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.

Behaviors of overlying strata in extra-thick coal seams using top-coalcaving method

Accidents such as support failure and excessive deformation of roadways due to drastic changes in strata behaviors are frequently reported when mining the extra-thick coal seams Nos.3e5 in Datong coal mine with top-coal caving method,which significantly hampers the mine's normal production.To understand the mechanism of strata failure,this paper presented a structure evolution model with respect to strata behaviors.Then the behaviors of strata overlying the extra-thick coal seams were studied with the combined method of theoretical analysis,physical simulation,and field measurement.The results show that the key strata,which are usually thick-hard strata,play an important role in overlying movement and may influence the mining-induced strata behaviors in the working face using top-coal caving method.The structural model of far-field key strata presents a 'masonry beam' type structure when'horizontal O-X' breakage type happens.The rotational motion of the block imposed radial compressive stress on the surrounding rock mass of the roadway.This can induce excessive deformation of roadway near the goaf.Besides,this paper proposed a pre-control technology for the hard roof based on fracture holes and underground roof pre-splitting.It could effectively reduce stress concentration and release the accumulated energy of the strata,when mining underground coal resources with top-coal caving method.

Simulation research on the influence of eroded primary key strata on dynamic strata pressure of shallow coal seams in gully terrain

In Huojitu Coal Mine of Shendong mining area, the dynamic strata pressure (DSP) accidents occurred when the working faces passed the gully terrain. Focusing on this problem, we used physical simulation experimental method to thoroughly study the influence of eroded overlying primary key strata (PKS) in the gully terrain on DSP of shallow coal seams in this paper. The result show that when mining activities took place in the uphill section of shallow coal seams in gully terrain and the PKS were eroded, the blocks could not form stable bond-beam structures since the horizontal force of PKS blocks in adjacent sloping surfaces were relatively small. The sliding instability of blocks caused rapid increase of the load on the sub-key strata (SKS) blocks, which resulted into coal slide and roof fall as well as sharp drop of active columns. This led to DSP phenomenon. When the PKS blocks were intact, there was no DSP phenomenon to enable blocks provide certain horizontal force to maintain stable bond-beam structure. The simulation results were verified by the mining practices of working face 21306 crossing the gully terrain in the Huojitu Coal Mine.

Stability of roof structure and its control in steeply inclined coal seams

To improve the effectiveness of control of surrounding rock and the stability of supports on longwall topcoal caving faces in steeply inclined coal seams, the stability of the roof structure and hydraulic supports was studied with physical simulation and theoretical analysis. The results show that roof strata in the vicinity of the tail gate subside extensively with small cutting height, while roof subsidence near the main gate is relatively assuasive. With increase of the mining space, the caving angle of the roof strata above the main gate increases. The characteristics of the vertical and horizontal displacement of the roof strata demonstrate that caved blocks rotate around the lower hinged point of the roof structure, which may lead to sliding instability. Large dip angle of the coal seam makes sliding instability of the roof structure easier.A three-hinged arch can be easily formed above both the tail and main gates in steeply inclined coal seams. With the growth in the dip angle, subsidence of the arch foot formed above the main gate decreases significantly, which reduces the probability of the roof structure becoming unstable as a result of large deformation, while the potential of the roof structure's sliding instability above the tail gate increases dramatically.

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.

Study on the Fissure Rate in the Roof Strata of Excavated Coal Seams

In the past decades,the intense excavation of coal resources in China has induced a series of severe waterrelated disasters or problems,such as water burst accidents,severe groundwater depletion and contamination.All of these problems were caused by the structural changes of roof rocks or bed rocks induced by coal excavation.The structure of collapsed roof rocks is generally classified into three zones：falling zone.

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.

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.

Strata behavior in extra-thick coal seam mining with upward slicing backfilling technology

Based on the character of upward slicing backfilling mining and the condition of Gonggeyingzi coal mine in Inner Mongolia,this paper describes the studies of the strata behavior and the stress distribution in the process of backfilling mining in extra-thick coal seams.This was achieved by setting up and analyzing the elastic foundation beam model using the ABAQUS software.The results show that:(1) With the gradual mining of different slices,the roof appears to bend continuously but does not break.The vertical stress in the roof decreases and the decreasing amplitude reduces,while the tensile stress in the roof grows with the mining slices and the maximum tensile stress will not exceed the allowable tensile stress.(2) The front vertical stress at the working face exceeds the rear vertical stress and both show a trend of decrease with decreasing amplitude of decrease.(3) The slices mined early have more influence on the surrounding rock than the later ones.Similarly,the strata behavior experiences the same trend.The field measured data show that the roof does not break during the mining process,which is consistent with the conclusion.

