System dynamics model of the support-surrounding rock system in fully mechanized mining with large mining height face and its application

Fully mechanized mining with large mining height (FMMLMH) is widely used in thick coal seam mining face for its higher recovery ratio, especially where the thickness is less than 7.0 m. However, because of the great mining height and intense rock pressure, the coal wall rib spalling, roof falling and the instability of support occur more likely in FMMLMH working face, and the above three types of disasters interact with each other with complicated relationships. In order to get the relationship between each two of coal wall, roof, floor and support, and reduce the occurrence probability of the three types of disasters, we established the system dynamics (SD) model of the support-surrounding rock system which is composed of “coal wall-roof-floor-support” (CW-R-F-S) in a FMMLMH working face based on the condition of No. 15104 working face in Sijiazhuang coal mine. With the software of Vensim, we also simulated the interaction process between each two factors of roof, floor, coal wall and the support. The results show that the SD model of “CW-R-F-S” system can reveal the complicated and interactive relationship clearly between the support and surrounding rock in the FMMLMH working face. By increasing the advancing speed of working face, the support resistance or the length of support guard, or by decreasing the tip-to-face distance, the stability of “CW-R-F-S” system will be higher and the happening probability of the disasters such as coal wall rib spalling, roof falling or the instability of support will be lower. These research findings have been testified in field application in No. 15104 working face, which can provide a new approach for researching the interaction relationship of support and surrounding rock.     

Coal mine roof rating(CMRR), rock mass rating(RMR) and strata control:Carborough Downs Mine,Bowen Basin,Australia

The rock mass rating(RMR) has been used across the geotechnical industry for half a century. In contrast,the coal mine roof rating(CMRR) was specifically introduced to underground coal mines two decades ago to link geological characterization with geotechnical risk mitigation. The premise of CMRR is that strength properties of mine roof rock are influenced by defects typical of coal measures stratigraphy.The CMRR has been used in longwall pillar design, roof support methods, and evaluation of extended cuts,but is rarely evaluated. Here, the RMR and CMRR are applied to a longwall coal mine. Roof rock mass classifications were undertaken at 67 locations across the mine. Both classifications showed marked spatial variability in terms of roof conditions. Normal and reverse faulting occur across the mine, and while no clear relationships exist between rock mass character and faulting, a central graben zone showed heterogeneous rock mass properties, and divergence between CMRR and RMR. Overall, the CMRR data fell within the broad envelope of results reported for extended cuts at Australian and U.S. coal mines. The corollary is that the CMRR is useful, and should not be used in isolation, but rather as a component of a strata control programme.     

构造应力对煤层顶板稳定性影响的数值分析

煤层顶板垮落是煤矿生产常见的灾害,煤层顶板稳定性预测是防治顶板事故的关键技术措施。构造应力是影响煤层顶板稳定性的重要因素之一。利用FLAC3D软件,分析在构造应力的影响下煤层项板在采动过程中的变形破坏特征,以及不同侧压条件下煤层顶板的移动规律。结果表明,顶板破坏在岩梁中部是由下向上发展的,在一定的条件下,随着水平构造应力的增大,顶板破坏范围逐步减小,顶板岩层的位移逐步减小。     

Effect of bolt rib spacing on load transfer mechanism

Rock bolting has firmly used as the coal mine roof reinforcement in underground coal mine. The bolting effect of fully grouted rebar bolt is closely related to the bolt surface profile. This paper provides an experimental study to confirm that bolt rib internal length has great influence on bolting effect. Pull-out tests were conducted using rebar bolt with different rib spacings of 12, 24, 36 and 48 mm representatively from steel tube and from concrete. Results show that peak load increases 25.3% for bolt with large rib spacing. For pull out using concrete block, the increment of peak load between large and small rib spacing is not significant, but the bolt with large rib spacing has great absorption of deformational energy than small rib spacing bolt. This study provides experimental evidence towards optimum design of rock bolt for understand coal mining industry.     

无煤柱分阶段沿空留巷煤与瓦斯共采方法与应用

针对深井高瓦斯低透气性煤层群的典型赋存特征,结合淮南矿区千米深井无煤柱煤与瓦斯工程实践,提出了改进Y型通风模式,即分阶段沿空留巷方法,完善了对共采工程的维控预应力锚固技术.工程实践表明:预应力锚固技术可以实现深井强动压开采过程中对沿空留巷和回风巷道围岩稳定的有效维控,至第1阶段结束,留巷顶板下沉量为144mm,两帮移近量为351mm,分阶段沿空留巷对共采巷道的维护时间缩短了4/5.减少了留巷变形速度稳定后累计变形的不利影响.超前工作面布置的瓦斯抽采工程中,单孔抽采瓦斯浓度(体积分数)达到40%,实现了煤与瓦斯共采.     

