Study on the disaster caused by the linkage failure of the residual coal pillar and rock stratum during multiple coal seam mining:mechanism of progressive and dynamic failure

Multi-seam mining often leads to the retention of a significant number of coal pillars for purposes such as protection,safety,or water isolation.However,stress concentration beneath these residual coal pillars can significantly impact their strength and stability when mining below them,potentially leading to hydraulic support failure,surface subsidence,and rock bursting.To address this issue,the linkage between the failure and instability of residual coal pillars and rock strata during multi-seam mining is examined in this study.Key controls include residual pillar spalling,safety factor(f.),local mine stiffness(LMS),and the post-peak stiffness(k)of the residual coal pillar.Limits separating the two forms of failure,progressive versus dynamic,are defined.Progressive failure results at lower stresses when the coal pillar transitions from indefinitely stable(f,>1.5)to failing(f,<1.5)when the coal pillar can no longer remain stable for an extended duration,whereas sud-den(unstable)failure results when the strength of the pillar is further degraded and fails.The transition in mode of failure is defined by the LMS/k ratio.Failure transitions from quiescent to dynamic as LMS/k.<1,which can cause chain pillar instability propagating throughout the mine.This study provides theoretical guidance to define this limit to instability of residual coal pillars for multi-seam mining in similar mines.

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.

Focal mechanism caused by fracture or burst of a coal pillar

As a regional, real-time and dynamic method, microseismic monitoring technology is quite an appropriate technology for forecasting geological hazards, such as rock bursts, mine tremors, coal and gas outbursts and can even be used to prevent or at least reduce these disasters. The study of the focal mechanisms of different seismic sources is the prerequisite and basis for forecasting rock burst by microseismic monitoring technology. Based on the analysis on the mechanism and fracture course of coal pillars where rock bursts occur mostly, the equivalent point source model of the seismicity caused by a coal pillar was created. Given the model, the seismic displacement equation of a coal pillar was analyzed and the seismic mechanism was pointed out by seismic wave theory. The course of the fracture of the coal pillar was simulated closely in the laboratory and the equivalent microseismic signals of the fractures of the coal pillar were acquired using a TDS-6 experimental system. The results show that, by the pressure and friction of a medium near the seismic source, both a compression wave and a shear wave will be emitted and shear fracture will be induced at the moment of breakage. The results can be used to provide an academic basis to forecast and prevent rock bursts or tremors in a coal pillar.

Stability of inner dump slope under coal pillar support:case study in an open‑pit coal mine

The stability of an inner dump slope was investigated under the efect of coal pillar support considering the development position of dumping.Based on the instability mechanism and load distribution characteristics of the supporting coal pillar,the three-dimensional mechanical efects of the supporting coal pillar are characterized.Using the two-dimensional equivalent principle and the residual thrust method,the stability of the inner dump slope was analyzed under the efect of pillar support at diferent dump development positions.The quantitative efects of various factors on the inner dump slope stability were revealed,and the coal pillar shape parameters were optimized through numerical simulations.The results indicate that the slope stability coefcient is linearly related to the top width and height of the coal pillar,slope angle,and base inclination angle,and has an exponential relation with the coal pillar strike length and slope height increment.There are quadratic and absolute value relations with the coal pillar outer and the inner bottom angle,respectively.The top width of the coal pillar in the inner dump of Shengli East No.2 open-pit coal mine should be at a level of+824 m,and the optimal top width and height are 15 and 36.7 m,respectively.The instability mechanism of the supporting and retaining coal pillar obtained by numerical simulations and the stability of the inner dump are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis.Our results provide a theoretical basis for the design,treatment,and safe implementation of similar open-pit mine slope engineering.