Plastic zone analysis and support optimization of shallow roadway with weakly cemented soft strata

Based on a shallow roadway with weakly cemented soft strata in western China, this paper studies the range and degree of plastic zones in soft strata roadways with weak cementation. Geological radars were used to monitor the loose range and level of surrounding rocks. A mechanical model of weakly cemented roadway was established, including granular material based on the measured results. The model was then used to determine the plastic zone radium. The predicted results agree well with measured results which provide valuable theoretical references for the analysis of surrounding rock stability and support reinforcing design of weakly cemented roadways. Finally, a combined supporting scheme of whole section bolting and grouting was proposed based on the original supporting scheme. It is proved that this support plan can effectively control the deformation and plastic zone expansion of the roadway surrounding rock and thus ensure the long-term stable and safe mining.

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.

Large-scale laboratory study on the evolution lawof temperature fields in the context of underground coal gasification

This article presents the evolution law of temperature fields in a large-scale laboratory Underground Coal Gasification reactions using Ulanqab lignite under actual conditions.The results show that in the cultivation stage of oxidation zone,the main direction of the temperature field expansion is consistent with the crack direction of the coal seam.In the gasification stabilization stage,the main direction of the temperature field expansion is along the channel.The temperature of the coal seam and the overlying rock mass at its interface with the furnace directly above the gasification channel is equivalent to that of the coal seam temperature,and this temperature is much greater than the temperatures observed near both side walls of the gasification channel at the interface.However,temperatures perpendicular to the axis of the gasification channel are similar at a vertical distance of 40 cm away from the interface.The temperature distributions indicate that the transmission of heat through the overlying rock mass is more rapid in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction.Moreover,some degree of thermal dispersion is observed in the vertical direction near the outlet.The thermal dispersion coefficient is 0.72 and dispersion angle γ is 78.7°.

Numerical calculation for gas and strata movement law caused by protection layer mining

According to the problem during mining coal seam with high gas and its control, the theory numerical calculation of gas and strata movement law caused by protection layer mining was studied, with the background of Snake Mountain coal mine. First of all, the basic principle of fluid(gas)-solid coupling was briefly described, and a three dimensional model was established by FLAC software. Secondly, the calculation parameters of fluid-solid coupling were obtained based on the measured data, and the numerical calculation of sublevel mining was carried out in turn. Lastly, initial stress state, gas movement law, deformation law of pore pressure and movement characteristics of rock strata were studied, respectively. The results show that the gas and pressure were greatly reduced with the advance of 4 coal seam working surface, as well as the constant increase of area of goaf. Facilitating gas and the stress were gradually penetrated and released to goaf during the whole process of mining. The gas pressure, the aggregation degree and the surrounding rock pressure of the 1 coal seam and the 3 coal seam were greatly reduced.

Punch Multi-slice Longwall Mining System for Thick Coal Seam under Weak Geological Conditions

Most of coal is produced from open-cut mines in Southeast Asian countries. However, the conditions of their surface mines are worsening each year： the stripping ratio is increasing, approaching economic ratio and the regulation of environmental protection. To meet the demand for coal, underground mines have to be developed in the near future. Under these circumstances, the development of new coal mines from open-cut highwalls are being planned in Southeast Asian Countries. Moreover, some of the Southeast Asian mines have thick coal seams. However, if the conventional mining systems and designs introduced in US, Australia and European Countries are applied, several geotechnical issues can be expected due to the mines＇ weak geological conditions. From these backgrounds, this paper proposed a punch multi-slice mining system with stowing for thick coal seam under weak geological conditions and discussed its applicability and suitable design by means of numerical analysis.

RESEARCH ON DEEP COAL SEAM MINING FLOOR STARTA WATER BURSTING INFLUENCED FACTORS BASED ON ANALYTIC HIERACHY PROCESS

Deep coal seam mining floor strata water bursting is a complicate nonlinear system, whose factors are coupling and influencing themselves. It built the analytic structure model for deep coal seam mining floor strata water bursting, the judgment matrix was found by the expert scoring method, the contribution weights of the influenced factors were given out by the equation analytic process. The thirteen controlling factors and five main controlling factors were put award by analyzing weights, so the result was basically conform to the field practice. The expert scoring method and analytic process can convert the objective fact to the subjective cognition, so it is a method that can turn the qualitative into the quantitative. This can be relative objectively and precisely to study the question of many factors and grey box.