Numerical simulation study on hard-thick roof inducing rock burst in coal mine

In order to reveal the dynamic process of hard-thick roof inducing rock burst, one of the most common and strongest dynamic disasters in coal mine, the numerical simulation is conducted to study the dynamic loading effect of roof vibration on roadway surrounding rocks as well as the impact on stability. The results show that, on one hand, hard-thick roof will result in high stress concentration on mining surrounding rocks; on the other hand, the breaking of hard-thick roof will lead to mining seismicity, causing dynamic loading effect on coal and rock mass. High stress concentration and dynamic loading combination reaches to the mechanical conditions for the occurrence of rock burst, which will induce rock burst. The mining induced seismic events occurring in the roof breaking act on the mining surrounding rocks in the form of stress wave. The stress wave then has a reflection on the free surface of roadway and the tensile stress will be generated around the free surface. Horizontal vibration of roadway surrounding particles will cause instant changes of horizontal stress of roadway surrounding rocks; the horizontal displacement is directly related to the horizontal stress but is not significantly correlated with the vertical stress; the increase of horizontal stress of roadway near surface surrounding rocks and the release of elastic deformation energy of deep surrounding coal and rock mass are immanent causes that lead to the impact instability of roadway surrounding rocks. The most significant measures for rock burst prevention are controlling of horizontal stress and vibration strength.     

煤层厚度变化区域矿震活动规律研究

为更有效地预防采掘期间深部煤层分叉或厚度变化区域冲击矿压的发生,以某矿回采工作面为工程实践背景,基于矿震活动在能量释放与震动频次方面的变化特征及在空间上的分布规律,分析了煤层分叉及煤层厚度变化对冲击矿压的影响。结果表明:在大能量矿震发生前,日震动频次连续处于高位而日释放能量较长时间维持低水平;在煤层厚度变化区域,矿震活动活跃,容易发生大能量矿震。通过对矿震进行"时间-空间"分析,可以确定矿震集中区域和能量积聚时间段,从而可对煤层厚度变化影响区域进行有针对性的卸压防冲工作。     

深部沿空切顶成巷围岩稳定性控制对策

基于沿空切顶成巷技术原理,以城郊煤矿深部工作面无煤柱开采为背景,综合运用力学分析﹑模拟计算和现场试验等方法,对深部切顶成巷围岩控制关键对策进行深入研究。结果显示：切顶留巷顶板在侧向形成短臂梁结构,降低了巷旁支护体所受压力,切缝范围内岩层垮落后碎胀充填采空区,使留巷顶板下沉量降低了约50%。采空区侧顶板为切顶巷道围岩变形的关键部位,需进行加强支护;深部切顶巷道实体煤帮塑性区范围大,通过煤帮锚索支护技术可将浅部锚杆承载层锚固在弹性区稳定煤体中;深部切顶成巷来压速度快、强度大,巷内单体支柱易造成冲击破断,采用高阻力液压支架巷内临时支护时可较好地抵抗深部强动压;巷旁刚性挡矸装置因无法适应深部围岩大变形而受压弯曲破坏,深部切顶巷道巷旁挡矸结构需实现一定的竖向让位卸压方可与顶底板协调变形。在研究的基础上提出恒阻锚索关键部位支护+可缩性U型钢柔性让位挡矸+巷内液压支架临时支护+实体煤帮锚索补强的深部切顶成巷联合支护技术,并进行现场工业性试验。现场监测结果表明：留巷围岩在滞后工作面约290 m时基本稳定,且稳定后各项指标满足下一工作面使用要求。     

Methods applied in Australian industry to evaluate coal mine slope stability

Strata failure is a principal hazard in open cut coal mining as it has the potential to cause multiple fatalities. Prior to the excavation of any slope, a geotechnical assessment should review the likely slope performance, including the risk of slope failure. Controls to manage this risk to an acceptable level should accompany the geotechnical analysis. A survey of 43 practising geotechnical engineers indicated that kinematic and 2D limit equilibrium analyses were the methods most commonly applied to analyse excavated slope stability. While these methods are well established and widely applied in the broad rock engineering disciplines(e.g. civil, hard rock), a recent review of over 60 slope failures suggests these methods have limited suitability for modelling the complex failure mechanisms observed in excavated coal mine slopes. Kinematic techniques do not adequately capture the rock mass component of excavated slope failure and do not provide a geospatial location of potential failure, while 2D limit equilibrium techniques do not adequately capture the 3D mechanisms of excavated slope failures. Methods which do consider the 3D mechanisms of slope failure are summarized for industry consideration and application.     

