Assessment of rigid overlying strata failure in face mining

Abstract

The method of overlying strata failure assessment of extracted seams is based upon the simultaneous assessment of surface subsidence and seismic activity, considering the spatiatemporal progress of mining, depending on the character of the rock mass. The rigid overlying strata failure assessment results in finding whether a failure of the firm overlying rocks occurred or whether a strutting arch was formed over the mined-out area. The practical importance of the overlying strata failure assessment consists in determining the size of the mined-out area at which the com-plete failure of the rigid overlying strata occurred and in the assessment of the current stress condition of the overlying strata failure. The assessment method is applicable in deep mine workings where thick coal seams are being mined by means of the method of longwall mining with controlled caving. The results of this method are used to amend contemporary known methods of rock-burst protection, namely (regarding the use of surface measurements for the evaluation) in overlying strata areas.