Stability Analysis of “Support-Surrounding Rock” System for Fully Mechanized Longwall Mining in Steeply Dipping Coal Seams

Abstract

The key to safe and efficient longwall mining of steeply dipping seams lies in the stability control of the “support-surrounding rock” system. This study analyzes the difficulties encountered when controlling the stability of the support during the longwall mining process of steeply dipping coal seams in terms of the characteristics of the nonuniform filled-in gob using a combination of physical tests, theoretical analyzes, and field measurements. Considering the floor as an elastic foundation, we built a “support-surrounding rock” mechanical model using data obtained on support-surrounding rock systems in different regions and the laws of support motion under different load conditions. Our findings are summarized as follows: first, depending on the angle of the coal seam, the caving gangue rolls (slide) downward along the inclined direction, resulting in the formation of a nonuniform filling zone in the deep gob where the lower, middle, and upper sections are filled, half-filled, and empty, respectively. In addition, an inverted triangular hollow surface is formed on the floor of the gob in the middle and upper sections behind the support. Furthermore, as the angle of the coal seam, length of the working face, and mining height increase, the characteristics of the nonuniform filled-in gob are enhanced. Second, we found that because of the gangue support, the “support-surrounding rock” system is relatively stable in the lower part of the working face; however, in the middle and upper sections of the working face, the contact method and loading characteristics of the support are more complicated, making stability control difficult. Third, the magnitude and direction of the load, action point, and mining height affect the stability of the support to varying degrees, with the tangential load and action position of the roof load having the most significant impacts on the stability of the support. Under loading by the roof, rotation and subsidence of the support inevitably occur, with gradually increasing amplitudes and effects on the intersupport and sliding forces. Finally, we found that overall stability can be achieved by adopting measures involving “sliding advancement of supports” and applying a “down-up” removal order. These research results serve as a significant reference and guidance for longwall mining applications.