Stability analysis and determination of rock pillar between two adjacent caverns in different regions of Asmari formation in Iran

Large underground caverns are commonly used in variety of applications. In many cases, because of the geomechanical limitations of dimensions and requirement of high volume, several parallel caverns are used. Plastic zone integration requires a larger rock pillar distance of theses adjacent caverns while eco- nomic and access reasons require smaller distance. In lran many underground projects are located in West and South West, Asmari formation covers a large part of these regions. The stability of underground spaces that are constructed or will be constructed in this formation has been investigated. A proper cross section based on plastic analysis and a stability criterion has been proposed for each region. Finally, in each case, allowable rock pillar between adjacent caverns with similar dimension was determined with two methods （numerical analysis and fire service law）. Results show that Fire Service Law uses a very con- servative safety factor and it was proposed to use a correction factor for allowable distance based on application of underground space.

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.