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.

Rational cutting height for large cutting height fully mechanized top-coal caving

Large cutting height fully mechanized top-coal caving is a new mining method that improves recovery ratio and single-pass production. It also allows safe and efficient mining. A rational cutting height is one key parameter of this technique. Numerical simulation and a granular-media model experiment were used to analyze the effect of cutting height on the rock pressure of a fully mechanized top-coal caving work face. The recovery ratio was also studied. As the cutting height increases the top-coal thickness is reduced. Changing the ratio of cutting to drawing height intensifies the face pressure and the top-coal shattering. A maximum cutting height exists under a given set of conditions due to issues with surrounding rock-mass control. An increase in cutting height makes the top-coal cave better and the recovery ratio when drawing top-coal is then improved. A method of adjusting the face rock pressure is presented. Changing the cutting to drawing height ratio is the technique used to control face rock pressure. The recovery ratio when cutting coal exceeds that when caving top-coal so the face recovery ratio may be improved by over sizing the cutting height and increasing the top-coal drawing ratio. An optimum ratio of cutting to drawing height exists that maximizes the face recovery ratio. A rational cutting height is determined by comprehensively considering the surrounding rock-mass control and the recovery ratio. At the same time increasing the cutting height can improve single pass mining during fully mechanized top-coal caving.

Reliability analysis of the velocity matching of coal cutting and caving in fully mechanized top-coal caving face

The matching relationship between coal cutting and caving in fully mechanized top-coal caving face is analyzed in detail from the angle of reliability. The coupling equation of reliability is established correspondingly, and the mathematical equation of the coefficient of velocity matching of coal cutting and caving is obtained, which meets a certain reliability demand for making the working procedure of coal caving not influence coal cutting of coal-cutter. The results show that the relationship between the coefficient of the velocity matching and the reliability of coal cutting and caving system is linear on the whole when R <0.9. It is pointed out that different numerical value should be selected for different coal face according to different demand for reliability.

Deformation mechanism of surrounding rocks and key control technology for a roadway driven along goaf in fully mechanized top-coal caving face

The variation of the stress in the bolted surrounding rocks structure of the roadway driven along goaf in a fully mechanized top coal caving face with moderate stable conditions are studied by using numerical calculation. The essential deformation characteristics of the surrounding rocks in this kind of roadway are obtained and the key technology of bolting support used under these conditions is put forward.

Hydraulic support stability control of fully mechanized top coal caving face with steep coal seams based on instable critical angle

Analyzed the support instable mode of sliding,tripping,and so on,and believed the key point of the support stability control of fully mechanized coal caving face with steep coal seams was to maintain that the seam true angle was less than the hydraulic support instability critical angle.Through the layout of oblique face,the improvement of support setting load,the control of mining height and nonskid platform,the group support system of end face,the advance optimization of conveyor and support,and the other control tech- nical measures,the true angle of the seam is reduced and the instable critical angle of the support is increased,the hydraulic support stability of fully mechanized coal caving face with steep coal seams is effectively controlled.

Statistic constitutive equation of top-coal damage for fully mechanized coal face with sublevel caving

Under the action of abutment pressure in front of fully mechanized coal face with sublevel caving(CFSC),top-coal over CFSC deformed.In the process of whole de- formation of top-coal,it changed from continuum elastic mass to non-continuum plastic mass contained fissures,become a loose body.According to its bearing characteristics and mechanical properties,top-coal mass can be divided into four deformation zones along the winning direction of CFSC,i.e.initial stress zone,elastic zone,plastic zone and loose zone.Top-coal in plastic zone located in the post-peak zone of the stress-strain curve for top-coal.With equivalent strain principle of damage mechanics and mathemati- cal theory of statistic,combining the movement law of top-coal,set up a constitutive equa- tion with damage statistics for top-coal in different position in CFSC.The equation illus- trated the mathematical relationship among top-coal bearing capacity,horizontal confining pressure along the winning direction of CFSC and mechanical properties of top-coal mate- rial.The conclusions not only provide a basis for numerical computer simulations on damage deformation and failure mechanism for top-coal,but also further promote the ap- plication of damage mechanics in CFSC.

