Numerical approach to the top coal caving process under different coal seam thicknesses

Abstract

Numerical study of mining-induced stress evolution of coal during the top coal caving process under different coal seam thicknesses is carried out, and the numerical prediction agrees well with the field test data. Main characters on stress distribution and dangerous area are elucidated. For the same coal quality, coal layers under 7 m thick fail earlier than thicker coal layers; correspondingly, the internal fracture networks of thin layers are more easily developed. During the mining of a coal layer less than 7 m thick, stress monitoring of the ?dangerous area? in the middle of the top coal should be emphasized, whereas during the mining of coal layers less than 11 m thick, stress monitoring of the ?dangerous area? at the bottom of the top coal should be highlighted. The research is to optimize caving technique and extraction process.