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To study the failure mechanism of overlying strata (OS) in shallow insufficient mining areas, with a combination of such research approaches as field investigation, theoretical analysis, similarity simulation, and numerical simulation, this paper studies the temporal and spatial evolution of the failure mechanism of overlying stratum structure in a shallow-buried interval goaf. The results show that the creep failure of temporary coal pillar (TCP) in the interval goaf is a primary reason for the failure of the basic roof. With the failure of the basic roof, stress arches in the OS of the mining section become unstable, which expands the damage range of the overlying strata. Consequently, adjacent stress arches overlap with each other, forming a “trapezoidal–semi-elliptical arch” collapse shape. Thick soil layers gradually collapse to the ground surface, and the OS collapse as a whole into a trapezoid-like shape. Rotary failure appears in the basic roof of mining section, forming a W-shaped voussoir beam hinge structure. In this study, a structural model of a W-shaped voussoir beam in the OS is established, and the mechanical characteristics of rock blocks in the basic roof of overlying strata during different mining stages of the interval goaf are analyzed. Also, with a discrete element UDEC program, this study performs a simulation to verify the rationality of the W-shaped voussoir beam structural model of overlying stratum movement in the shallowly buried interval mining section.

Coalbed methane (CBM) production in the overlying strata of coal reservoirs is often hampered by the unknown distribution of the mining-induced fractures. Mining-induced fractures are CBM migration pathways in the fractured overlying strata, and the excavation of coal seams within a mine causes the CBM in adjacent coal seams to flow into the overlying strata. The mining-induced fracture field in the overlying strata is the best place from which this CBM is drained. Here, to better understand the distributions of vertical and horizontal fractures caused by excavation, we propose a novel approach to quantify the dimensions of vertical and horizontal fractures in fractured zones. In addition, we demonstrate that there are negligible changes in the dimensions of horizontal fractures and great changes in the dimensions of vertical fractures when there is an increase in the height of the fractured zone. We further demonstrate that mining-induced angles mainly concentrate on 0°–10°, 50°–70°, 110°–120° and 170°–180°, and larger width fractures exist in both sides and top due to the de-stressed effect and fractures in the middle of model close under mining-induced stress. The approach described here could be used to improve the accuracy of cross-measure borehole positioning and the efficiency of CBM drainage.

Analytical methods in engineering design use simplifying assumptions to reduce the number of variables considered for a given problem. In rock engineering design, this reduction in complexity increases practical applicability but often must be applied with a degree of conservatism, as relevant mechanisms may remain unaccounted for in a given analytical solution. To date, the voussoir beam analog has seen relatively limited application to complex roof stability problems. Previous research by the authors has used numerical modeling to expand the voussoir beam analog by developing analytical solution adjustments to account for important factors such as horizontal bedding and passive bolts. This paper presents the application of the adjusted voussoir beam analytical solution in a case study of the historic Bondi Pumping Chamber. Discrete element method numerical models are also presented to elucidate the mechanisms governing stability and deflection of the supported roof beam. The results of this study provide a novel real-world validation of the adjusted voussoir beam analog and insight into its practical applicability and limitations.HighlightsSuccessful field application of a voussoir beam analytical solution that accounts for supported flat-roof excavations in discontinuous rockmassesEffects of roof support installation timing and variations in discontinuity strength and stiffness identified through numerical modelsSelf-supporting capacity of flat-roof excavations explored through comparison of numerical and analytical results

A steep seam similar simulation system was developed based on the geological conditions of a steep coal seam in the Xintie Coal Mine. Basing on similar simulation, together with theoretical analysis and field measurement, an in-depth study was conducted to characterize the fracture and stability of the roof of steep working face and calculate the width of the region backfilled with gangue in the goaf. The results showed that, as mining progressed, the immediate roof of the steep face fell upon the goaf and backfilled its lower part due to gravity. As a result, the roof in the lower part had higher stability than the roof in the upper part of the working face. The deformation and fracture of main roof mainly occurred in the upper part of the working face; the fractured main roof then formed a “voussoir beam” structure in the strata’s dip direction, which was subjected to the slip- and deformation-induced instability. The stability analysis indicated that, when the dip angle increased, the rock masses had greater capacity to withstand slip-induced instability but smaller capacity to withstand deformation-induced instability. Finally, the field measurement of the forces exerted on the hydraulic supports proved the characteristics of the roof’s behaviors during the mining of a steep seam.

