Study on the Mechanism and Control of Strong Rock Pressure in Thick Coal Seam Mining under the Goaf of Very Close Multiple Coal Seams
Authors: Feng Junwen , Wang Wenmiao , Wang Zhen , Lou Fang , Wang Hongzhi , Wu Rang , Jia Yongyong , Yong Mingchao 
Published: April 2023

With the increasing proportion of close-distance coal seam mining in China, the problem of strong mining pressure during the mining of close-distance coal seams is becoming more and more severe. This article focuses on the complex stress environment and severe mining pressure encountered in the mining of thick coal seams under the multi-coal-seam goaf of Zhunnan Coal Mine. By using research methods, such as similar material simulation, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulation, it studies in depth the instability characteristics of the overlying rock structure of the W1701 working face, the inducing factors and mechanisms of strong mining pressure during the mining process, and control measures. The results show that the roof structure of the W1701 working face can be divided into “high-level key layer (hard rock)–giant thick soft and weak rock group–low-level key layer (hard rock)”, and the law of mining pressure manifestation presents a small cycle formed by the instability of “masonry beam” structure and a main large cycle formed by the periodic penetration and step-down of the giant thick soft and weak rock group, with the load on the support during the large cycle up to 5.4 times the rated working resistance. In addition, this article proposes the strategy of using layered mining to control the manifestation of strong mining pressure under the “hard sandwiched soft” overlying rock condition of the Zhunnan Coal Mine, optimizes the thickness of the layered mining of the thick coal seam, and finally, determines the upper layer thickness of 2.8 m and the lower layer thickness of 4 m, inducing the giant thick soft and weak rock formation to undergo incremental damage and releasing the fracture energy incrementally, effectively controlling the manifestation threat of strong mining pressure in the mining of thick coal seams under the close-distance coal seam goaf. As the proportion of close-range coal seam mining increases in China, the problem of strong mining pressure during the mining of close-range coal seams becomes more severe. This article focuses on the complex stress environment and severe mining pressure in the mining of thick coal seams under multiple mined-out areas in the Zhunnan coal mine. Similar material simulation, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulation methods were used to conduct in-depth research on the unstable characteristics of the overlying rock structure of the W1701 working face, the causes and mechanisms of strong mining pressure during the mining process, and control measures. The results show that the roof structure of the W1701 working face can be divided into “high-level key layer (hard rock)–thick soft weak rock group–low-level key layer (hard rock).” The law of mining pressure manifestation presents small cycles of instability formed by “block beams” and main cycles of pressure formed by vertically cracked periodic penetration and step sinking of the thick soft weak rock group. Moreover, during the main cycle of pressure, the load-bearing capacity of the support is up to 5.4 times the rated working resistance. Furthermore, it is proposed to use hierarchical mining to control the manifestation of strong mining pressure in the “hard-inlaid soft” overlying rock condition of the Zhunnan coal mine and optimize the thickness of layered mining of thick coal seams. Ultimately, the upper layer thickness was determined as 2.8 m; the lower layer thickness was determined as 4 m, and the layered mining induced the thick soft weak rock group to undergo gradual damage and energy release, effectively controlling the threat of severe mining pressure during the mining of thick coal seams under the close-range coal seam mining.