Bearing mechanism of roof and rib support structure in automatically formed roadway and its support design method

Non-pillar mining technology with automatically formed roadway is a new mining method without coal pillar reservation and roadway excavation.The stability control of automatically formed roadway is the key to the successful application of the new method.In order to realize the stability control of the roadway surrounding rock,the mechanical model of the roof and rib support structure is established,and the influence mechanism of the automatically formed roadway parameters on the compound force is revealed.On this basis,the roof and rib support structure technology of confined lightweight concrete is proposed,and its mechanical tests under different eccentricity are carried out.The results show that the bearing capacity of confined lightweight concrete specimens is basically the same as that of ordinary confined concrete specimens.The bearing capacity of confined lightweight concrete specimens under different eccentricities is 1.95 times higher than those of U-shaped steel specimens.By comparing the test results with the theoretical calculated results of the confined concrete,the calculation method of the bearing capacity for the confined lightweight concrete structure is selected.The design method of confined lightweight concrete support structure is established,and is successfully applied in the extra-large mine,Ningtiaota Coal Mine,China.

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.

Anchorage performance of large-diameter FRP bolts and their application in large deformation roadway

In underground coal mines, fibre reinforced polymer(FRP) bolt is ideal for mined rib reinforcements as it can prevent gas explosions caused by shearer frictional spark. With increasing mining depth, small diameter FRP bolts used in shallow underground mining cannot fulfil the rib support requirements. Under the engineering background of deep underground shortwall mining in Wudong coal mine, this paper systematically studies Φ27 mm FRP bolt support for large deformation coal rib. Specimens with a fan-shaped cross-section were used to enable the tensile testing of the bolt rod, the measured average tensile strength of the studied FRP bolt was(486.1 ± 9.6) MPa with a maximum elongation of 5.7%±0.6%.The shear strength of the bolt was measured as approximately 258 MPa using a self-made double shear testing apparatus. Based on the equivalent radial stiffness principle, a laboratory short encapsulation pullout test(SEPT) method for rib bolting has been developed undertaken consideration of the mechanical properties of the coal seam. Results showed that the average peak anchorage forces of the Φ27 mm FRP bolt and Φ20 mm steel rebar bolt were 108.4 and 66.4 k N, respectively, which were agreed with the theoretical calculations and field measurements. Based on theoretical analysis of the loading states of the bolt under site conditions, bolting method of full-length resin grouting was adopted to offset the weaknesses of the FRP bolt. Numerical method was employed to compare the bolting effect using Φ27 mm FRP bolts and steel rebar bolts. Large diameter FRP bolting was determined as the optimum rib support scheme to increase the productivity of the coal mine and to enhance the ground control capability for+425 level mining roadways. This study provides the laboratory testing design and theoretical prediction of large diameter FRP bolts used for rib support in large deformation roadways.

Review of current coal rib control practices

The instability of coal ribs in underground mines continues to result in the injuries and fatalities of mine workers.The proper esti-mation and evaluation of primary and secondary support for coal ribs is still a challenging problem in the field of ground control science and requires further research and study.Although mining operations have various support design criteria and support methodologies for strata control,most rib support designs are still based on experience and local practices.This review study is intended to summarize the currently applied practices for rib support and control in various countries and mining conditions.Firstly,critical parameters that con-trol the amount and type of required rib support are considered and evaluated.The study revealed that among these parameters that control the stability of coal ribs,mining depth,rib height,cleat orientation/condition,and coal strength are the most significant param-eters.Secondly,current rib support application methods were also summarized.Similar to rock mass classification systems,some studies proposed a rib control rating system for practical estimation of the current rib condition and to estimate primary support requirements.These studies are classified and summarized into two groups(categorical and empirical)based on the required inputs and methodologies.Empirically based coal rib rating systems were closely examined,and the usefulness and intuitive aspects of each rating system were com-pared.This comprehensive literature review demonstrates that the Australian rating system,Analysis and Design of Rib Support(ADRS),and the new U.S.rating system,Coal Pillar Rib Rating(CPRR),are highly applicable for their regions.