Similar material simulation research on movement law of roof over-lying strata in stope of fully mechanized caving face with large mining height

Similar material simulation test W9-15 101 fully mechanized caving face with was carried out in a geological model of large mining height in the Liuhuanggou Colliery, in Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region. The roof overlying strata movement law in the stope of a fully mechanized caving face with large mining height was studied and show that the roof overlying strata in the stope of a fully mechanized caving face with large mining height can be formed into a stable arch structure; the fracture rock beam is formed resembling a ＂bond beam＂, but it has essentially the structure of ＂multi-span beams＂ under the big structure of the stable arch. The roof overlying strata movement law in the stope of a fully mechanized caving face with large mining height is similar to that of the common, fully mechanized caving stope, which is determined by the deformation and instability of the structure of ＂multi-span beams＂. But because of the differences between the mining heights, the peak pressure in the stope of a fully mechanized caving face with large mining height is smaller while the affected area of abutment pressure is wider in the front of the working face; this is the obvious difference in abutment pressure between the stope of a fully mechanized caving face with large mining height and that of the common.

Technological optimization of fully mechanized caving mining face with large mining heights

Fully mechanized cave mining with large mining height is a new mining method, due to its large mining thickness and lower roadway excavation, the technology has been widely used in China＇s thick seam mining. In order to improve the top-coal recovery ratio of fully mechanized cave mining with large mining height, a study was conducted on optimizing the caving process, based on the mechanized caving face 1302N in Longgu Coal Mine. This was achieved by improving the PFC numerical calculation methods, and establishing a more accurate model system. On this basis, the recovery ratio of the top coal in different drawing intervals and technologies was investigated in order to achieve a reasonable caving process. The top-coal tracking system was used for practical surveying of the recovery ratio of top coal.

Numerical simulation of coal wall cutting and lump coal formation in a fully mechanized mining face

It is difficult to accurately calculate the lump coal rate in a fully mechanized mining face.Therefore,a numerical simulation of the coal wall cutting process,which revealed the crack expansion,development,evolution in the coal body and the corresponding lump coal formation mechanism,was performed in PFC2D.Moreover,a correlation was established between the cutting force and lump coal formation,and a statistical analysis method was proposed to determine the lump coal rate.The following conclusions are drawn from the results:(1)Based on a soft ball model,a coal wall cutting model is established.By setting the roller parameters based on linear bonding and simulating the roller cutting process of the coal body,the coal wall cutting process is effectively simulated,and accurate lump coal rate statistics are provided.(2)Under the cutting stress,the coal body in the working face underwent three stages—microfracture generation,fracture expansion,and fracture penetration—to form lump coal,in which the fracture direction is orthogonal to the cutting pressure chain.Within a certain range from the roller,as the cutting depth of the roller increased,the number of new fractures in the coal body first increases and then stabilizes.(3)Under the cutting stress,the fractured coal body is locally compressed,thereby forming a compact core.The formation and destruction of the compact core causes fluctuations in the cutting force.The fluctuation amplitude is positively related to the coal mass.(4)Because the simulation does not consider secondary damage in the coal,the simulated lump coal rate is larger than the actual lump coal rate in the working face;this deviation is mainly concentrated in large lump coal with a diameter greater than 300 mm.

Analysis of factors of top coal caving in fully mechanized sublevel caving face in soft coal and control

According to the analysis of the mechanism of top coal caving, the caving condition was pointed out, and many factors of caving were also determined. Then the relationship between factors and caving was studied. Based on the above research, one effective method by using field monitoring was brought forward to determine the controlling factor. Then some related key technologies were provided, such as keeping the integrality of the top-coal, raising the horizontal resistance of supports and decreasing the real end-face distance etc.. At last one application of this method was presented, and it was proved to be an effective method.

