Explore the vast range of titles available.

This paper investigates the abutment pressure distribution in coal mines with extremely thick alluvium stratum (ETAS), which is a typical kind of mines encountering frequent intense rockbursts in China. This occurs due to poor understanding to abutment pressure distribution pattern and the consequent inappropriate mine design. In this study, a theoretical computational model of abutment pressure for ETAS longwall panels is proposed based on the analysis of load transfer mechanisms of key stratum (KS) and ETAS. The model was applied to determine the abutment pressure distribution of LW2302S in Xinjulong Coal Mine; the results of stress and microseismic monitoring verified the rationality of this model. The calculated abutment pressure of LW2302S was also used in the terminal mining line design of LW2301N for rockburst prevention, successfully protecting the main roadway from the adverse influence of the abutment pressure.

When mining deep coal seams with thin bedrock and thick alluvium, the collapse and fracture of thin bedrock layers may cause geological disasters, such as water inrush and sand inrush of the mining face. Comprehensively obtaining the response data of coal mining and reasonably analyzing the failure characteristics of overlying strata are helpful in guiding safe production. In this study, the caving zone heights of overlying strata are obtained by field detection during layered mining. Then, the caving zone heights during the once-full-height mining are evaluated by theoretical analysis. Further, the force and failure characteristics of coal–rock structures under different mining conditions are compared by the simulation detection and analysis. Finally, the results of on-site observation, theoretical analysis, and simulation detection are compared and discussed, and an optimized mining technology is proposed to ensure safe mining. The research shows the caving zone heights of on-site and simulation detections are, respectively, 14.65 m and 13.5 m during bottom-layer mining, which is larger than the caving zone heights of the top-layer coal mining. During once-full-height mining, the maximum caving zone height of simulation detection is 21 m, which is in between two standard results. For the mechanical responses of an aquiclude clay layer under thick loose alluvium, the maximum disturbance displacement of clay aquiclude is 5.8 m during layered mining, which is slightly larger than the disturbance displacement of once full-height mining; however, the maximum stress of the clay layer is 25 MPa during once-full-height mining, which is larger than the maximum stress of clay layer during layered mining. For the clay aquiclude failure, the clay layer during layered mining is in the deflection deformation area, and there is no obvious fracture structure to inrush the water and sand of thick loose alluvium; however, the clay layer during once-full-height mining is prone to produce obvious fracture structure. Therefore, the layered mining technology can effectively reduce and prevent the water/sand inrush disaster of mining working face.

There are a large number of thick alluvium and thin bedrock deposits at depth in the Henan coal base. The degree of surface mining is high, and the surface environment is seriously damaged. Using indoor experiments, numerical simulation, and field measurement, it is studied the influence of the mechanical properties of thick alluvium on the surface subsidence characteristics of thick alluvium thin bedrock deposits at depth, taking Zhaogu No. 2 coal mine as the research background. The results show that the compressive strength and elastic modulus of the alluvial layer are linearly negatively correlated with the alluvial layer particle size, linearly positively correlated with the confining pressure, and nonlinearly positively correlated with the loading rate. The thickness of the alluvial layer has the greatest influence on the displacement of surface subsidence and the range of surface subsidence. The advancing mining rate of the working face has the greatest influence on the surface horizontal displacement. The mechanical properties of the alluvial layer affect the evolution characteristics of the caving arch and towering roof beam. The influence range of the 11012 working face is about 550 m, β is about 55.5°, and the maximum subsidence rate of the surface is 12 mm/day. The mining process and separation grouting can be adjusted to control the overburden displacement to reduce surface disturbance and protect the surface ecological environment. The research results of this paper can provide a research basis for the study of surface subsidence under similar geological conditions.

