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Investigation of overburden failure characteristics due to combined mining: case study, Henan Province, China

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Abstract

The evolution of fractures in overburden is quantitatively investigated to characterize the effect of mining activity. Scale model testing and numerical modeling were used based on the engineering geological and mining environments of Panel 11050 in the Quandian Coalmine in Henan Province, China. The maximum vertical displacement is 62.76 m, which is 140 m from the initial mining in the scale model test. Based on the fractal geometric theory, the fractal dimensions of the fractures in the overburden are calculated and visualized. The results reveal that if two coal seams are mined at the same time, the fractal dimension of the fracture network in the overburden increase with the progression of mining, but the rate of increase gradually slows. The relationships between the fractal dimension and the maximum height of the overburden failure and maximum overburden subsidence are nonlinear. The structural characteristics of the overburden are represented by the network of fractures. With increasing distance from the coal seam roof, the mining stress is gradually transferred upward to the overlying strata, and the scale of this stress transfer gradually reduces. The variation in the vertical stress gradually weakens and shows a delayed change with the mining process. The maximum principal stress is compressive stress and is distributed in an “arch” shape. The stress on both sides of the “arch” is high, and the intermediate stress is low. The stress within the “arch” shows an opposite trend.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge financial support from the Henan Key Scientific Research Projects of Colleges and Universities of the Education Department of Henan Province under Grant no. 21A410003. Appreciation is extended to acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant no. 41902283.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Xuchang University, No.88 Bayi Rd, Xuchang, 461000, Henan, China

    Binbin Yang

  2. School of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, 1 University Rd, Xuzhou, 221008, Jiangsu, China

    Shichong Yuan & Jiawei Liu

  3. Henan Province Key Laboratory of Rock and Soil Mechanics and Structural Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, 136 Jinshui East Rd, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China

    Yankun Liang

  4. School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, 467036, Henan, China

    Jiawei Liu

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  1. Binbin Yang
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Correspondence to Shichong Yuan or Yankun Liang.

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Yang, B., Yuan, S., Liang, Y. et al. Investigation of overburden failure characteristics due to combined mining: case study, Henan Province, China. Environ Earth Sci 80, 143 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09462-4

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