• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

This paper presents an investigation of the ground response of a gob-side gateroad suffering mining stress induced by a 21 m-thick coal seam extraction. A field observation, including entry convergence and stress changes monitoring, was first conducted in the tailgate 8209. The observation results of entry convergence showed that, during the adjacent panel 8210 retreating period, the deformation of the gob-side gateroad experienced a continuous increase stage, subsequently, an accelerating increase stage, and finally, a slow increase stage. However, strong ground response, including roof bending deflection, rib extrusion and floor heave, occurred during the current panel 8209 retreating period, and the maximum floor heave reached 1530 mm. The stress changes within coal mass of the two ribs demonstrated that the gateroad was always located in the stress concentrated area, which responsible for the strong response of the tailgate 8209. Subsequently, a hydraulic fracture technique was proposed to pre-fracture the two hard roofs above the tailgate 8209, thus decreasing the induced disturbance on the tailgate. The validity of the above roof treatment was verified via field application. The finding of this study could be a reference for understanding the stability control of the gob-side gateroad in extra thick coal seams mining.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2020

The evolution of the mining-induced fracture network formed during longwall top coal caving (LTCC) has a great influence on the gas drainage, roof control, top coal recovery ratio and engineering safety of aquifers. To reveal the evolution of the mining-induced stress and fracture network formed during LTCC, the fracture network in front of the working face was observed by borehole video experiments. A discrete element model was established by the universal discrete element code (UDEC) to explore the local stress distribution. The regression relationship between the fractal dimension of the fracture network and mining stress was established. The results revealed the following: (1) The mining disturbance had the most severe impact on the borehole depth range between approximately 10 m and 25 m. (2) The distribution of fractures was related to the lithology and its integrity. The coal seam was mainly microfractures, which formed a complex fracture network. The hard rock stratum was mainly included longitudinal cracks and separated fissures. (3) Through a numerical simulation, the stress distribution in front of the mining face and the development of the fracturing of the overlying rock were obtained. There was a quadratic relationship between the fractal dimension of the fractures and the mining stress. The results obtained herein will provide a reference for engineering projects under similar geological conditions.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.337-344
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• 2018

The study of the mining effect influenced by a normal fault has great significance concerning the prediction and prevention of fault rock burst. According to the occurrence condition of a normal fault, the stress evolution of the working face and fault plane, the movement characteristics of overlying strata, and the law of fault slipping when the working face advances from footwall to hanging wall are studied utilizing UDEC numerical simulation. Then the inducing-mechanism of fault rock burst is revealed. Results show that in pre-mining, the in situ stress distribution of two fault walls in the fault-affected zone is notably different. When the working face mines in the footwall, the abutment stress distributes in a "double peak" pattern. The ratio of shear stress to normal stress and the fault slipping have the obvious spatial and temporal characteristics because they vary gradually from the higher layer to the lower one orderly. The variation of roof subsidence is in S-shape which includes slow deformation, violent slipping, deformation induced by the hanging wall strata rotation, and movement stability. The simulation results are verified via several engineering cases of fault rock burst. Moreover, it can provide a reference for prevention and control of rock burst in a fault-affected zone under similar conditions.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.783-799
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• 2015

In this study, effect of horizontal in situ stress on failure mechanism around underground openings excavated in isotropic, elastic rock zones is investigated. For estimating the plastic zone occurrence, an induced stress influence area approach (Bray Equations) was modified to define critical stress ratio according to the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. Results obtained from modified calculations were compared with results of some other analytical solutions for plastic zone thickness estimation and the numerical modelling (finite difference method software, FLAC2D) study. Plastic zone and its geometry around tunnels were analyzed for different in situ stress conditions. The modified equations gave similar results with those obtained from the other approaches. However, safer results were calculated using the modified equations for high in situ stress conditions and excessive ratio of horizontal to vertical in situ stresses. As the outcome of this study, the modified equations are suggested to use for estimating the plastic zone occurrence and its thickness around the tunnels with circular cross-section.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.295-305
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• 2019

The bedding plane has a significant influence on the effect of blasting fragmentation and the overall performance of underground mining. This paper explores the effects of fragmentation of the bedding plane and different angles by using the numerical analysis. ANSYS/LS-DYNA code was used for the implementation of the models. The models include a dynamic compressive and tensile failure which is applied to simulate the fractures generated by the explosion. Firstly, the cracks propagation with the non-bedding plane in the coal with two boreholes detonated simultaneously is calculated and the particle velocity and maximum principal stress at different points from the borehole are also discussed. Secondly, different delay times between the two boreholes are calculated to explore its effects on the propagation of the fractures. The results indicate that the coal around the right borehole is broken more fully and the range of the cracks propagation expanded with the delay time increases. The peak particle velocity decreases first and then increases with the distance from the right borehole increasing. Thirdly, different angles between the bedding plane and the centerline of the two boreholes and the transmission coefficient of stress wave at a bedding plane are considered. The results indicated that with the angles increase, the number of the fractures decreases while the transmission coefficient increases.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.297-304
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• 1994