Preventing roof fall fatalities during pillar recovery: A ground control success story

For decades, pillar recovery accounted for a quarter of all roof fall fatalities in underground coal mines.Studies showed that a miner on a pillar recovery section was at least three times more likely to be killed by a roof fall than other coal miners. Since 2007, however, there has been just one fatal roof fall on a pillar line. This paper describes the process that resulted in this historic achievement. It covers both the key research findings and the ways in which those insights, beginning in the early 2000 s, were implemented in mining practice. One key finding was that safe pillar recovery requires both global and local stability.Global stability is addressed primarily through proper pillar design, and became a major focus after the2007 Crandall Canyon mine disaster. But the most significant improvements resulted from detailed studies that showed that local stability, defined as roof control in the immediate work area, could be achieved with three interventions:(1) leaving an engineered final stump, rather than extracting the entire pillar,(2) enhancing roof bolt support, particularly in intersections, and(3) increasing the use of mobile roof supports(MRS). A final component was an emphasis on better management of pillar recovery operations.This included a focus on worker positioning, as well as on the pillar and lift sequences, MRS operations,and hazard identification. As retreat mines have incorporated these elements into their roof control plans,it has become clear that pillar recovery is not ‘‘inherently unsafe." The paper concludes with a discussion of the challenges that remain, including the problems of rib falls and coal bursts.     

Effect of discontinuities characteristics on coal mine stability and sustainability: A rock fall prediction approach

Rock fall related accidents continue to occur in coal mines, although artificial support mechanisms have been used extensively. Roof stability is primarily determined in many underground mines by a limited number of methods that often resort to subjective criteria. It is argued in this paper that stability conditions of mine roof strata, as a key factor in sustainability in coal mines, must be determined by a survey which proactively investigates fundamental aspects of said mine. Failure of rock around the opening happens as a result of both high rock stress conditions and the presence of structural discontinuities. The properties of such discontinuities affect the engineering behavior of rock masses causing wedges or blocks to fall from the roof or sliding out of the walls. A practical rule-based approach to assess the risk of a roof fall is proposed in the paper. The method is based on the analysis of structural data and the geometry and stability of wedges in underground coal mines. In this regard, an accident causing a huge collapse in a coal mine leading to 4 fatalities is illustrated by way of a case study. Horizontal and vertical profiles are prepared by geophysical methods to define the falling zone and its boundaries. The collapse is then modeled by the use of sophisticated computer programs in order to identify the causes of the accident.     

Ground pressure and overlying strata structure for a repeated mining face of residual coal after room and pillar mining

To investigate the abnormal ground pressures and roof control problem in fully mechanized repeated mining of residual coal after room and pillar mining,the roof fracture structural model and mechanical model were developed using numerical simulation and theoretical analysis.The roof fracture characteristics of a repeated mining face were revealed and the ground pressure law and roof supporting conditions of the repeated mining face were obtained.The results indicate that when the repeated mining face passes the residual pillars,the sudden instability causes fracturing in the main roof above the old goaf and forms an extra-large rock block above the mining face.A relatively stable ‘‘Voussoir beam" structure is formed after the advance fracturing of the main roof.When the repeated mining face passes the old goaf,as the large rock block revolves and touches gangue,the rock block will break secondarily under overburden rock loads.An example calculation was performed involving an integrated mine in Shanxi province,results showed that minimum working resistance values of support determined to be reasonable were respectively 11,412 kN and 10,743 kN when repeated mining face passed through residual pillar and goaf.On-site ground pressure monitoring results indicated that the mechanical model and support resistance calculation were reasonable.     

