Geomechanical Substantiation of Technology Parameters for Coal Mining in Interaction Zone of Longwall Face and Gate Roadway

Abstract

The results of numerical modeling aimed to evaluate geomechanical behavior of rocks in the vicinity of a fully mechanized longwall face and a gate roadway during gradual narrowing of a coal pillar between them are presented. The variants of longwall face passing of diagonal cut-through are discussed for coal seams of complex structure and various thickness. The regularities of redistribution of stresses, strains, and residual strengths of coal and rocks under variation in coal seam thickness, pillar width and location of dirt bed are determined. The recommendations on the technology for mining coal pillars as their width is decreased and for stability of gate roadways are substantiated to ensure trouble-free operation of fully mechanized longwall faces.