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A novel conceptual model of fracture evolution patterns in the overlying strata during horizontal coal seam mining

  • ISMSSE 2018
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The dynamic evolution of mining-induced fractures in overlying strata caused by mining has non-ignorable effects on engineering safety and water loss from an overlying aquifer. To clarify the evolutionary patterns of fractures due to the first and periodic weighting induced by coal mining, W-shaped fracture arch models are developed to explain and prevent water leakage during the mining process. With the conceptual hypothesis of a lopsided W-shaped fracture arch that may or may not consider the subsequent consolidation process from caving of the overlying strata, this model shows the evolutionary process of the morphological tendency in fracture arches and characteristics in different directions. Mining-induced fractures are found to evolve in W-shaped mode and develop both upward and forward with the advance of the mining face. Based on these models, we can identify the best developed parts of the overall fracture evolution, which are the key fracture paths for water to leak after the closure phase of fractures. Combined with a creative simulation experiment on similar materials including two comparative mining models, the normal mining model and the model of prefabricated fracture arches, the dome-shaped morphological evolution of this conceptual model is reflected well in the range of 20~40 m away from the initial mining location. The present models may help settle conflicts related to the dynamic evolution of mining-induced fractures and the loss of water resources during the mining process.

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Acknowledgments

Our deepest gratitude goes to the editors and the anonymous reviewers for their careful work and thoughtful suggestions that have helped improve this paper substantially.

Funding

The authors also gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation Program (Grant 41572244), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41807283), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (Grant ZR2015DM013), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 51804184), and the Scientific Research Foundation of Shandong University of Science and Technology for Recruited Talents (Grant 2017RCJJ031).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Depositional Mineralization & Sedimentary Minerals, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266590, China

    Longqing Shi, Dongjing Xu, Ying Wang & Mei Qiu

  2. College of Earth Sciences & Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266590, China

    Longqing Shi, Dongjing Xu, Ying Wang & Mei Qiu

  3. Shandong University of Science and Technology Mine Disaster Prevention and Control of the International Key Laboratory of Cultivation Base, Qingdao, 266590, China

    Jian Hao

Authors
  1. Longqing Shi
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  2. Dongjing Xu
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  3. Ying Wang
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  4. Mei Qiu
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  5. Jian Hao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dongjing Xu.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Mine Safety Science and Engineering

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Shi, L., Xu, D., Wang, Y. et al. A novel conceptual model of fracture evolution patterns in the overlying strata during horizontal coal seam mining. Arab J Geosci 12, 326 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4486-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4486-x

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