Abstract
Repetitive mining beneath bedding slopes is identified as a critical factor in geomorphic disturbances, especially landslides and surface subsidence. Prior research has largely concentrated on surface deformation in plains due to multi-seam coal mining and the instability of natural bedding slopes, yet the cumulative impact of different mining sequences on bedding slopes has been less explored. This study combines drone surveys and geological data to construct a comprehensive three-dimensional model of bedding slopes. Utilizing FLAC3D and PFC2D models, derived from laboratory experiments, it simulates stress, deformation, and failure dynamics of slopes under various mining sequences. Incorporating fractal dimension analysis, the research evaluates the stability of slopes in relation to different mining sequences. The findings reveal that mining in an upslope direction minimizes disruption to overlying strata. Initiating extraction from lower segments increases tensile-shear stress in coal pillar overburdens, resulting in greater creep deformation towards the downslope than when starting from upper segments, potentially leading to localized landslides and widespread creep deformation in mined-out areas. The downslope upward mining sequence exhibits the least fractal dimensions, indicating minimal disturbance to both strata and surface. While all five mining scenarios maintain good slope stability under normal conditions, recalibrated stability assessments based on fractal dimensions suggest that downslope upward mining offers the highest stability under rainfall, contrasting with the lower stability and potential instability risks of upslope downward mining. These insights are pivotal for mining operations and geological hazard mitigation in multi-seam coal exploitation on bedding slopes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Availability of Data/Materials: The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article. Data supporting this Research article are available from the corresponding author on request.
References
Ban Y, Fu X, Xie Q, et al. (2021) A simplified calculation method for ultimate mining dimension in thin coal seam. Geotech Geol Eng 39: 3655–3667. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-021-01717-y
Behrooz G, Gang R, Zhang X, et al. (2015) Physical modelling of subsidence from sequential extraction of partially overlapping longwall panels and study of substrata movement characteristics. Int J Coal Geol 140: 71–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2015.01.004
Benko B (1997) Numicrical modelling of complex slope deformations. PhD, University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon.
Bentley SP, Siddle HJ (1996) Landslide research in the south wales coalfield. Eng Geol 43: 65–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(95)00084-4
Brady BHG, Brown ET (2006) Rock Mechanics for Underground Mining. Springer Dordrecht.
Cui F, Jia C, Lai X, et al. (2020) Study on the law of fracture evolution under repeated mining of close-distance coal seams. Energies 13: 6064. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13226064
Cui F, Li B, Xiong C, et al. (2022) Dynamic triggering mechanism of the pusa mining-induced landslide in Nayong County, Guizhou Province, China. Geomat Nat Haz Risk 13: 123–147. https://doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2021.2017020
Dai Z, Zhang L, Wang Y, et al. (2021) Deformation and failure response characteristics and stability analysis of bedding rock slope after underground adverse slope mining. B Eng Geol Environ 80: 4405–4422. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02258-7
Ding X, Li F, Li H, et al. (2020) Formation mechanism and evolution model of sliding surface on the bedding rock mining slope. J Min Safety Eng 37: 1019–1026. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.13545/j.cnki.jmse.2020.05.019
Do TN, Wu JH (2020) Simulating a mining-triggered rock avalanche using dda: A case study in Nattai North, Australia. Eng Geol 264: 105386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105386
Erginal AE, Türkeş M, Ertek TA, et al. (2008) Geomorphological investigation of the excavation - induced Dundar landslide, Bursa–Turkey. Geog Annal: S A, Phys Geog 90: 109–123. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0459.2008.00159.x
Fathi Salmi E, Nazem M, Karakus M (2017) Numerical analysis of a large landslide induced by coal mining subsidence. Eng Geol 217: 141–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.12.021
Grenon M, Caudal P, Amoushahi S, et al. (2017) Analysis of a large rock slope failure on the east wall of the lab chrysotile mine in canada: Back analysis, impact of water infilling and mining activity. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50: 403–418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.12.02110.1007/s00603-016-1116-8
Huang L, Wang J (2008) Research on laws and computational methods of dynamic surface subsidence deformation. J China Univer MinTech 37: 211–215. (in Chinese)
Kulatilake PHSW, Ge Y (2014) Investigation of stability of the critical rock blocks that initiated the Jiweishan landslide in China. Geotech Geol Eng 32: 1291–1315. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-014-9806-z
Lana MS (2014) Numerical modeling of failure mechanisms in phyllite mine slopes in Brazil. Int J of Min Sci Techno 24: 777–782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2014.10.007
Li B, Feng Z, Wang G, et al. (2016) Processes and behaviors of block topple avalanches resulting from carbonate slope failures due to underground mining. Environ Earth Sci 75: 694. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5529-1
Li L, Kong D, Liu Q, et al. (2023) Study on law and prediction of surface movement and deformation in mountain area under repeated mining of shallow coal seam. B Eng Geol Environ 82: 76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-023-03105-7
Liu C, Li H, Mitri H (2019) Effect of strata conditions on shield pressure and surface subsidence at a longwall top coal caving working face. Rock Mech Rock Eng 52: 1523–1537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-018-1601-3