Composite active control system of roof and side truss cable for large section coal roadway in fold coal pillar area

In order to solve the surrounding rock control problem of large section gangue replacement roadway under complicated conditions, this paper analyzed the impact to the roadway controlling produced by the geological conditions such as high ground stress, folded structure tilted roof asymmetry and soft wall rock, and built the tilt layered roof structural mechanics model to clarify the increase span mechanism of the weak coal instability. Then, we proposed the combined control system including roof inclined truss cable, coal-side cable-channel steel and intensive bolt support. And then by building the structural mechanics model of roof inclined truss cable system, the support principle was described. Besides, according to this model, we deduced the calculation formula of cable anchoring force and its tensile stress. Finally surrounding rock control technology of large section roadway in fold coal pillar area was formed. Field practice shows that the greatest roof convergence of gangue replacement roadway is 158 mm and coal-side deformation is 243 mm. Roadway deformation is controlled effectively and technical support is provided for replacement mining.

Roadway layout for recycling residual coal pillar in room-and-pillar mining of thick coal seam

In the context of a room-and-pillar mining gob in Shanxi province in China,this paper numerically investigates the stress distribution and deformation rules of roadway surrounding rocks at various locations of residual coal pillars in room-and-pillar mining gobs using software FLAC3 D.It is found that the concentrated stress beneath coal pillars distributes in a shape of ellipse.A reasonable roadway layout is then proposed.In this design,it is indicated that roadways should be designed to avoid the supporting zones of pillars with increasing compression and take into account the roof falling and crushing in the upper gob.According to the surrounding rock deformation characteristics and mining roadway locations as well as the supporting principles of timely support,rock reinforcing,piecewise management and suiting local conditions,a new asymmetric shield supporting plan is proposed.The field surveying results show that this supporting plan can effectively control the roadway rock deformation,thus guarantee the safe and smooth construction of roadways.

Stability of coal pillar in gob-side entry driving under unstable overlying strata and its coupling support control technique

Considering the situation that it is difficult to control the stability of narrow coal pillar in gob-side entry driving under unstable overlying strata, the finite difference numerical simulation method was adopted to analyze the inner stress distribution and its evolution regularity, as well as the deformation characteristics of narrow coal pillar in gob-side entry driving, in the whole process from entry driving of last working face to the present working face mining. A new method of narrow coal pillar control based on the triune coupling support technique (TCST), which includes that high-strength prestressed thread steel bolt is used to strain the coal on the goaf side, and that short bolt to control the integrity of global displacement zone in coal pillar on the entry side, and that long grouting cable to fix anchor point to constrain the bed separation between global displacement zone and fixed zone, is thereby generated and applied to the field production. The result indicates that after entry excavating along the gob under unstable overlying strata, the supporting structure left on the gob side of narrow coal pillar is basically invalid to maintain the coal-pillar stability, and the large deformation of the pillar on the gob side is evident. Except for the significant dynamic pressure appearing in the coal mining of last working face and overlying strata stabilizing process, the stress variation inside the coal pillar in other stages are rather steady, however, the stress expansion is obvious and the coal pillar continues to deform. Once the gob-side entry driving is completed, a global displacement zone on the entry side appears in the shallow part of the pillar, whereas, a relatively steady fixed zone staying almost still in gob-side entry driving and present working face mining is found in the deep part of the pillar. The application of TCST can not only avoid the failure of pillar supporting structure, but exert the supporting capacity of the bolting structure left in the pillar of last sublevel entry, thus to jointly maintain the stability of coal pillar.

Joint Bearing Mechanism of Coal Pillar and Backfilling Body in Roadway Backfilling Mining Technology

In the traditional mining technology,the coal resources trapped beneath surface buildings,railways,and water bodies cannot be mined massively,thereby causing the lower coal recovery and dynamic disasters.In order to solve the aforementioned problems,the roadway backfilling mining technology is developed and the joint bearing mechanism of coal pillar and backfilling body is presented in this paper.The mechanical model of bearing system of coal pillar and backfilling body is established,by analyzing the basic characteristics of overlying strata deformation in roadway backfilling mining technology.According to the Ritz method in energy variation principle,the elastic solution expression of coal pillar deformation is deduced in roadway backfilling mining technology.Based on elastic-viscoelastic correspondence principle,combining with the burgers rheological constitutive model and Laplace transform theory,the viscoelastic solution expression of coal pillar deformation is obtained in roadway backfilling mining technology.By analyzing the compressive mechanical property of backfilling body,the time formula required for coal pillar and backfilling body to play the joint bearing function in roadway backfilling mining technology is obtained.The example analysis indicates that the time is 140 days.The results can be treated as an important basis for theoretical research and process design in roadway backfilling mining technology.