Demonstration Project of Safe and Efficient Mining Operations in Extra-thick Coal Seam

Mineable coal reserves in thick and extra-thick seams account for 44% of the total deposit in China. Fullymechanized top-coal caving technology is a new mining method of safe and efficient underground operations in extra-thick seams in China. The development of fullymechanized top-coal caving technology in China, which was successfully applied in Face 8105 in Tashan Coal Mine, Datong, Shanxi, China, is analyzed in this paper.Studies on movement pattern of top-coal and roof from fully-mechanized top caving face in 14–20 m extra-thick seams have been carried out. A series of key technologies were successfully developed, including strata control technology, equipment for high-efficient and high-recovery top caving operations, and safety guarantee technology for low gas occurrence and high gas emission. As a result, the fully-mechanized top-coal caving Face 8105, with large mining height in Tashan Coal Mine, has achieved a recovery rate of 88.9% and an average equipment operation rate of 92.1%. With coal production of 10.84 Mt in 2011,the demonstration project is a technology and equipment breakthrough for fully-mechanized top-coal caving face in extra-thick coal seams with large mining height.

我国大倾角煤层开采技术变革与展望

大倾角煤层是我国煤炭资源的主要赋存样式之一。在地域分布上呈现出广泛性与区域性,据不完全统计,全国25个省、自治区、直辖市均涉及该类煤层开采,在中西部地区储量丰富、产量大、生产集中程度高。在赋存条件上呈现出多样性与复杂性,不同区域成煤时期不一,构造控煤过程迥异,形成了多样且复杂的开采条件,催生了不同的开采技术要求。大倾角煤层开采的技术难度大。煤层倾角导致采场围岩运动破坏呈现非对称性显现特征,支护系统稳定性控制与“三机”配套与协同、采准巷道布置与支护、工作面“人-机”环境安全保障等工作的难度显著加剧,严重制约了矿井安全高效开采。大倾角煤层开采的区域经济需求强,该类煤层赋存与生产较集中的区域多见以煤炭工业为主的资源型城市,经济结构相对单一,煤炭资源安全高效开发利用对区域能源保供、民生保障、经济保稳具有兜底作用。长期以来,大倾角煤层开采技术变革聚焦于解决“难”与“需”的矛盾,在采煤方法与工艺、岩层控制理论与技术、成套装备研制与应用3个方面不断完善、创新、发展,实现了由非机械化向机械化开采的转变,安全产效水平大幅提升,人员劳动强度大幅下降,作业环境显著改善。20世纪90年代中期,川煤集团绿水洞煤矿首次成功实现了大倾角中厚煤层长壁综采,冲破了大倾角煤层机械化开采技术“禁区”。在此示范作用下,大倾角厚煤层长壁综放开采、大采高综采、薄煤层伪俯斜长壁综采三项首创性工程实践先后取得成功。这一过程中创新了工作面非线性限位布置与调斜方式,确立了“支架-围岩”系统稳定性多维交互控制模式,研发了工作面成套装备,取得良好收效,综合机械化开采技术适用范围进一步拓宽。与此同时,大倾角煤层开采仍存在许多亟待突破的关键科学问题与技术瓶颈,导致自动化、智能化水平提升与近水平/缓倾斜煤层相较仍存在较大差距。需进一步强化倾斜层状煤系地层煤岩体采动力学行为研究,揭示其对采场围岩灾变的控制机制,并实现量化表征;需进一步阐明岩体承载结构-采场装备群组系统间的多维动态作用过程与规律,完善装备与围岩多维动态多目标协同控制理论与技术基础,实现技术转化应用。在科学问题取得突破的基础上进行采煤方法、回采工艺、岩层控制、成套装备的系统性技术创新与研发,破解大倾角煤层开采安全-产效双提升的制约技术瓶颈,使大倾角煤层综合机械化开采倾角上限在有可靠技术保障的前提下向上延伸(扩展),为实现自动化、智能化开采奠定基础。

