A Shaft Pillar Mining Subsidence Calculation Using Both Probability Integral Method and Numerical Simulation

Abstract

In order to prolong the life cycle of the coal mine, Jinggezhuang (‘JGZ’) coal mine decided to excavate the shaft pillar. The first panel 0091 was designed near the pillar boundary as an experiment in shaft pillar mining. Both probability integral method (PIM) and FLAC^3D were used to evaluate the influence on the shaft safety. PIM parameters were obtained from previous surface subsidence station. The rock property is based on the lab mechanical test. A simulated FLAC^3D model containing shafts and a panel was built based on stratigraphic information. Surface subsidence results of PIM show that the 0091-panel excavation has no influence on the shafts. The simulated results show that the subsidence of the main shaft and air shaft is small and can be ignored, but it could cause the auxiliary shaft 220 mm horizontal displacement. So, the stress and displacement of the underground part of shaft were analyzed, it shows that the stress changes, subsidence and displacement are mainly located at the top part of the shafts. According to the stress and movement of the simulated shafts, 0091 was decided to be excavated and a surface monitor line was built and measured. In comparison of PIM, FLAC^3D, and measured data, the PIM results fit the surface subsidence better. And the FLAC^3D results have smaller maximum subsidence and greater influence area than measured. But FLAC^3D can provide more details such as displacement, subsidence, stress and strain of both surface and underground. So, for a planned mining excavation, both methods should be used especially for the evaluation of deformation of underground constructions. In the future, with the development of the rock numerical computation technology, the numerical simulation method will be recommended first. The research shows compare of two methods of the coal mine subsidence calculation and provides a solution method for shaft pillar mining.