿井的工况数据代入模型结构,计算出各个渗透区域范围,并根据计算结果对矿井的稳渗区域采取注浆措施。工作面回采至沟谷区段,覆岩裂隙域形态呈现“拱形-梯形-复合梯形”的扩展演化特征,裂隙纵向发育高度达到163 m,并与沟谷区地表贯通。随工作面推进,地表裂隙依次经历“滑移-挤压-撕裂”过程;沟谷区域位移云图呈现出滞后开采“高位梯形”破断形态,在沟底处下沉位移最大,达3.47 m。针对开采导致的裂隙大范围扩展贯通,提出在地面进行采动裂缝注浆处理,在工作面上覆岩层进行注浆封堵,实现过沟谷区开采“井上−井下”联合防治,保证安全开采。该研究结果可为浅埋煤层的过沟谷区开采、采动裂隙防治及富水区“保水采煤”提供新的科学依据。

多煤层重复采动回采巷道失稳机理与控制技术

戊9-10-22290工作面为平煤六矿三水平二采区的孤岛工作面,风巷外段在采掘服务期间将会受到上覆戊8及下伏五矿己组回采影响,采掘时空关系异常复杂。目的为探讨多煤层重复采动回采巷道失稳机理与控制技术,方法基于采掘工作面应力时-空演化关系,提出平煤六矿戊9-10-22290工作面风巷外段全生命周期内的围岩控制方法,并进行现场工程应用。结果结果表明:上覆近距离煤层开采后,巷道顶板出现拉剪破坏;本煤层和下伏煤层回采过程中,巷道将逐段受到超前支承压力作用;根据巷道围岩所处的扰动时-空过程和高应力环境,提出“高预应力高强锚杆+锚索+深孔爆破卸压”的抗压-让压-卸压相结合的综合围岩控制技术。现场工业性试验表明,巷道服务期间两帮最大变形量为347 mm,顶板下沉和底板鼓起均在可控范围内,能够满足矿井安全生产需求,取得较好的技术和经济效益,结论研究结果可为类似条件下的回采巷道围岩控制提供参考。