Physical and numerical investigations of target stratum selection for ground hydraulic fracturing of multiple hard roofs

Ground hydraulic fracturing plays a crucial role in controlling the far-field hard roof,making it imperative to identify the most suitable target stratum for effective control.Physical experiments are conducted based on engineering properties to simulate the gradual collapse of the roof during longwall top coal caving(LTCC).A numerical model is established using the material point method(MPM)and the strain-softening damage constitutive model according to the structure of the physical model.Numerical simulations are conducted to analyze the LTCC process under different hard roofs for ground hydraulic fracturing.The results show that ground hydraulic fracturing releases the energy and stress of the target stratum,resulting in a substantial lag in the fracturing of the overburden before collapse occurs in the hydraulic fracturing stratum.Ground hydraulic fracturing of a low hard roof reduces the lag effect of hydraulic fractures,dissipates the energy consumed by the fracture of the hard roof,and reduces the abutment stress.Therefore,it is advisable to prioritize the selection of the lower hard roof as the target stratum.

Geological Factors for the Formation of Xi＇an Ground Fractures

Xi＇an ground fractures are the most typical ground fractures in China. Fourteen fractures have nearly divided the historical city into several distinct sections. These fractures are parallel and dis- tributed in NEE direction at the same interval, with all features exhibiting a down dropping southerly block which extends to connect with the underlying fault. The activities of fractures are primarily ex- pressed as normal faults. The faulted strata are well defined and dislocation displacement increases with depth. Thus, fractures have the characteristics of syn-sedimentary faults, which constitute the hanging wall of the Lintong-Chang＇an fault branch system. Crustal thinning caused by the uplifting of upper man- tle provides a power source for extension and stretching along the fracture surface of the upper crust, which results in a series of extensional faults and the suitable conditions for forming massive ground frac- tures. The movement of tectonic blocks influences the normal dip-slipping tension of Lintong-Chang＇an fault branches, and produces a series of secondary tectonic fractures adjacent to surface, which constitute the prototype of ground fractures. The recent regional tensile stress produced by modern mainland de- formation, also profoundly influences the current activity of Xi＇an ground fractures.

Controlling mine pressure by subjecting high-level hard rock strata to ground fracturing

When mining extra-thick coal seams,the main cause of strong ground pressure are the high-level thick and hard strata,but as yet there is no active and effective control technology.This paper proposes the method of subjecting hard roofs to ground fracturing,and physical simulation is used to study the control effect of ground fracturing on the strata structure and energy release.The results show that ground fracturing changes the structural characteristics of the strata and reduces the energy release intensity and the spatial extent of overburden movement,thereby exerting significant control on the ground pressure.The Datong mining area in China is selected as the engineering background.An engineering test was conducted on site by ground horizontal well fracturing,and a 20-m-thick hard rock layer located 110 m vertically above the coal seam was targeted as the fracturing layer.On-site microseismic monitoring shows that the crack propagation length is up to 216 m and the height is up to 50 m.On-site mine pressure monitoring shows that(1)the roadway deformation is reduced to 100 mm,(2)the periodic weighting characteristics of the hydraulic supports are not obvious,and(3)the ground pressure in the working face is controlled significantly,thereby showing that the ground fracturing is successful.Ground fracturing changed the breaking characteristics of the high-level hard strata,thereby helping to ameliorate the stress concentration in the stope and providing an effective control approach for hard rock.