Cable-truss supporting system for gob-side entry driving in deep mine and its application

In order to solve the large deformation controlling problem for surrounding rock of gob-side entry driving under common cable anchor support in deep mine, site survey, physical modeling experiment, numerical simulation and field measurement were synthetically used to analyze the deformation and failure characteristics of surrounding rock. Besides, applicability analysis, prestress field distribution characteristics of surrounding rock and the control effect on large deformation of surrounding rock were also further studied for the gob-side entry driving in deep mine using the cable-truss supporting system. The results show that, first, compared with no support and traditional bolt anchor support, roof cable-truss system can effectively restrain the initiation and propagation of tensile cracks in the roof surrounding rock and arc shear cracks in the two sides, moreover, the broken development of surrounding rock, roof separation and extrusion deformation between the two sides of the roadway are all controlled; second, a prestressed belt of trapezoidal shape is generated in the surrounding rock by the cable-truss supporting system, and the prestress field range is wide. Especially, the prestress concentration belt in the shallow surrounding rock can greatly improve the anchoring strength and deformation resisting capability of the rock stratum;third, an optimized support system of ‘‘roof and side anchor net beam, roof cable-truss supporting system and anchor cable of the narrow coal pillar" was put forward, and the support optimization design and field industrial test were conducted for the gob-side entry driving of the working face 5302 in Tangkou Mine, from which a good supporting effect was obtained.     

Unanticipated multiple seam stresses from pillar systems behaving as pseudo gob–case histories

Underground coal mining in the U.S. is conducted in numerous regions where previous workings exist above and/or below an actively mined seam. Miners know that overlying or underlying fully extracted coal areas, also known as gob regions, can result in abutment stresses that affect the active mining. If there was no full extraction, and the past mining consists entirely of intact pillars, the stresses on the active seam are usually minimal. However, experience has shown that in some situations there has been sufficient yielding in overlying or underlying pillar systems to cause stress transfer to the adjoining larger pillars or barriers, which in turn, transfer significant stresses onto the workings of the active seam. In other words, the overlying or underlying pillar system behaves as a ‘‘pseudo gob." The presence of a pseudo gob is often unexpected, and the consequences can be severe. This paper presents several case histories, summarized briefly below, that illustrate pseudo gob phenomenon:(1) pillar rib degradation at a West Virginia mine at 335 m depth that contributed to a rib roll fatality,(2) pillar rib deterioration at a Western Kentucky mine at 175 m depth that required pillar size adjustment and installation of supplemental bolting,(3) roof deterioration at an eastern Kentucky mine at 400 m depth that stopped mine advance and required redirecting the section development,(4) coal burst on development at an eastern Kentucky mine at 520 m depth that had no nearby pillar recovery, and(5) coal burst on development at a West Virginia mine at the relatively shallow depth of 335 m that also had no nearby pillar recovery. The paper provides guidance so that when an operation encounters a potential pseudo gob stress interaction the hazard can be mitigated based on an understanding of the mechanism encountered.     

A causation mechanism for coal bursts during roadway development based on the major horizontal stress in coal: Very specific structural geology causing a localised loss of effective coal confinement and Newton's second law

In 2017, one of the international authorities on coal bursts, Mark Christopher, published a paper entitled‘‘Coal bursts that occur during development: A rock mechanics enigma", in which several relevant technical issues were identified. This paper outlines what is considered to be a credible, first-principles,mechanistic explanation for these three current development coal burst conundrums by reference to early published coal testing work examining the significance of a lack of ‘‘constraint" to coal stability and an understanding of how very specific structural geology and other geological features can logically cause this to occur in situ, albeit on a statistically very rare basis. This basic model is examined by reference to published information pertaining to the development coal-burst that occurred at the Austar Coal Mine in New South Wales, Australia, in 2014 and from the Sunnyside District in Utah, the United States.The ‘‘cause and effect" model for development of coal bursts presented also offers a meaningful explanation for the statistical improbability for what are nonetheless potentially highly-destructive events, being able to explain the statistical rarity being just as important to the credibility of the model as explaining the local conditions associated with burst events. The model could also form the basis for a robust, riskbased approach utilising a ‘‘hierarchy of controls", to the operational management of the development coal burst threat. Specifically, the use of pre-mining predictions for likely burst-prone and non-burstprone areas, the use of the mine layout to avoid or at least minimise mining within burst-prone areas if appropriate, and finally the development of an operational Trigger Action Response Plan(TARP) that reduces the likelihood of inadvertent roadway development into a burst-prone area without suitable safety controls already being in place.     