近距离下煤层上覆岩层裂隙发育规律与上行开采研究

针对上行开采覆岩运动可能会使上覆煤层的整体性遭到破坏,造成上覆煤层无法开采的技术难题,以某矿9煤工作面开采对上覆5煤的影响为工程背景,采用理论分析、数值模拟、相似材料模拟等手段,研究了近距离煤层下煤开采后上覆岩层覆岩破坏情况、岩层裂隙发育规律及工作面矿压显现规律等问题,得到如下结论:近距离煤层下伏9煤开采后上覆岩层塑性区范围,其中三带判别法得垮落带高度平均9 m,导水裂隙带高度36 m;比值分析法K为19.99,大于中硬岩层7.5;围岩平衡法得上覆5煤安全开采的必要层间距为45 m,远小于5煤与9煤层间距60 m;数值模拟表明,近距离煤层下伏9煤工作面开采后上覆5煤位于下煤层开采后形成的塑性区域内,在留设保护煤柱区域内不会存在应力集中现象;相似模拟表明,近距离下伏9煤开采后,5煤最大下沉值为10 mm,模型垮落带高度基本在15 cm左右,符合矿山压力及覆岩运动发展规律;该矿近距离下伏9煤开采后上覆5煤开采是可行的。

基于穿层钻孔声波远探测有限元方法的煤岩界面成像

小型地质构造是造成煤与瓦斯突出事故的主要因素,小构造的精准探测是亟需解决的关键问题。煤岩界面高精度探测是查明小构造,实现透明工作面的基础。声波远探测技术具有探测范围大、分辨率高、可成像等优点,能够实现对煤岩界面的精准识别。为此,提出了基于穿层钻孔声波远探测的煤岩界面探测技术,通过在井下穿层钻孔内布置声波远探测仪,采集孔周煤岩分界面产生的阵列波形,并利用反射波信息反演获得煤岩界面成像图,进一步结合钻孔群,实现工作面的整体勘察。首先,利用COMSOL Multiphysics软件构建出煤系单极远探测数值模型;然后通过模型正演分析全波信号与波场快照的全时空变化规律;最后对远探测声波数据进行反演实现煤岩界面的偏移成像。正演结果表明:模型中煤层的纵波波速比顶底板岩层慢1.2 km/s左右,声波在煤层中传播时能量衰减得更快,同时声波穿过煤岩界面时会出现主频的漂移;当测点趋近于仪器从底板岩层向煤层过渡的位置时,直达波的变化特征为幅度的骤降与声时的增大,而界面反射波的特征为时间-深度域中倾斜同相轴的斜率改变。对采集到的波形数据进行滤波、波场分离、反射波增强、偏移成像四个步骤完成模型反演,成像结果与原始模型相似度高,煤岩界面倾角误差0.6°、煤厚误差0.212 m,穿层钻孔远探测声波有限元方法可以有效地反演出煤岩界面的位置和形态特征。该研究可为声波远探测技术应用于穿层钻孔煤岩界面识别提供基础理论支撑。

河下浅埋厚煤层采动覆岩裂隙-涌水量时空演化的FDEM-CFD耦合分析

河下浅埋厚煤层采动覆岩裂隙分布与涌水量是工作面安全生产的决定性因素之一。数值模拟是二者重要预测方法,其合理性的关键在于建立岩体破坏-裂隙流体耦合理论及相应的模拟方法。以路家村矿15404工作面为研究背景,构建拉/剪应力下非贯通裂隙开裂、贯通裂隙的法向与切向本构关系,并基于二相流质量守恒、动量守恒与状态方程,结合增强的浸没边界算法识别流-固界面,通过流体体积法实现裂隙内流体自由面的追踪和重构。在此基础上形成FDEM-CFD河下采煤覆岩裂隙与涌水量预测数值模型耦合程序,通过相邻工作面地面钻孔冲洗液消耗量观测法验证导水裂隙带发育高度,以及采用大井法理论对涌水量结果进行对比。结果表明:采动岩体破坏-裂隙流体耦合理论及相应的FDEM-CFD程序,可数值实现河下浅埋厚煤层采动覆岩裂隙形成,以及裂隙内流体运移过程。当工作面推进至80~120 m时覆岩内形成贯通地表的导水裂隙。招山河水的主要下泄路径为工作面后方8~20 m位置处的导水裂隙,其斜向采空区、倾角65°~72°。模拟所得采空区涌水量为18.78 m^(3)/h,与大井法计算结果接近。上述成果在路家村矿区得到初步应用,为进一步开展河下浅埋厚煤层防治水工程提供理论支撑。