In order to study the feasibility of upward mining in a certain coal mine, the mechanical parameters of the coal rock mass were obtained based on on-site investigation and rock mechanics experiments. A numerical model that conforms to the on-site mining layout was established using numerical simulation methods. The stress, displacement, and plastic zone distribution characteristics of the upper coal rock mass at different positions along the X, Y and Z directions after the initial mining of layered coal were analyzed. The critical thickness for tensile failure of the roof during upward mining was calculated using the thick plate theory. A ground penetrating radar was used on site to conduct three-dimensional detection of the fragmentation characteristics of the overlying roof rock. The results show that after the mining of 5# coal, the stress of the overlying roof surrounding rock in the goaf exhibits a dynamic change process of rising peak falling. As the vertical height from the working face increases, the stress in the center of the goaf and around the working face gradually decreases; the displacement distribution extends outwards from the center of the working face, forming a sinking basin with an upward opening in the direction of inclination and direction of the working face. The maximum displacement value is at the bottom of the basin; there is a tensile stress zone above the working face, and the plastic zone has the largest range at the center of the working face direction and inclination. The plastic zone has not evolved to coal 4# and coal 3#; the maximum critical thickness for tensile failure of the roof is 55.4 m, which is much smaller than the actual thickness of 99.82 m on site, and upward mining can be adopted.
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