Evaluation of coal pillar loads during longwall extraction using the numerical method and its application

It is very difficult to reasonably evaluate the loads acting on coal pillars in longwall panels during the planning of a new pillar system. The application of empirical equations is a common practice in calculating coal pillar loads while designing a new pillar. This paper proposes numerical models for evaluating coal pillar loads. The key of building a successful numerical model for calculating coal pillar loads lies in the fact that the model should represent the redistribution of stress all over the longwall panels and the surrounding areas, and it is especially important to include the characteristics of the stress rebuilding process in the gob areas, which are crucial for the building process of coal pillar loads. Based on the geo-mechanical background of the Baoshan Coal Mine, this paper details the procedures of applying numerical models to the evaluation of coal pillar loads and their local practices. The study results show it is feasible and reasonable to use numerical models to evaluate coal pillar loads.

Modeling behaviors of a coal pillar rib using the progressive S-shaped yield criterion

Spalling of pillar ribs has been a major hazard in the mining industry for decades.In the absence of rib support guidelines,accidents have continued to occur in recent years.Developing effective support guidelines requires a complete understanding of complex pillar damage mechanisms.Continuum models represent a convenient tool for analyzing this problem,but the behavior of such models is dependent of the choice of the constitutive model.In this study,a recently proposed constitutive model was used to simulate the rib fracturing process in a longwall chain pillar at West Cliff mine.After calibration,the model was able to capture the rib displacement profiles for multiple locations of the longwall face and the stress evolution 4 m into the pillar.The rib bolts in the model were found to be yielding over 60% of their length under the headgate loading condition.The model also predicted a steady damage accumulation in the rib for certain face locations,which is consistent with the description of the rib at the site.Damage was localized along the upper part of the pillar and underscored the role that the dirt band played in controlling rib deterioration at the site.The ability of the numerical model to replicate field measurements provides confidence in the capabilities of the new constitutive model.Finally,the need of using multi-point calibration is highlighted by comparing the results of the calibrated model to an alternative model calibrated to a smaller amount of data.

An analytic solution describing the visco-elastic deformation of coal pillars in room and pillar mine

Coal pillar deformation is typically nonlinear and time-dependent. The accurate prediction of this defor- mation has a vital importance for the successful implementation of mining techniques. These methods have proven very important as a way to excavate coal resources from under buildings, railways, or water bodies. Elastic and visco-elastic theory are employed with a Maxwell model to formulate an analytic solution for displacement of coal pillars in room and pillar mine. These results show that the visco-elastic solution adequately predicts the coal pillar deformation over time. We conclude that the visco-elastic solution can predict the coal pillar and roadway displacement from the measured geological parameters of the conditions in situ. Furthermore, this method would be useful for mine design, coal pillar support optimization, ground subsidence prediction, and coal pillar stability analysis.

A CUSP CATASTROPHE, PRECURSORS PATTERN AND EVOLUTION PROCESS OF ROCKBUST OF COAL PILLAR UNDER A HARD ROCK SUBJECT TO ELASTIC SUPPORT

The rockburst of the poal pillar under a thick hard roof stratum is modelled as the instability failure problem of coal pillars under strata subject to elastic support. The instability mechanism of rockburst is studied by applying cusp catastrophic theory. The effects of the stiffness ratio of the system and loads imposed on the system on the rockburst are explicated.The factors affecting rockbursts are discussed. Based on them, the evolution process, the forewarning regularity arid forewarning sings of rockbursts are studied. It is indicated that the subsidence velocity of roof stratum, which increases quickly and tends to infinity, is the forewarning measurable signs of the rockbursts of coal pillar.

