Numerical simulation of depillaring panel at higher depth- Jamadoba mine case study

Abstract

In deep-seated coal seams (greater than 250 m), a few Indian coal mines have been developed using the bord and pillar method up to 525 m depth. This paper presents a three-dimensional numerical simulation of a complete panel deliberating the distribution of mining-induced stress, factor of safety of pillar, stook and rib, plastic zone formation and roof deformation at higher depth. The induced stress on the rib was found to be 4.65 MPa, which is high enough to crush the rib easily. The pillar's safety factor (FoS) was estimated to be 2.43, sufficient enough to take the overlying load, whereas, for ribs, the FoS of 0.9 signified complete collapse within few days. The plastic zone extended up to 6.1 m in the immediate roof, demanding heavy support to control the roof.

Keywords

• Deep seam working
• Bord and Pillar
• Pillar stability
• Depillaring