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A Geometric Computational Model for Calculation of Longwall Face Effect on Gate Roadways

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Abstract

In this paper a geometric computational model (GCM) has been developed for calculating the effect of longwall face on the extension of excavation-damaged zone (EDZ) above the gate roadways (main and tail gates), considering the advance longwall mining method. In this model, the stability of gate roadways are investigated based on loading effects due to EDZ and caving zone (CZ) above the longwall face, which can extend the EDZ size. The structure of GCM depends on four important factors: (1) geomechanical properties of hanging wall, (2) dip and thickness of coal seam, (3) CZ characteristics, and (4) pillar width. The investigations demonstrated that the extension of EDZ is a function of pillar width. Considering the effect of pillar width, new mathematical relationships were presented to calculate the face influence coefficient and characteristics of extended EDZ. Furthermore, taking GCM into account, a computational algorithm for stability analysis of gate roadways was suggested. Validation was carried out through instrumentation and monitoring results of a longwall face at Parvade-2 coal mine in Tabas, Iran, demonstrating good agreement between the new model and measured results. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was carried out on the effect of pillar width, bearing capacity of support system and coal seam dip.

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Abbreviations

a i :

Half of the EDZ width

A i B i C i :

Triangular damaged zone

A i G i :

Dimension parameter

A i H i :

Dimension parameter

B Gi :

Gate roadway width

B ni :

EDZ height

B ni,ext :

Height of extended EDZ

d :

Expansion factor of broken rock

D i G i :

Dimension parameter

f 1′(x):

Computational function

f 1″(x):

Computational function

f 2′(x):

Computational function

f 2″(x):

Computational function

F i G i :

Dimension parameter

F i H i :

Dimension parameter

H i :

Gate roadway depth from the ground level

H E,i :

Equivalent height of overburden

H C :

CZ height

h i :

Gate roadway height

h P,i :

Pillar height

h ∆i :

Height of triangle A i B i C i

h s :

Coal seam thickness or face height

J i :

Vertical distance between pillar and the roof of gate roadway

L :

Face length

FIC i :

Face influence coefficient

q i :

Bearing capacity of the support system

S add,i :

Area of the extended part of EDZ

S ext,i :

Area of the extended EDZ (total area of EDZ)

S par,i :

Parabolic area of EDZ

S ∆i :

Area of triangle A i B i C i

S·F i :

Safety factor

u i :

Roof displacement

u i,ext :

Total roof displacement

W i :

Pillar width

x′ 1 :

Boundary of integration

x′ 2 :

Boundary of integration

x″1 :

Boundary of integration

x″2 :

Boundary of integration

L i :

Pillar length

Α :

Coal seam dip angle

β i :

Influence angle of CZ

γ :

Unit weight of rock mass

σ 0i :

Vertical in situ stress

σ c :

Uniaxial compressive strength of a cubical specimen

σ cm :

Compressive strength of materials

σ i :

Average pillar stress

σ Pi :

Pillar strength

ϕ i :

Average angle of shear of roof strata

φ 0i :

Caving angle

φ p :

Peak internal friction angle of rock mass

i :

Defines gate roadways, i.e., i = 1 is for the main gate roadway and i = 2 represents the tail gate roadway

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Acknowledgments

Grateful acknowledgment is made to Ali Javaheri and Hojat Darbani, Negin Coal Company of Tabas, Iran, who helped in obtaining data from instrumentation and monitoring in Parvade-2 coal mine of Tabas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mining Engineering Department, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

    Hamid Mohammadi, Mohammad Ali Ebrahimi Farsangi & Hossein Jalalifar

  2. Mechanical Engineering Department, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran

    Ali Reza Ahmadi

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  1. Hamid Mohammadi
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  2. Mohammad Ali Ebrahimi Farsangi
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  3. Hossein Jalalifar
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  4. Ali Reza Ahmadi
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Correspondence to Hamid Mohammadi.

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Mohammadi, H., Ebrahimi Farsangi, M.A., Jalalifar, H. et al. A Geometric Computational Model for Calculation of Longwall Face Effect on Gate Roadways. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49, 303–314 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-015-0739-5

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