Preliminary rib support requirements for solid coal ribs using a coal pillar rib rating(CPRR)

Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH)are developing a coal pillar rib rating(CPRR)technique to measure the integrity of coal ribs.The CPRR characterizes the rib composition and evaluates its impact on the inherent stability of the coal ribs.The CPRR utilizes four parameters:rib homogeneity,bedding condition,face cleat orientation with respect to entry direction,and rib height.All these parameters are measurable in the field.A rib data collecting procedure and a simple sheet to calculate the CPRR were developed.The developed CPRR can be used as a rib quality mapping tool in underground coal mines and to determine the potential of local rib instabilities and support requirements associated with overburden depth.CPRR calculations were conducted for 22 surveyed solid coal ribs,mainly composed of coal units.Based on this study,the rib performance was classified into four categories.A preliminary minimum primary rib support density(PRSD)line was obtained from these surveyed cases.Two sample cases are presented that illustrate the data collection form and CPRR calculations.

Research on 3D Modeling and Visualization of Coal Pillars for Surface Protection

In order to safely exploit coal resource, protection coal pillars must be prepared in coal mines. Some correlative parameters of protection coal pillar are calculated by Drop face and Drop line methods. Models of protecting surface objects and coal pillars are established by TIN modeling and object-oriented technique. By using ACCESS2000as the database and the VC＋＋ and OpenGL as the language, the calculation of protective coal pillars is realized and the 3D-visulizaiton system for protected objects on ground surface and for coal pillars is developed. The system can obtain the data of characteristic points on the surface interactively from the digitized mine topography map, constructing 3D model automatically. It can also obtain the interrelated parameters of the coal seam and drill hole data from existing geolog!cal surveying database to calculate the location, surface area and the total coal columns. The whole process can be computed quickly and accurately. And the 3D visualization system was applied in a mine, showing that the system solve the problem of complex calculation, not only realized the automatic 3D mapping and visualization of coal pillars for buildings protection, but also greatly improves the working efficiency.

Analysis of Parameters of Coal Pillar Setting under the Mining Condition of Huge Thick Loose Layer

According to the characteristic of huge thick loose layer in Huainan mining area, based on the measured data, the correlation between the relative parameters of coal pillar setting and the ratio of loose layer thickness to mining depth in Huainan mining area under the mining condition of huge thick loose layer was mainly studied by using regression analysis method, and corresponding mathematical models were established and analyzed. It makes a theoretical supplement for the the analysis and research of mining subsidence rules in Huainan mining area under the condition of huge thick loose layer.

FUZZY FAILURE ANALYSIS OF COAL PILLARS FOR SUBSIDENCE CONTROL

Randomness and fuzziness involved in rock failure analysis are discussed in the present paper.Fuzzy stochastic process is introduced to simulate pillar/strata deformation process.Study shows that the evolution from damage to failure of the rock materials under complex stress environments conforms to diffusion process.Coal pillar strength is analyzed using fuzzy failure analysis in two coal mines.

Stability and control of room mining coal pillars-taking room mining coal pillars of solid backfill recovery as an example

