Analysis of Solid Backfilling Effects on Strata and Ground Subsidence in a Longwall Coal Mine Beneath a City

Abstract

The solid backfilling mining method is one of the methods used to solve problems arising from strata and ground subsidence in underground mines. Through 2D physical analog modeling, 3D numerical simulation, and field measurement, the effects of the solid backfilling method were analyzed, providing a better insight into optimizing the configurations of a working face beneath a city for safety, environmental problems, and its use in production. In the physical modeling, MatchID software was employed to capture the movement characteristics of overlying strata and ground subsidence during mining and backfilling. Key parameters such as vertical displacement, subsidence characteristics, and rock mass stress variations were monitored and analyzed. In the numerical simulation, FLAC3D was used to simulate and analyze the effect of the backfill body on strata and ground subsidence above the backfill working face. For the field measurements, the Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) system was used to confirm the effective control of ground subsidence. With a filling ratio of 80%, the three methods are consistent and show a maximum subsidence value of 0.46 mm (physical simulation), 50.4 mm (numerical simulation), and 47 mm (experienced), significantly lower than the predicted subsidence, which is 281 mm. Therefore, this study demonstrates the reliability and scientific validity of both the physical analog modeling method and the field measurement method in measuring the efficiency of solid backfilling, providing valuable insights into strata and ground subsidence control in longwall coal mining.