Ma G, Hu X, Yin Y, et al. (2018) Failure mechanisms and development of catastrophic rockslides triggered by precipitation and open-pit mining in Emei, Sichuan, China. Landslides 15: 1401–1414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-018-0981-5
Ma W, Zhu W (1984) Simulation study on repeated mining law of rock stratum and surface. J China Institu Min Technol 13: 8–20. (In Chinese)
Marschalko M, Yilmaz I, Bednárik M, et al. (2012) Influence of underground mining activities on the slope deformation genesis: Doubrava vrchovec, doubrava ujala and staric case studies from Czech Republic. Eng Geol 147–148: 37–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2012.07.014
Niu S, Jing H, Yang D, et al. (2015) Experimental study on strength characteristics and deformation behavior of the cracked rock samples under uniaxial compression. J Min Safety Eng 32: 112. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.13545/j.cnki.jmse.2015.01.018
Peng Z, Zheng J (2001) Treatment of dangerous rock body of coal mined-out area in lianziya of the three gorges of Yangtze River. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 20: 710–714. (in Chinese)
Salmi EF, Nazem M, Karakus M (2017) The effect of rock mass gradual deterioration on the mechanism of post-mining subsidence over shallow abandoned coal mines. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 91: 59–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2016.11.012
Scaringi G, Fan X, Xu Q, et al. (2018) Some considerations on the use of numerical methods to simulate past landslides and possible new failures: The case of the recent Xinmo landslide (Sichuan, China). Landslides 15: 1359–1375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-018-0953-9
Tang J, Dai Z, Wang Y, et al. (2019) Fracture failure of consequent bedding rock slopes after underground mining in mountainous area. Rock Mech Rock Eng 52: 2853–2870. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-019-01876-8
Tao R, Wen B, Su C, et al. (2012) Analysis of the formation mechanism of the zhaojiayan rock fall in Wufeng county, Hubei province. Hydrogeol Eng Geol 39(6): 114–118. (In Chinese)
Unlu T, Akcin H, Yilmaz O (2013) An integrated approach for the prediction of subsidence for coal mining basins. Eng Geol 166: 186–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2013.07.014
Wang G, Yu G, Yu Y, Lu S and Kang Y (2012) Study on cracks fractal evolution laws of mining rock mass. J Min Safety Eng 29: 859. (In Chinese)
Wang X, Xiao Y, Shi W, et al. (2022) Forensic analysis and numerical simulation of a catastrophic landslide of dissolved and fractured rock slope subject to underground mining. Landslides 19: 1045–1067. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-021-01842-y
Xu J, Zhu W, Xu J, et al. (2021) High-intensity longwall mining-induced ground subsidence in shendong coalfield, China. Int J Rock Mech Min 141: 104730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2021.104730
Xu N, Zhang J, Tian H, et al. (2016) Discrete element modeling of strata and surface movement induced by mining under open-pit final slope. Int J Rock Mech Min 88: 61–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2016.07.006
Xu Q, Huang R, Yin Y, et al. (2009) The jiwei landslide of june 5, 2009 in Wulong, Chongqing: Characteristics and failure mechanism. J Eng Geol 17: 433–444. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1004-9665.2009.04.001
Yang Z, Zhao Q, Liu X, et al. (2022) Experimental study on the movement and failure characteristics of karst mountain with deep and large fissures induced by coal seam mining. Rock Mech Rock Eng 55: 4839–4867. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-022-02910-y
Yu J l, Zhao J j, Yan H y, et al. (2020) Deformation and failure of a high-steep slope induced by multi-layer coal mining. J Mt Sci 17: 2942–2960. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-019-5941-6
Zhang S, Shi W, Yang C, et al. (2023) Experimental evaluation of gentle anti-dip slope deformation and fracture network under the action of underground mining. Landslides 20: 381–408. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-022-01976-7
Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Zhao Z (2011) Similar simulation of overlying rock movement and surface deformation behavior with multi-coal seam mining. Hydrogeol Eng Geol 38: 130–134. (In Chinese)
Zhong J, Mao Z, Ni W, et al. (2022) Analysis of formation mechanism of slightly inclined bedding mudstone landslide in coal mining subsidence area based on finite-discrete element method. Mathematics 10: 3995 https://doi.org/10.3390/math10213995
Zhong Z, Xu Y, Wang N, et al. (2022) Environmental characteristics and unified failure mode classification system for mining landslides in the karst mountainous areas of southwestern China. Carbonate Evaporite 38: 2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-022-00818-w
Acknowledgments
The research reported in this manuscript was funded by the Sichuan Science and Technology Program (grant number 2022NSFSC1176), the open Fund for National Key Laboratory of Geological Disaster Prevention and Environmental Protection (grant number SKLGP2022K027), the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection Independent Research Project (SKLGP2022Z001).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
LI Qingmiao: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Data curation, Participated in numerical simulation, Formal analysis, Writing-Original Draft, Writing-Review & Editing. ZHAO Jianjun: Investigation, Resources, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Project administration, Writing-Review & Editing. LI Zhichao: Participated in numerical simulation, Writing-Review & Editing. DENG Jie: Participated in numerical simulation, Editing. ZUO Jing: Validation, Visualization. LAI Qiyi: Supervision & Writing-Review
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, Q., Zhao, J., Li, Z. et al. Optimal mining sequence for coal faces under a bedding slope: insight from landslide prevention. J. Mt. Sci. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-023-8460-4
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-023-8460-4