Abstract Here, we analyze the instability characteristics of the overlying strata structure that characterize shallow-depth seams under insufficient goaf in Yushenfu mining area. To simulate the No. 20107 longwall interval working face situated in Nanliang Coal Mine, physical simulation, an acoustic emission (AE) monitoring system, a stress acquisition system and a total station were used. The results indicate that during interval goaf formation, which is correlated with mining, the immediate roof collapses, and the main roof strata remains stable. Gradually, the stress that acts on the temporary coal pillar (TCP) gradually exhibits the ‘uniform increase–accelerated increase catastrophe instability’ change characteristics. Due to the concentrated load of the overlying strata, the bearing capacity of the TCP gradually deteriorates until the catastrophic instability occurs, and the unstable roof strata forms a ‘W-shaped voussoir beam’ structure. The research results provide evidence for the strata control that is associated with shallow-seam mining.

Aiming at investigating the strong roof weighting when the large height mining face is nearing the main withdrawal roadway, the 52,304 working face (WF) nearly through the main withdrawal roadway mining in a colliery of Shendong coalfield was taken as the research background. The ground pressure, roof structure, and superposition effect of stress in the last mining stage were studied by field measurement, physical simulation, and numerical calculations. The obtained results demonstrated that the main roof formed the “long step voussoir beam” structure under the influence of the main withdrawal roadway. The superposition effect of the front abutment pressure of the WF and the concentrated stress of the main withdrawal roadway caused the stress asymmetrical distribution on the two sides -level hard rock straof the main withdrawal roadway, and the stability of the pillar on the mining side decreases. The initial average periodic weighting interval was 20.7 m. While the WF approaches the main withdrawal roadway, the pillar near the WF of the main withdrawal roadway collapsed, the main roof was broken ahead of the WF, and the actual roof control distance of support and the periodic weighting interval increased by 2.56 and 1.26 times the normal state, respectively. Consequently, the “static load” of the immediate roof and the “dynamic load” of the sliding unsteadiness of the long step voussoir beam increased. The structural model of the “long step voussoir beam” under the superposition of “static and dynamic load” was established concerning those results, and an expression was proposed to compute the support resistance. Meanwhile, the mechanism of strong roof weighting was revealed when the WF was nearly through the main withdrawal roadway. The research conclusion is expected to provide a guideline for the safe withdrawal of the large-height mining faces under similar conditions.

Under the conditions of high ground stress and mining disturbance, the strata breakage that is induced by mining is severe. Thus, it is critical to investigate the structural characteristics of key strata (KS) in deep thick mining. This study introduces an innovative technology, namely, directional blasting fracturing, in which an energy-gathering tube is installed in a borehole and an explosive is detonated to break the roof in a specified direction. A theory of balanced bulk filling is established based on the requirements of developing a voussoir beam structure, which can be used to effectively evaluate the percentage of bulk filling in gob and to determine to which structure the key strata belongs. Based on this theory, two types of novel structural models in the advancing and lateral directions of the longwall face are established and defined for studying the roof fracturing mechanism. Compared with a cantilever structure, Model C can develop a stable voussoir beam structure, limiting the rotation space of the KS and reducing both the peak abutment pressure and the dynamic disturbance time in the advancing of the longwall face. Model E is defined as when the technology of directional blasting fracturing effectively cuts a stress transfer path into the barrier pillar. The peak abutment pressures on the barrier pillar and auxiliary entry are smaller, and the dynamic disturbance time is shorter, which can effectively improve the stability of the auxiliary entry. The key parameters of directional blasting fracturing are designed and constructed, and they include the roof fracturing height, angle, and charge structure. The field application performance of this innovative technology at the longwall face of 3−1101 in Hongqinghe coal mine was evaluated by analyzing the chock pressure stress, the pillar pressure stress, and the deformation of the auxiliary entry during mining, which lays a foundation for the application of this technology in coal mines in China.

