Research on the Theory and Numerical Simulation of Mine Pressure Behavior in Steeply Inclined Thick Coal Seams

Abstract

This paper aims to study the law of pressure behavior and the characteristics of mutual influence in the process of steeply inclined coal seam mining. Based on the geological and engineering conditions of the B8 coal seam in Nanshan coal mine, this paper explores the law of mine pressure behavior in the process of steeply inclined coal seam mining by means of theoretical analysis and FLAC3D numerical simulation. Based on this, this paper also examines the influence of the interaction range between coal seams, the reasonable setting size of the section coal pillar, and the mining distance of the working face on the return air roadway. The results suggest as follows: (1) With an increase in the coal seam dip angle, the difference in the abutment pressure plastic zone between upper and lower coal pillars increases, and when mining in steeply inclined coal seams, the stress concentration in the lower and upper part of the working face deviates to the roof and floor respectively, which is obviously different from that of gently inclined coal seams. (2) The vertical stress above the section coal pillar changes in three stages with an increase in the width of the coal pillar, and the width of the coal pillar in the second stage can be taken as the reasonable size of the width of the coal pillar. The numerical simulation results are consistent with the theoretical calculation results, which indicate the high reliability of this method in determining the reasonable coal pillar size. (3) With an increase in the mining distance in steeply inclined coal seams, the maximum pressure around the working face and above the return air roadway has gone through three stages. When the distance between the working face and the adjacent return air roadway is close, the pressure above the return air roadway increases sharply, and disturbance is stronger.