Abstract
Determining the reasonable width of coal pillars is the key to the successful application of gob-side entry driving technology in coal mining. A comprehensive research method including numerical simulation, field monitoring, and theoretical analysis was proposed to determine the reasonable width of the coal pillars of gob-side entry with top coal based on a case study conducted in the Lugou Coal Mine, Henan Province, China. According to a comprehensive analysis of the stress distribution characteristics of the narrow coal pillar and the influence of the coal pillar width on the roadway deformation, the reasonable width of the coal pillar was determined to be 6 m with consideration of the stability of the coal pillar, roadway deformation, and coal recovery rate. Two principles for maintaining the stability of the gob-side entry with top coal were proposed, that is, strengthening the roof support to ensure top coal stability, and strengthening the support structure of the coal ribs to achieve collaborative control. Field monitoring indicated that the bolting support could effectively control the severe deformation of the roadway along the gob-side entry driving in the soft coal seam.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bai JB, Hou CJ, Huang HF (2004) Numerical simulation study on stability of narrow coal pillar of roadway driving along goaf. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 23:3475–3479 (in Chinese)
Ghasemi E, Shahriar K (2012) A new coal pillars design method in order to enhance safety of the retreat mining in room and pillar mines. Saf Sci 50:579–585
Hou CJ, Li XH (2001) Stability principle of big and small structures of rock surrounding roadway driven along goaf in fully mechanized top coal caving face. J China Coal Soc 26:1–6 (in Chinese)
Jiang LS, Zhang PP, Chen LJ, Hao Z, Sainoki A, Mitri HS, Wang QB (2017) Numerical approach forgoaf-side entry layout and yield pillar design in fractured ground conditions. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50:3049–3071
Li XH, Zhang N, Hou CJ (2000) Rational position determination of roadway driving along next goaf for fully-mechanized top coal caving mining. J China Univ Min Technol 29:186–189 (in Chinese)
Li XY, Zhang N, Xie XX, Liang DX, Zhao YM (2019) Study on efficient utilization technology of coal pillar based on gob-side entry driving in a coal mine with great depth and high production. Sustainability 11:1706
Mathey M, van der Merwe JN (2016) Critique of the South African squat coal pillar strength formula. J South Afr Inst Min Metall 116:291–299
Poulsen BA (2010) Coal pillar load calculation by pressure arch theory and near field extraction ratio. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 47:1158–1165
Goaf-side entry layout and yield pillar design in fractured ground conditions. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50:3049–3071
Sherizadeh T, Kulatilake PHSW (2016) Assessment of roof stability in a room and pillar coal mine in the U.S. using three-dimensional distinct element method. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 59:24–37
Song ZQ (1979) Basic motion rules of overlying strata in longwall faces. J Shandong Min Inst 1:12–25 (in Chinese)
Sun L (2015) Discussion on the size of the coal pillar and the control surrounding rock technology in residual coal mining face. Shandong Coal Sci Technol 8:51–53
Waclawik P, Ptacek J, Konicek P, Kukutsch R, Nemcik J (2016) Stress-state monitoring of coal pillars during room and pillar extraction. J Sustain Min 15:49–56
Wang C, Zhang N, Li GC, Xu XL, Qian DY, Zhang NC (2012) Control principles for roadway roof stabilization in different zones during ascending mining. J China Univ Min Technol 41:543–550 (in Chinese)
Wattimena RK, Kramadibrata S, Sidi ID, Azizi MA (2013) Developing coal pillar stability chart using logistic regression. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 58:55–60
Yang HY, Cao SG, Wang SQ, Fan YC, Wang S, Chen XZ (2016) Adaptation assessment of gob-side entry retaining based on geological factors. Eng Geol 209:143–151
Zha WH, Shi H, Liu S, Kang CH (2017) Surrounding rock control of gob-side entry driving with narrow coal pillar and roadway side sealing technology in Yangliu Coal Mine. Int J Min Sci Technol 27:819–823
Zhang KX, Zhang YJ, Ma ZQ (2015) Deformation control of surrounding rock of narrow coal pillar driving roadway along goaf in gudao working face. J Min Saf Eng 32:446–452
Zhang HW, Wan ZJ, Ma ZY, Zhang Y (2018) Stability control of narrow coal pillars in gob-side entry driving for the LTCC with unstable overlying strata: a case study. Arab J Geosci 11:665
Zhou AT, Wang K, Li L, Wang C (2017) A roadway driving technique for preventing coal and gas outbursts in deep coal mines. Environ Earth Sci 76:236
Funding
This study was supported by the Open Project Fund of State Key Laboratory for Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining & Technology (Grant No. SKLCRSM19KF009), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51904080), the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China (No.2018 M641525), the Open Project Fund of State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology (Grant No. SKLGDUEK1823), and the Science and Technology Program of Guizhou Province of China (Grant No. 20191116 and No. 20202Y026) during the research.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Murat Karakus
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ma, Z., Chen, C., Liang, X. et al. Field and numerical investigation on the stability of coal pillars of gob-side entry driving with top coal. Arab J Geosci 13, 1193 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-06234-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-06234-5