This paper presents a discontinuous numerical approach for studying roof cave-in mechanisms and obtaining the required support capacity of longwall shields in a case study site, the Svea Nord coal mine in Svalbard. The block size in the roof strata and the mechanical parameters of the discontinuities for the numerical model were obtained through back-calculations. The back-calculations were conducted with a statistical method of design of experiment. Numerical simulations revealed that voussoir jointed beams are formed before the first cave-in occurs. The maximum deflection of a roof stratum in the study site prior to the first cave-in is about 70 % of the stratum thickness. The maximum span of the roof strata prior to the first cave-in depends upon the in situ horizontal stress state. The roof beams have a large stable span when they are subjected to high horizontal stress; but horizontal stress would increase the possibility of rock crushing in deflected roof beams. The simulations and field measurements show no periodic weighting on the longwall shields in the study site. Stiff and strong roof beams would result in large first and periodic cave-in distances. As a consequence of having large cave-in distances, the longwall shields must have high load capacity, which can be calculated by the presented numerical approach.

The roof structure of the stope is the core of revealing the weighting mechanism and determining the working resistance of support. The Shenfu Dongsheng coal field of China has abundant reserves of shallow coal seam. The phenomena of strong ground pressure and step subsidence caused by the mining of shallow buried single key stratum (SBSKS) poses a serious threat to the fragile environment. Revealing the shape and movement process of roof structure of SBSKS is the primary prerequisite for ensuring safe mining of working face. Firstly, the field measurement technology of the space grid-like drill field was developed to construct vertical holes and incline holes in the auxiliary headgate gateway and tailgate airway ahead of the working face and to obtain the measured data of the broken position and vertical displacement of the roof by the drilling peep and multipoint displacement. Secondly, the key parameters of the stope roof were analyzed by the grid drillhole filed method, for example, the inclined roof break angle, the rotation angle, the thickness of equivalent immediate roof (EIR), and the roof structure-articulated level and shape. Then, we combined with the mining face comparison of compression laws revealing the time and space relationship between the movement of the roof structure and the roof weighting, and three more dangerous states of the roof were determined. Finally, the roof structure of SBSKS is moved upward through the field research on the 22201 working face, the “high step rock beam” structure and the advanced breaking position of the roof are obtained, and the calculation equation of the support resistance in large mining height face is given. The research results provide scientific guidance for the safety of SBSKS coal seam and provide technical support for green mining in ecologically fragile mining areas.

Rock bursts are currently considered to be one of the most severe threats to underground safety in coal mining. When mining activities approach faulted areas, rock bursts are more likely and thus often result in casualties. For instance, due to a fault, the extraction of longwall panel 25110 in the Yuejin coalmine suffered 20 rock bursts (Li et al. 2013). Therefore, rock bursts around faulted areas have been studied worldwide (Islam and Shinjo 2009; Ji et al. 2012; Li et al. 2011; Michalski 1977; Pan et al. 1998). The focus of these studies was the fault, while the fault-pillar (the coal pillar between the fault plane and the face line or gateway), has often been overlooked. The concept of fault-pillar induced rock bursts (FPIRB) was rst proposed and analysed by Li et al. (2013, 2014) who investigated the mechanisms underpinning FPIRB behaviour and calculated the static stress within the fault-pillar through a fault-pillar model, which proved that high static stress within the fault-pillar is a key factor inducing rock bursts. Unfortunately, the voussoir beam structure in their model was based on Qian (1982). Thus, the arch compression thickness and buckling failure of the voussoir beam were neglected. Also, the lateral thrust and shear forces were only approximate. As a result, the accuracy of the static stress calculated through their model is poor.