Surface subsidence caused by mining is closely related to the nature and structure of overburden and soil layer. Characteristics of mining subsidence under the condition of mega-thick alluvium are special. Through analyzing the mechanism of mining subsidence with mega-thick alluvium, surface subsidence was divided into three parts, i.e., bedrock surface subsidence with non-alluvium, bedrock surface subsidence with mega-thick alluvium and consolidation subsidence. Mechanical Properties of Mega-thick Alluvium and their Influence on the Surface Subsidence were studied by means of geotechnical test and numerical simulation. The shear strength of clayey soil in Jiaozuo mining area were researched through unconsolidated undrained triaxial test. The ranges of internal friction angle and cohesion force of clayey soil in this area were presented. Taking a panel covered by mega-thick alluvium as an example, based on the test results, the influences of thickness, friction angle and cohesive force of alluvium on surface subsidence were analyzed. Results of numerical simulation were compared with field data. Results show that the maximum surface subsidence value increases with the increase of the thickness of alluvium, decreases with the increase of the friction angle and cohesive force. This paper combines geotechnical tests of alluvium mechanical properties with surface subsidence, which has a certain guiding significance for the study of mining subsidence.

Underground mining will lead to deformation and failure of overburden and frequently associated with water inrush. In view of the special situation of No.8 mining area in Baodian Coal Mine (thin bedrock and thick alluvium). According to geological engineering characteristics and overlying lithified strata, different bedrock height models were established using physical and numerical simulation. The deformation and failure of overburden, mining-induced stress, and height of the caving zone are then studied using these models. The results show that mining-induced stress is different in overburden and clay, with a large variation near the rock and clay layers. Findings also illustrate that the clay layer has an inhibitory effect on mining-induced stress. The height of the caving zone increases with the height of the bedrock, and the height of the caving zone obtained by physical and numerical simulation are similar. Through the comprehensive comparison of the height of the caving zone, it can be inferred that the height of the caving zone does not reach the thinnest position of the bedrock and no large water inrush will occur. The results obtained in this study provide an important framework for the study of coal mining safety under similar geological conditions in other locations.

The extraction of thin bedrock coal seams with thick alluvium poses a challenging issue in the realm of coal safety production in China. Especially for mining under aquifers, knowing the development height of water-conducting fracture zones above the goaf is crucial for coal mine safety and production. Taking the 11092 working face of lower slice mining in Zhaogu No. 1 Mine as an example, the failure transfer process of the overlying strata is analyzed first. On this basis, the development height of the water-conducting fracture zone is predicted using empirical formulas and the BP neural network. According to the empirical formula, the height of the roof caving zone ranges from 6.93 m to 27.72 m, while the height of the water-conducting fracture zone ranges from 22.17 m to 71.73 m. The BP neural network predicts that the development height of the water-conducting fracture zone in the working face after mining is 56.83 m. CDEM numerical simulation is employed to analyze the development height of two zones of overburden rock. The findings indicate that with a mining height of 2.5 m and a cumulative mining height of 6 m, the maximum caving ratio is 2.61. It is observed that for a cumulative mining thickness of less than 6 m, a bedrock thickness of not less than 30 m, and a clay layer thickness exceeding 5 m, the clay layer effectively obstructs the upward development of the water-conducting fracture zone. Finally, the prediction results of the development height of the two zones of overlying strata in the working face are verified by using the height observation method on the underground water-conducting fracture zone and the borehole peeping method. In conclusion, the height of the overlying strata after mining the lower slice working face in the first panel of the east can be used as a basis for determining the thickness of coal (rock) pillars for waterproofing and sand control safety during the mining of lower slice working faces in mines.

The study of deep soil mechanics is the basis of deep shaft construction. Exploring the nonlinear permeability mechanism of deep confined aquifers in depth is the prerequisite and foundation for carrying out calculations of the hydrophobic consolidation settlement of thick alluviums and preventing and controlling deep-well-damage disasters. Against the background of shaft damage caused by hydrophobic consolidation settlement of the bottom aquifer of thick alluviums, a joint HPLTC-HPPNP (high-pressure long-term consolidation and high-pore-pressure nonlinear permeability) test was carried out on the bottom aquifer of thick alluviums based on the ETAS test system. This paper studied the evolution law of the permeability coefficient (kv) of bottom aquifers under different heads of confined water, confining pressures (σr), permeability hydraulic gradients (i) and loading–unloading methods. The internal pore structure characteristics of clayey sand were obtained by using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology to explore the clayey sand’s nonlinear permeability micro-mechanism. The research results showed that the bottom aquifer seepage volume (ΔQi) under high stress is affected by the head pressure difference and pore water dissipation, and kv decreases with an increasing σr according to the power function relationship. The influence of the hydraulic gradient (i) on kv is significantly influenced by σr. When σr  < 4 MPa, kv decreased with an increasing i, and when σr  > 4 MPa, kv increased with an increasing i first, then decreased, before then tending to be stable. Under different stress states, the T2 spectrum of clayey sand showed a bispectrum peak type, and the adsorbed water content decreased linearly with an increasing σr, while the capillary water decreased according to the power function. The content of capillary water in the permeable pores plays a key role in the permeability of clayey sand, and it has a power function relationship with σr. The research results of this paper provide a good experimental method for the study of deep soil permeability characteristics and parameter determination, provide a theoretical basis for deep alluvial hydrophobic consolidation and settlement, and further make up for the shortcomings of existing deep soil mechanics in permeability characteristics.

