Research on Roof Fracture Characteristics of Gob-Side Entry Retaining with Roof Cutting and Non-pillar Mining in Thick Coal Seam, China

Based on the S1201-2 large height mining in the 2–2 coal seam of Ningtiaota colliery with on-site microseismic measurement, physical simulation and theoretical analysis methods, this paper explores the rule of roof movement in thick coal seams with roof cutting and non-pillar (hereinafter referred to as RCN-P) mining, so as to obtain scientific and effective theoretical basis for entry support and to summarize the regional structural characteristics and dynamic periodic fracture characteristics. As can be seen from microseismic events, the entry roof is featured by "two zones and one line" along the horizontal direction, namely, the crack generation area, the roof movement area. Additionally, and the obvious lateral breaking of the entry roof on the coal wall is a typical feature of the thick coal seam with RCN-P mining. The roof is vertically divided into "three zones", the crack generation area, the roof movement area and the crack development area. The roof cutting activity mainly affects the overburden activity within the basic roof height range, which is also the roof movement area. In addition, the distribution frequency and the intensity of microseismic events indicate the roof periodic breaking characteristics. The "breaking pressure relief,” “advanced crack development,” and “the limit breaking state” of roof breaking corresponds to the initial, middle, and final stage of breaking in the periodic weighting process, respectively. Compared with the normal mining, the RCN-P mining reduces the periodic weighting length and increases the pressure strength. As is shown in the physical simulation experiment, the basic roof and the cutting control layer in the "regional structural characteristics" constitute the “large” and “small” structures with RCN-P mining. The basic roof key layer is the core to control the stability of the strata, and the breaking process from the cantilever beam to the short masonry beam of the roof-cutting control layer is the main cause of the entry stress. Correspondingly, the basic structure model of “short masonry-hinged” roof was proposed and the calculation method of support was established for the entry with RCN-P mining in thick coal seam, providing a research foundation for scientific and effective rock formation control.

Research on Roof Fracture Characteristics of Gob-Side Entry Retaining with Roof Cutting and Non-Pillar Mining in Thick Coal Seam, China

Based on the S1201-2 large height mining in the 2-2 coal seam of Ningtiaota colliery with on-site microseismic measurement, physical simulation and theoretical analysis methods, this paper explores the rule of roof movement in thick coal seams with roof cutting and non-pillar (hereinafter referred to as RCN-P) mining, so as to obtain scientific and effective theoretical basis for entry support and to summarize the regional structural characteristics and dynamic periodic fracture characteristics. As can be seen from microseismic events, the entry roof is featured by "two zones and one line" along the horizontal direction, namely, the crack generation area, the roof movement area. Additionally, and the obvious lateral breaking of the entry roof on the coal wall is a typical feature of the thick coal seam with RCN-P mining. The roof is vertically divided into "three zones", the crack generation area, the roof movement area and the crack development area. The roof cutting activity mainly affects the overburden activity within the basic roof height range, which is also the roof movement area. In addition, the distribution frequency and the intensity of microseismic events indicate the roof periodic breaking characteristics. The "breaking pressure relief,” “advanced crack development,” and “the limit breaking state” of roof breaking corresponds to the initial, middle, and final stage of breaking in the periodic weighting process, respectively. Compared with the normal mining, the RCN-P mining reduces the periodic weighting length and increases the pressure strength. As is shown in the physical simulation experiment, the basic roof and the cutting control layer in the "regional structural characteristics" constitute the “large” and “small” structures with RCN-P mining. The basic roof key layer is the core to control the stability of the strata, and the breaking process from the cantilever beam to the short masonry beam of the roof-cutting control layer is the main cause of the entry stress. Correspondingly, the basic structure model of “short masonry-hinged” roof was proposed and the calculation method of support was established for the entry with RCN-P mining in thick coal seam, providing a research foundation for scientific and effective rock formation control.

ESTIMATION OF ENTRY CONDITION INFLUENCE ON THE SHORT WALL PERFORMANCE

In this paper concept description of the operating short wall within the bounds of the justified risk approach is described. Analysis of the results of working process modeling are carried out. Engineering-and-economical performance of longwall panels at various values of probability of entry roof fall is studied.

A Case Study on Optimization and Control Techniques for Entry Stability in Non-Pillar Longwall Mining

In order to reduce large deformation failure occurrences in non-pillar longwall mining entries due to roof weighting behaviors, a case study in Halagou coal mine was conducted on optimization and control techniques for entry stability in non-pillar longwall mining. The Universal Discrete Element Code (UDEC) modeling was adopted to study entry stability in non-pillar mining, and the characteristics of deformation and stress and crack propagation were revealed. The large deformation transmission between the entry-immediate roof and the gob-immediate roof could be eliminated by optimizing the entry roof structure through a directional roof-cutting method. The localized tensile stresses generated in the entry-surrounding rock caused the generation of coalescent macroscopic fractures, which resulted in the instability of the entry. The tensile stress state could be inhibited by an active flexible support system through enhancing the confining pressure on the surrounding rock. Serious rotation subsidence occurs in the entry roof due to periodic weighting of the main roof, which could be greatly reduced by a passive rigid support pattern. The numerical and field test results both showed that the roof weighting pressure was offloaded by the technique and that the deformation of the entry surrounding the rock in non-pillar mining was quite small. Thus, the technique can effectively ensure the stability of the gob-side entry, which can provide references for entry stability control in non-pillar longwall mining.

Key Technologies and Application Test of an Innovative Noncoal Pillar Mining Approach: A Case Study

The waste of coal resources, a complicated production process and slow mining speed seriously restrict the rapid development of longwall mining. To achieve effective mining, an innovative noncoal pillar mining approach (i.e., Gob-side Entry Retaining by Roof Cutting (GERRC)) was introduced. The mechanism of the GERRC approach and its three key technologies (i.e., roof support technology, directional presplit cumulative blasting technology and surrounding rock control technology) were studied by theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, laboratory and field experiments. The new approach was finally tested under medium-thick coal seam and compound roof conditions. The results show that the directional presplit cumulative blasting technology can effectively control the damage evolution in the roof rock, maintain the integrity of the entry roof and contribute the gob roof to the cave in time. The support technologies in different roof movement stages can control the entry surroundings, and the final section of the retained entry met the safety production requirements. The test results suggested that the proposed approach for coal effective mining is feasible, and the introduced key technologies and design methods potentially produce reasonable values for applications of pillarless mining in similar projects.