Back-and-forth mining for hard and thick coal seams—research about the mining technology for fully mechanized caving working face of Datong Mine

The article introduced the key technology, mining process, and back-and-forth mining method for the caving working face of hard-thick coal seams in Datong mine, and researched this innovations process, optimized the systemic design and working face out-play, tried to perfect the caving mining technology of hard-thick coal seams further.

Analysis and key control technologies to prevent spontaneous coal combustion occurring at a fully mechanized caving face with large obliquity in deep mines

In order to prevent spontaneous coal combustion occurring at a fully mechanized caving face with large obliquity in deep mines in China, we have analyzed the characteristics of spontaneous coal combustion and explain theoretically the factors affecting spontaneous coal combustion, such as rock bursts, high temperatures, high ventilation resistance, slow advancing speed and large obliquity mining. Key technologies to prevent spontaneous combustion occurring in sharply inclined seams in deep mines are pro- posed; these include pouring water, stopping leakage in upper and lower comers of the working face, choking off the goaf and cov- eting the coal. CO concentrations were controlled within two years to less than 15×10^-6 at the upper comer by applying these tech- nologies at the 1410 working face of the Huafeng coal mine. Our method has significant theoretical value and is of practical impor- tance in controlling spontaneous coal combustion occurring at a fully mechanized caving face with large obliquity in deep mines.

Study of mechanical principle of floor heave of roadway driving along next goaf in fully mechanized sub-level caving face

Abstract On the basis of analyzing floor strata mechanical circumstance of the roadway, the mechanical model was established. The relative displacement of roadway floor, narrow pillar floor coal mass and floor strata was calculated, the results showed that the high abutment pressure on coal mass beside the roadway was the main reason to lead to relative displacement of floor strata. And the roadway floor heave come mainly from three aspects. Firstly, the roadway floor strata is easily fractured by the stretch stress. Secondly, because the high abutment pressure is greater than the uniaxial compressive strength of floor strata, when the roadway floor strata are fractured, the coal mass floor strata at the same depth will be fractured, and broken rock will fluid into the open roadway. Thirdly, comparing with the coal mass floor, the roadway floor is relative ascending.

Study on destressing technology for a roadway driven along goaf in a fully mechanized top-coal caving face

Based on the deformation characteristics of the roadways driven along goaf in fully mechanized top coal caving faces, the author considers that it is the key to ensure the stability of surrounding rocks of roadway driven along goaf to control the deformation during the period affected by mining. Considering the characteristics of the roadway layout in fully mechanized top coal caving faces, a technical scheme of destressing is put forward and the destressing effect is analyzed by using the software of Universal Distinct Element Code 3 0(UDEC 3 0).

Underground pressure appearance laws analysis for fully mechanized top coal slice caving on high-dipping thick coal seams

Taking Adaohai Coal Mine as the example, underground pressure appearance laws of fully mechanized top coal slice caving on high-dipping and thick coal seams. Through site visit, theoretical analysis and discrete element calculation, the research shows that, as the mining deepens, underground stress of lower sublevels is more obvious and higher than that of upper sublevels and is higher in the air return roadway than that in the air intake roadway in the area that is near to the top coal. Because the top coal is thick and gangue is caved above the support, underground pressure to the working face is relatively gentle. Immediate roof will mainly fall down along the floor. Main roof and the rock bed above the main roof will move to the mined out area along the fault in the early stage and then fall down with the mined out area later. In addition, roof pressure mainly periodically appears in two directions along the trend and the dip.