大采深条带开采坚硬顶板工作面冲击矿压治理研究

为了解决大采深条带开采坚硬顶板工作面的冲击矿压问题,以古城煤矿2106工作面为例,采用现场分析、实验室试验、数值模拟的方法对其发生机理进行了研究.结果表明在此条件下开采时发生的冲击矿压与煤岩性质、采深、坚硬顶板厚度及顶板的周期来压有密切关系.当冲击矿压发生的煤层具有强冲击倾向性,煤层硬度系数大于3、采深900 m以上、顶板岩层坚硬且厚度大于20 m时,冲击矿压发生具有突然性和猛烈性;主要发生在顶板周期来压期间、超前支护50m范围内,此时工作面的CH4和CO气体含量同时升高.对此提出了钻屑法等预测预报的方法和煤体爆破卸压与柔性支护等治理措施.     

Support technology for mine roadways in extreme weakly cemented strata and its application简

For the engineering geology conditions of bad mine roadway roof and floor lithology in extremely weak cemented strata, the best section shape of the roadway is determined from the study of tunnel surrounding rock displacement, plastic zone and stress distribution in rectangular, circle arch and arch wall sections, respectively. Based on the mining depth and thickness of the coal seam, roadway support technology solutions with different buried depth and thickness of coal seam are proposed. Support schemes are amended and optimized in time through monitoring data of the deformation of roadway, roof separation, I-beam bracket, bolt and anchor cable force to ensure the long-term stability and security of the roadway surrounding rock and support structure. The monitoring results show that mine roadway support schemes for different buried depth and section can be adapted to the characteristics of ground pressure and deformation of the surrounding rock in different depth well, effectively control the roadway surrounding rock deformation and the floor heave and guarantee the safety of construction and basic stability of surrounding rock and support structure.     

When traditional ground support techniques aren't enough – Chemical injections can solve complex problems

Broken and jointed ground is extremely hazardous and requires unique stabilization techniques to protect workers and critical entries. Bolting techniques, even the most advanced pre-load to create roof compression, can leave large gaps of unconfined and separated roof. This roof can also be susceptible to water inflows which only exacerbate the support problem. These types of conditions existed on long-term development main entry accessing several future longwall panels. The geotechnical assessment identified well defined jointing systems that also permitted water to flow between the roof separations, which ‘‘lubricated" the roof material and minimized any frictional advantages. Chemical injections of polyurethane materials, Minova Carbopur WS, was placed beyond the bolted horizon to move the water to the rib lines and reinforce the fractured and broken roof. The injection materials permitted the effective use of bolting patterns and helped ensure long-term stability of critical entries. The paper describes the evaluation techniques, design patterns, basis for chemical selection and application, and results and recommendations.     

The influence of borehole arrangement of soundless cracking demolition agents(SCDAs) on weakening the hard rock

The hard roof difficult to collapse easily causes gas accumulation, which threatens the production safety of coal mine. Therefore, roof pre-cracking is required. Although blasting and hydraulic fracturing can also crack the roof, blasting can easily induce rock bursts, whereas hydraulic fracturing needs complex equipment. In contrast, soundless cracking demolition agents(SCDAs) with noise-free, dust-free, and safe characteristics have obvious advantages. The main component of SCDA is calcium oxide, which reacts with water to produce higher expansion pressure. In this paper, focused on the angles of the borehole, the effect of SCDA is analyzed by numerical simulation based on Pingdingshan coal mine. The research results showed that the azimuthal angle a(between borehole projection and the roadway direction) does not significantly affect the efficacy of SCDAs, whereas the influence of borehole elevation angle b is far more significant than that of the azimuthal angle. Therefore, the angle b is a dominant factor influencing the effect of SCDAs. Based on different effects of SCDAs at different angle of boreholes, the weakening unit was established, so the SCDAs could give full play to roof fracturing. Moreover, field tests validated the importance of borehole angle on weakening the hard roofs.     

煤矿直接顶与老顶离层破坏影响因素分析

复合巷道支护是国内外巷道支护的难题之一,而复合巷道在我国煤矿巷道中有着广泛的分布．煤巷的开挖位置一旦确定,其围岩结构状态就不再改变,岩层结构上的薄弱部位即为巷道的关键部位．巷道顶板离层破坏影响因素很多,通过对煤层直接顶、老顶的厚度以及岩体的强度等分析,确定其对顶板离层的影响程度,并结合力学分析,建立顶板离层力学模型,计算出顶板离层深度,另外还利用FLAC3D模拟软件,模拟复合巷道在不同环境下老顶与直接顶的变形量,从而得出引起顶板离层破坏的影响因素．