The stability of room mining coal pillars during their secondary mining for recovering coal was analyzed. An analysis was performed for the damage and instability mechanism of coal pillars recovered by the caving mining method. During the damage progression of a single room coal pillar, the shape of the stress distribution in the pillar transformed from the initial stable saddle shape to the final arch-shaped distribution of critical instability. By combining the shapes of stress distribution in the coal pillars with the ultimate strength theory, the safe-stress value of coal pillar was obtained as 11.8 MPa. The mechanism of instability of coal pillar groups recovered by the caving mining method was explained by the domino effect. Since the room coal pillars mined and recovered by the traditional caving mining method were significantly influenced by the secondary mining during recovery, the coal pillars would go through a chain-type instability failure. Because of this limitation, the method of solid backfilling was proposed for mining and recovering room coal pillars, thus changing the transfer mechanism of stress caused by the secondary mining(recovery) of coal pillars. The mechanical model of the stope in the case of backfilling and recovering room coal pillars was built. The peak stress values inside coal pillars varied with the variance of backfilling ratio when the working face was advanced by 150 m. Furthermore, when the critical backfilling ratio was 80.6%, the instability failure of coal pillars would not occur during the solid backfill mining process. By taking Bandingliang Coal Mine as an example, the coal pillars' stability of stope under this backfilling ratio was studied, and a project scheme was designed.

Numerical investigation into the effect of backfilling on coal pillar strength in highwall mining

This paper attempts to quantify the effect of backfilling on pillar strength in highwall mining using numerical modelling. Calibration against the new empirical strength formula for highwall mining was conducted to obtain the material parameters used in the numerical modelling. With the obtained coal strength parameters, three sets of backfill properties were investigated. The results reveal that the behavior of pillars varies with the type and amount of backfill as well as the pillar width to mining height ratio(w/h). In case of cohesive backfill, generally 75% backfill shows a significant increase in peak strength, and the increase in peak strength is more pronounced for the pillars having lower w/h ratios. In case of noncohesive backfill, the changes in both the peak and residual strengths with up to 92% backfill are negligible while the residual strength constantly increases after reaching the peak strength only when 100%backfill is placed. Based on the modelling results, different backfilling strategies should be considered on a case by case basis depending on the type of backfill available and desired pillar dimension.

Coupling effects of coal pillars of thick coal seams in large-space stopes and hard stratum on mine pressure

Concerning the issue of mine pressure behaviors occurred in fully mechanized caving mining of thick coal seams beneath hard stratum in Datong Mining Area, combined with thin and thick plate theory, the paper utilizes theoretical analysis, similar experiments, numerical simulations and field tests to study the influence of remaining coal pillars in Jurassic system goaf on hard stratum fractures, as well as mine pressure behaviors under their coupling effects. The paper concludes the solution formula of initial fault displacement in hard stratum caused by remaining coal pillars. Experiments prove that coupling effects can enhance mine pressure behaviors on working faces. When inter-layer inferior key strata fractures, mine pressure phenomenon such as significant roof weighting steps and increasing resistance in support.When inter-layer superior key strata fractures, the scope of overlying strata extends to Jurassic system goaf, dual-system stopes cut through, and remaining coal pillars lose stability. As a result, the bottom inferior key strata also lose stability. It causes huge impacts on working face, and the second mine pressure behaviors. These phenomena provide evidence for research on other similar mine strata pressure behaviors occurred in dual-system mines with remaining coal pillars.

Stress distribution and surrounding rock control of mining near to the overlying coal pillar in the working face

The occurrence of overlying coal pillar(OCP)exerts a strong effect on the stress and strain distribution of the surrounding rock in the stope.In this paper,the stress distribution characteristics are analyzed via the numerical calculation with the account of OCP presence or absence.In addition,this study revealed the joint effect of side pressure relief area of the goaf and stress concentration in OCP on the final stress distribution.Furthermore,the rules of abutment stress distribution affected by three influencing factors,namely horizontal-vertical distances between OCP and working face and buried depth of OCP,are analyzed.The functional model linking the peak stress of surrounding rock with the above influencing factors is developed.The field application of the above results proved that the rib spalling and deformation of a 2.95 m-high and 5.66 m-wide roadway could be efficiently controlled by rationally adjusting working states of the support,and adopting the hydraulic prop coordinated with the p type metal beam and anchor cable to strengthen the surrounding rock of working face and roadway,respectively.The proposed measures are considered appropriate to satisfy the safe operation requirements.