Engineering study on fracturing high-level hard rock strata by ground hydraulic action

Self Cite

Traditional methods of controlling hard roofs have a limited scope of action and cannot effectively release the strong ground pressure behavior (SGPB) induced by high-position hard roofs (HHRs) in extra-thick coal seam mining (ETCSM). Thus, an innovative control technology of fracturing HHRs by vertical-well stratified fracturing (VWSF) has been proposed. However, the key parameters of VWSF, namely fracturing horizon and fracturing thickness of HHRs, which have a significant influence on stope stability, remain uncertain. In this study, a mechanical model of the "coal wall-hydraulic support-gangue" support system is established by considering the effective loading acting on HHRs, through which modified expressions for the periodic breaking span and impact kinetic energy of the stope are deduced. Based on the self-bearing of bulking rocks, the stability principle of the surrounding rock, and energy dissipation theories, the criteria for determining the fracturing horizon and thickness of the HHR are obtained. Next, a numerical model of ETCSM, which accounts for the supporting effect of gangue, is constructed in FLAC3D. The support load and energy released by stratum breakage are determined through modeling under various hard roof parameters, thus verifying the correctness of the determination criteria. The results show that the energy released by a hard roof, average support load, and critical support load are positively correlated with thickness, and first increase before declining with respect to an increase in the fracturing horizon.The key parameters for a real coal mine are obtained by theoretical calculations and numerical simulations. A field application demonstrates that the support load and advance roadway deformation can be decreased using the proposed parameterization. This provides theoretical support for determining the key parameters of HHRs for VWSF and facilitates the widespread application of VWSF technology in HHR control. K E Y W O R D Shigh-position hard roofs, microseismic monitoring, mine safety, strong ground pressure behavior, vertical-well stratified fracturing | 2217 PAN et Al.

“…Using the 2-D numerical model, five hard roof thicknesses (5,10,15,20, and 25 m) were considered with a horizon of 145 m. The numerical simulation results are shown in Figures 16-18.…”

Section: Numerical Simulation Of Hhr Thicknessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Determination of the key parameters of high‐position hard roofs for vertical‐well stratified fracturing to release strong ground pressure behavior in extra‐thick coal seam mining

Pan

Xia

et al. 2020

Self Cite

“…[1][2][3][4][5] The sudden failure exhibits instantaneous, strong impact, accompanied by energy release. [1][2][3][4][5] The sudden failure exhibits instantaneous, strong impact, accompanied by energy release.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thick hard main roof instability failure is one of the most hazardous and serious dynamic disasters in underground mining. [1][2][3][4][5] The sudden failure exhibits instantaneous, strong impact, accompanied by energy release. In addition, mining-induced fracture aperture is the main channel for aquifer water inrush and gob gas migration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Failure mechanism and fracture aperture characteristics of hard thick main roof based on voussoir beam structure in longwall coal mining

Zhang

Jin

Song

et al. 2019

Self Cite

The mechanism and fracture aperture of thick hard roof failure were theoretically analyzed from the perspective of elastoplastic mechanics. A uniform load cantilever beam was established by considering the voussoir beam structure and stress condition. According to the stress inverse principle in solving the plane strain problem, the internal stress component analytic solution was deduced. Considering the lateral thrust and shear force and by applying the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, the plastic zone boundary equation was obtained. Further analysis of the equivalent stress, equivalent strain, elastic energy density, distortion energy density, and strain energy density was studied with blocks of four different lengths, combined with the rotation angles after failure, to analyze the fissure aperture between straight and curved fracture traces. The theoretical analysis reveals that the deviatoric effect plays the lead role in rupture initiation and propagation; the cracks will deflect during failure, and the fracture trace presents a curved shape. The variation of fracture aperture exhibits a tendency to increase first, then decrease, and then increase along the fracture trace.The analytical approach presented in this paper provides a theoretical basis for determining the main seepage channel flow in underground mining. K E Y W O R D Sfailure mechanism, fracture aperture, theoretical analysis, thick hard roof, underground mining, voussoir beam structure

CDEM simulation of top‐coal caving characteristics under synchronous multiwindow drawing in longwall top‐coal caving mining of extra‐thick coal seam

Zhao

Zhou

et al. 2022

Traditionally, longwall top coal caving (LTCC) panels adopt the single‐window drawing mode and their drawing efficiency is relatively low. The synchronous multi‐window drawing (SMWD) mode is a remarkable approach to resolve the incompatibility between shearer coal mining and top‐coal drawing. The present paper analyzes the caving characteristics of top coal under SMWD in LTCC mining of extra‐thick coal seam. The caving and migration of top‐coal fragments were simulated by using the continuum–discontinuum element method (CDEM). The results show that the SMWD mode can effectively improve the drawing smoothness with larger caving channels compared to the traditional single‐window drawing mode. The main caving channel for top‐coal fragments was directly above the assembled multi‐window (AMW), and the size of the AMW had a great influence on the distribution of the velocity field. Additionally, the simulated draw body of the initial drawing adopted an elliptical shape, which changed into a variation ellipse with the increasing size of the AMW. The boundary of the simulated draw body of the initial drawing presented an irregular shape that deviated from the results predicted by the Bergmark–Roos model. Furthermore, the drawing efficiency increased with the expansion of the AMW, whereas the recovery ratio first increased and then decreased with the expansion of the AMW. Finally, field tests revealed that the SMWD mode can greatly improve the drawing efficiency. Thus, the recovery ratio under A2 and A3 SMWD modes was higher than that of the traditional single‐window drawing mode. Based on the results of field tests and CDEM simulation, it is recommended to adopt A2 and A3 SMWD modes to enhance the top‐coal recovery ratio and drawing efficiency. These research results could constitute a technical reference for automated highly efficient top‐coal drawing and high‐yield LTCC panel extracting extra‐thick coal seam.