Experimental investigation into stress-relief characteristics with upward large height and upward mining under hard thick roof

Abstract

According to geological conditions of No. 3 and No. 4 coal seams (namely A3 and B4) of the Pan’er coal mine and the parameters of panels 11223, 11224, and 11124 with fully-mechanical coal mining, we built 2D similar material simulation and FLAC3D numerical simulation models to investigate the development of mining-induced stress and the extraction effect of pressure-relief gas with large height and upward mining. Based on a comprehensive analysis of experimental data and observations, we obtained the deformation and breakage characteristics of strata overlying the coal seam, the development patterns of the mining-induced stress and fracture, and the size of the stress-relief area. The stress-relief effect was investigated and analyzed in consideration with mining height and three thick hard strata. Because of the group of three hard thick strata located in the main roof and the residual stress of mined panel 11124, the deformation, breakage, mining-induced stress and fracture development, and the stress-relief coefficient were discontinuous and asymmetrical. The breakage angle of the overlying strata, and the compressive and expansive zones of coal deformation were mainly controlled by the number, thickness, and strength of the hard stratum. Compared with the value of breakage angle derived by the traditional empirical method, the experimental value was lower than the traditional results by 3°–4° below the hard thick strata group, and by 13°–19° above the hard thick strata group. The amount of gas extracted from floor drainage roadway of B4 over 17 months was variable and the amount of gas per month differed considerably, being much smaller when panel 11223 influenced the area of the three hard thick strata. Generally, the stress-relief zone of No. 4 coal seam was small under the influence of the hard thick strata located in the main roof, which played an important role in delaying the breakage time and increasing the breakage space. In this study we gained understanding of the stress-relief mechanism influenced by the hard thick roof. The research results and engineering practice show that the main roof of the multiple hard thick strata is a critical factor in the design of panel layout and roadways for integrated coal exploitation and gas extraction, provides a theoretical basis for safe and high-efficient mining of coal resources.