Top-coal deformation control of gob-side entry with narrow pillars and its application for fully mechanized mining face

A mechanical model to control the top-coal deformation is established in accordance with the structural characters of the gob-side entry surrounding rock for the fully-mechanic top-coal caving; the analytical solution of top coal roof-sag curve is deduced with Winkler elastic foundation beam model. By means of a calculating and analytic program, the top coal roof-sag values are calculated under the conditions of different supporting intensities, widths of narrow pillars and stiffness of top coal; meanwhile, the relationship between the roof-sag values and supporting intensity, width of narrow pillars and stiffness of top coal is analyzed as well. With the actual situation of the gob-side entry taken into consideration, the parameters of top-coal control are determined and a supporting plan is proposed for the top-coal control,which is proved to be reliable and effective by on-site verification. Some theoretical guidance and advice are put forward for the top-coal deformation control in gob-side entry for fully mechanized top-coal caving face.

Forecasting of destroyed height of overlying rock with the top coal caving based on ANN

Analyzed the rule of the Water Flowing Fractured (WFF) zone's development during the fully mechanized top coal caving.Six influence factors of WFF's height were selected,viz.mining thickness,base rock thickness,dip angle,uniaxial compressing strength of roof,mudstone proportion in overlying rock,and structure of overlying rock. The height-forecasting model of WFF was established based on the Artificial Neural Net-work techniques,and was applied in the first fully mechanized top coal caving face under sea in China.

Development and prospect on fully mechanized mining in Chinese coal mines

Fully mechanized mining(FMM)technology has been applied in Chinese coal mines for more than 40 years.At present,the output of a FMM face has reached 10-million tons with Chinese-made equipment.In this study,the new developments in FMM technology and equipment in Chinese coal mines during past decades are introduced.The automatic FMM technology for thin seams,complete sets of FMM technology with ultra large shear height of 7 m for thick seams,complete sets of fully mechanized top coal caving technology with large shear height for ultra-thick seams of 20 m,complete sets of FMM technology for complex and difficult seams,including steeply inclined seams,soft coal seams with large inclination angle,and the mechanized filling mining technology and equipment are presented.Some typical case studies are also introduced.Finally,the existing problems with the FMM technology are discussed,and prospect of FMM technology and equipment applied in Chinese coal mines is put forward.

Investigation on the stress field characteristic of top coal at FMTC faces under the influence of caving thickness

In the background of the technology condition and the geological condition of the 1151（3） fully mechanized top-coal caving face （FMTC face）, and by means of taking nonlinear 3D numerical simulation, the stress redistribution rules of top coal with different thick coal seam were obtained by investigation on the numerical simulation of the redistributions of the stress with different coal seam＇s thickness. The research showes that there exists a certain difference on the stress distributions of the top coal at face, the maximum principal stress is located near to the tailentry＇s corner. The vertical stress＇s peak of the top coal decreases and the distance ahead of face position increases as the once mining thickness of the coal seam increases. At the same coal seam, the vertical stresses＇ peak of top coal gradually decreases from the top to the bottom, the peak＇s position is basically the same and its changes are gradually obvious with the thickness of coal seam increas- ing. The vertical stress of top coal places in a low stress state at a certain range ahead of face and over the face, which reveals the essence that the support loads are generally low under the condition of FMTC. The study supplies the theoretical foundation for the support design and selection, the theory of top coal＇s fragmentation, the movement rules of top coal and improving the recovery of top coal.

Mating model on production capacity for the system of cutting coal and drawing top-coal in FMMSC

Being a safe and highly-efficient mining method, fully mechanized mining with sublevel caving （FMMSC） was extensively employed in Chinese coal mines with thick seam. In order to make drawing top-coal furthest to parallel work with shearer cutting coal, decrease failure ratio of rear scraper conveyor and increase safe production capacity of equipments, based on production technology, set up the mating model of safe production capacity of equipments for the system of drawing top-coal and shearer cutting coal in coal face with sublevel caving. It is mean capability of drawing top-coal adapted to the capability of shearer cutting coal in a working circle in the coal face that was deduced. The type selection of equipment of rear scraper conveyor can be tackled with this mating model. The model was applied in FMMSC in Yangcun Coal Mine, Yima Coal Group of China. With the mating light-equipments, the coal output in coal face attained 1.05 Mt in 2004. It gained better technical-economic benefit.