This study aimed at analysis of induced stress and deformation behavior in rock mass around coal seams of Sam Chuck coal mine. For this study Vibrating Wire Stressmeters and Multi-point Borehole Extensometers were installed in the area of coal shale near coal seams. Induced stress and displacement in this area were coutinuously increased for 6 days from the begining of measurement, and then converged. But induced stress and displacement occurred when there were another openings by tunnelling and mining. The value of final induced stress was 21.8kgf/$\textrm{cm}^2$, displacement of rod extensometer was 1.3 mm at arch. Especially, over 1 mm of displacement between E2 and E3 in rod extensometer was measured.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.587-600
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• 2020

Shear-induced instability of jointed rock mass has greatly threatened the safety of underground openings. To better understand the failure mechanism of surrounding rock mass under shear, the flawed specimens containing a circular opening and two open joints are prepared and used to conduct direct shear tests. Both experimental and numerical results show that joint inclination (β) has a significant effect on the shear strength, dilation, cracking behavior and stress distribution around flaws. The maximum shear strength, occurring at β=30°, usually corresponds to a unifrom stress state around joint and an intense energy release. However, a larger joint inclination, such as β=90°~150°, will cause a more uneven stress distribution and a stronger stress concentration, thus a lower shear strength. The stress distribution around opening changes little with joint inclination, while the magnitude varys much. Both compression and tension around opening will be greatly enhanced by the 30°-joints. In addition, a higher normal stress tends to enhance the compression and suppress the tension around flaws, resulting in an earlier generation and a larger proportion of shear cracks.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.237-255
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• 2015

From the related engineering principles, analytical solutions for horizontal crack initiation and propagation on a coal panel floor-underlying strata interface due to coal panel excavation are derived in this paper. Two important concepts, namely the critical panel width of horizontal crack initiation on the panel floor-underlying strata interface and the critical panel width of vertical fracture (crack) initiation in the panel floor, have been presented. The resulting analytical solution indicates that: (1) the first criterion can be used to express the condition under which horizontal plane cracks (on the panel floor-underlying strata interface or in the panel floor because of delamination) due to the mining induced vertical stress will initiate and propagate; (2) the second criterion can be used to express the condition under which vertical plane cracks (in the panel floor) due to the mining induced horizontal stress will initiate and propagate; (3) this orthogonal set of horizontal and vertical plane cracks, once formed, will provide the necessary weak network for the flow of gas to inrush into the panel. Two characteristic equations are given to quantitatively estimate both the critical panel width of vertical fracture initiation in the panel floor and the critical panel width of horizontal crack initiation on the interface between the panel floor and its underlying strata. The significance of this study is to provide not only some theoretical bases for understanding the fundamental mechanism of a longwall floor gas inrush problem but also a benchmark solution for verifying any numerical methods that are used to deal with this kind of gas inrush problem.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.170-185
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• 1994

Surface subsidence is one of the problems caused by mined out caverns. Depending on the geologic conditions and mining methods, subsidence can occur in various forms. This report describes the ground stability assessment for the mining induced subsidence area where unfilled caverns still exist abandoned. Geologic features which could affect the stability of the ground were investigated and all the possible geophysical methods were employed to obtain data that could explain the state of the ground in question. Basic rock tests were conducted from the drill cores and rock mass classification was performed by core logging and borehole camera investigation. Numerical analyses were carried out to predict the ground stability using data obtained by various investigations. The result could have been more reliable if in-situ stress were measure and reflected in the numerical analysis.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.533-543
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• 2000

Deformation behavior and stability of vertical pipeline subjected to underground excavation have been studied by means of numerical analysis. Vortical ground displacements cause the pipe to be compressed, while horizontal ones cause it to be bent. In that region the vertical pipeline meets with the induced compressive stress and bending stress. In addition horizontal rock stress subjected to underground excavation may press the tube in its radial direction and it finally produces the tangential stress of pipe. In this study active gas well system is considered as an example of vertical pipelines. Factor analysis has been conducted which has great influence on the pipeline behavior. Three case studies are investigated which have the different pillar widths and gas well locations in pillar. For example, where overburden depth is 237.5 m and thickness of coal seam is 2.5 m, chain pillar of 45.8 m width in the 3-entry longwall system is proved to maintain safely the outer casing of gas welt which is made of API-55 steel, 10$\frac{3}{4}$ in. diameter and 0.4 in. thickness. Finally an active gas well which was broken by longwall mining is analyzed, where the induced shear stress turn out to exceed the allowable stress of steel.