The method for determining the upper limit for safe mining with regard to water and sand collapse prevention under thick alluvium and thin bedrock layers is a critical parameter for ensuring the sustainable development of a mine. The height of the water-conducting fractured zone (HWCFZ) is an important index parameter in the prediction and prevention of water and sand collapse. This research was conducted based on the concrete geological condition of the Zhao Gu No. 1 coal mine. First, a field measurement method was used to observe the HWCFZ of a mined panel. The discrete element method was applied to establish a corresponding model, which was calibrated using the measurement data. Then, calculation models for different bedrock thicknesses were developed to analyze the evolution law of the water-conducting fractured zone at different bedrock thicknesses and mining heights. The safe mining upper limits for different bedrock thicknesses were obtained. The relationships between the developing HWCFZ and bedrock thickness/mining height were determined. Using the research results as the main indices, an industrial experiment was performed on the 11,191 panel. The partition limit mining height was implemented in the panel, and safe production was realized. On the basis of the research results, 40,199,336.3 t of coal resources were successfully released, increasing the resource recovery rate by 31.72% and extending the mine service life by 12.5 years. This study not only provided technical support for the sustainable development of the Zhao Gu No. 1 coal seam, but could also be used for safe and highly efficient mining in other coal mines under similar geological conditions.

For the thick alluvium and thin bedrock coal seam mining in East China, it is easy to produce water by pressing the frame. Taking the engineering geological conditions of the thin bedrock coal seam 1611 (3) working face in the Zhangji Coal Mine of Huainan Mining Group as the research background, the breaking law of the thin bedrock coal seam working face with thick alluvium was studied by using a similar material physical simulation experiment and theoretical analysis. It is revealed that under the load transfer of the loose aquifer, the roof fracture of the stope with thick alluvium and thin bedrock is characterized by large and small periodic ground pressure, and the combination failure of the high key stratum and the low key stratum with large cycles is prone to support crushing accidents. Based on this, the safety mining technical measures of reducing the fracture distance of the high key stratum by forced roof caving are proposed, and the reasonable blasting parameters are calculated. After field application, no support crushing accident on the working face was recorded, and the mining was safe, which provides a technical reference for the mining of the working face under similar conditions.

Mine collapse is a common geological hazard associated with mining areas. This study analyzes mine collapse above the Yongcheng mining area located on the Huanghuai Plain in eastern Henan Province, China. The aim is to predict surface subsidence and evaluate associated disaster risks in goaf with thick alluvial cover. The surface deformation above seven mined coalfields and six unmined coalfields was calculated using the probability integration method. The results showed that the final maximum ground subsidence would be 7.25 m for the Suburban mine and 5.3 m for the Xinzhuang mine. As part of a broader study, land subsidence was also measured over a 1-year period in 2012–2013 by interferometric point target analysis using Radarsat-2 satellite synthetic aperture radar. Interferometric displacement maps were validated with leveling data. Based on the principles of fuzzy mathematics and the analytical hierarchy process, a susceptibility assessment system was developed to define the risk from mine collapse for the coalfields across the mining area. A hazard-zoning map was also produced using the spatial analysis function of ArcGIS. These research results can serve as a reference for farmland reclamation, town planning, and the restoration of the natural environment in this area.