Simulation and analysis of the transient electromagnetic method response in double-layer water-filled goaf in coal mines

Abstract

Abstract The resolution ability of the transient electromagnetic method (TEM) for double-layer water-filled goaf is affected by the low resistance shielding effect of the overlying strata. Currently, there is a lack of quantitative research on how the parameter changes of the upper water-filled goaf affect its resolution capability. In this study, through numerical and physical simulations, the relative error of the TEM response between single- and double-layer water-filled goafs was regarded as the evaluation index to analyse and summarize the resolution capability of the TEM for double-layer water-filled goaf under different burial depths, thicknesses, and areas of the upper water-filled goaf. The results are summarized as follows. (ⅰ) The resolution capability of the TEM for double-layer water-filled goaf decreased with the increasing burial depth, thickness, or area of the upper water-filled goaf. (ⅱ) The rate of decrease in resolution gradually accelerated as the burial depth increased. Conversely, as the thickness increased, the decrease rate in resolution gradually reduced. Furthermore, the resolution decreased rapidly and then tended towards a fixed value as the area increased. (ⅲ) The maximum value of the relative error curve moved towards the early stage with the increasing burial depth, resulting in a detection depth of the target body smaller than the actual value. Moreover, it moved towards the later stage with the increasing thickness or area, resulting in a detection depth of the target body greater than the actual value.