Prediction, Prevention, and Control of “Overall–Local” Coal Burst of Isolated Working Faces Prior to Mining

Abstract

Ensuring the accurate prediction, prevention, and control of coal bursts in isolated working faces is crucial for ensuring safe mining operations. Coal bursts are typically caused by the accumulation of stress and energy released in coal seams and the overlying strata. This study focuses on the 76 isolated working faces at Shanxi Wuyang Mine, employing a combination of theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and field monitoring. Through theoretical analysis, the study examines the influence of the spatial structure of the overlying strata on support stress and develops corresponding estimation functions. Additionally, bearing strength calculation formulas under varying confining pressures are derived. Numerical simulations are used to validate the effectiveness of borehole stress relief, while field monitoring further confirms the accuracy of the proposed model, leading to the development of the “overall–local” coal burst prediction method. The results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively assesses coal burst risks and, based on different coal burst types, recommends borehole stress relief and roof deep-hole blasting as primary mitigation strategies. These methods were successfully applied to the 76 isolated working faces at Wuyang Mine, yielding conclusions of overall stability with localized instability. This study provides new insights into coal burst prediction theory and offers practical guidance for preventive engineering in isolated working faces, demonstrating substantial engineering applicability.

Keywords

• isolated working face
• coal burst
• overburden rock structure
• prediction model
• prevention and control