Evaluation of displacements of the mine workings contour in abutment pressure zones

Abstract

            The relevance of the investigated problem stems from the necessity to provide a reliable prediction for contour displacement of the preparatory mine workings influenced by face abutment pressure for their safe operation. The existing methods used in the mines of the Russian Federation do not take into account the fact that zonal mining workings are subjected to various mining pressure regimes as a result of mining face dislocation and, correspondingly, of the abutment pressure zone along their length. Besides, in the conditions of mining strata formations, the rock pressure in the vicinity of the excavations varies depending on their location in relation to the mined out spaces on the adjacent formations. The goal of this work is to develop an approach for assessment of the size and nature of displacements of the mine workings contour, taking into account the change in the regimes of the rock pressure influencing them. The leading approach in studying this problem is the application of numerical modeling. The main findings of this research are the obtained dependences of velocity and value of the convergence of the roof and the soil of the preparatory mine workings from varying value of the abutment pressure at different production positions in relation to the marginal part of the worked out mountain mass in the overlaying overworked seam.
The materials of the article can be useful for mining engineers carrying out the design and research activities related to ensuring the operational condition of mine workings.