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Effects of Axial Loading Width and Immediate Roof Thickness on the Failure Mechanism of a Notched Roof in Room and Pillar Mining: Experimental Test and Numerical Simulation

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Abstract

The current research scrutinizes the effects of axial loading width and immediate roof thickness on the failure mechanism of a notched roof in room and pillar mining by experimental test and numerical simulation. Gypsum specimens with dimensions of 150 mm × 150 mm × 50 mm containing two rooms and a middle immediate roof (with and without the presence of an edge notch) were prepared for this purpose. The immediate roof has three different thicknesses, i.e., 30 mm, 45 mm, and 60 mm. The length of the edge notches was 1 cm, and their angles were 45°, 90°, and 135°. The upper room was loaded under axial loading with a width of 50 mm. A total of 12 physical specimens were tested. Concurrent with experimental tests, 36 numerical models were simulated. The model geometry was similar to the experimental one, but the upper room was loaded under three different axial loadings, i.e., 10 mm, 30 mm, and 50 mm. The results show that the notch angle, roof thickness, and loading width affect the failure pattern and compressive strength of models. The immediate-edged roof with an angle of 45 has a critical condition compared to other configurations. Also, models under a loading width of 50 mm have less compressive strength compared to other loading widths. The experimental test and numerical simulation show similar outcomes.

Highlights

  • The effects of axial loading width and immediate roof thickness on the failure mechanism of a notched room by experimental test and numerical simulation are investigated.

  • Gypsum specimens with dimensions of 150 mm × 150 mm × 50 mm containing two rooms and a middle immediate roof (with and without the presence of an edge notch) were prepared.

  • The results show that the notch angle, roof thickness, and loading width affect the failure pattern and compressive strength of models.

  • The immediate-edged roof with an angle of 45 has a critical condition compared to other configurations.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51608117), Key Specialized Research and Development Breakthrough Program in Henan province (Grant No. 192102210051) and High foreign country expert project in Henan province (Grant No. HNGD2022040).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450046, China

    Jinwei Fu

  2. Department of Mining Engineering, Higher Education Complex of Zarand, Zarand, Iran

    Hadi Haeri

  3. Mining Engineering Department, Hamedan University of Technology, Hamedan, Iran

    Vahab Sarfarazi, Nima Babanouri, Amir Rezaei & Mohammad Omidi Manesh

  4. Academic Member, Department of Civil Engineering, Beyza Branch, Islamic Azad University, Beyza, Iran

    Reza Bahrami

  5. Department of Mine Exploitation Engineering, Faculty of Mining and metallurgy, Institute of Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

    Mohammad Fatehi Marji

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  1. Jinwei Fu
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Fu, J., Haeri, H., Sarfarazi, V. et al. Effects of Axial Loading Width and Immediate Roof Thickness on the Failure Mechanism of a Notched Roof in Room and Pillar Mining: Experimental Test and Numerical Simulation. Rock Mech Rock Eng 56, 719–745 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-022-03082-5

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