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By Khaled Morsy

Cementitious seals are made of foamed cements with strength ranging from 100 to 600 psi. These cementitious seals are usually used at locations where the seal will be subjected to some convergence, assuming that this material can absorb entry closure without compromising the structural integrity of the seal. Prior to 2006, Lake Lynn Experimental Mine (LLEM) conducted full-scale tests on various cementitious seals designed to meet or exceed the 20-psi horizontal static load requirements of the old 30 CFR1 75.335. Both hydrostatic and dynamic loading tests were conducted. The structural response (pressure and displacement readings) obtained from these tests were recorded. The stability of the cementitious seal is based on balancing the load applied to the face of the seal from the explosion against the shearing resistance at the seal/rock interface. Therefore, the properties of the seal/rock interface, such as stiffness, cohesion, friction, etc. are critical to determine the stability of a cementitious seal. These properties are usually assumed by the researchers in their models. This paper emphasizes the importance of having the correct properties of seal/rock interface in the numerical modeling. FLAC 3D models were developed to simulate Celuseal2 cementitious seals subjected to both hydrostatic and dynamic loadings. Using the hydrostatic and dynamic loading test data conducted at LLEM, the static and dynamic properties of the seal/rock interface were back calculated. The FLAC 3D models showed good agreement with the test results.

Jan 1, 2009

By K. H. Brandt

A standard planning system for the development of roadways was adopted for German coal mines based on the results of geotechnical and rockmechanical investigations. Its goal is to provide for sufficient support systems under conditions of multiple seam mining at great depth. The report points out the required determination of geotechnical parameters and the basis for achieving a high level of planning reliability and resulting high performance in roadway development and longwall mining. The instrumentation and the planning procedure for selecting the support design most appropriate for the geotechnical conditions are described and demonstrated by examples.

Jan 1, 2004

By A. W. Khair

This paper presents an analysis of fracture depth and intensity due to subsidence over the longwall panel. Sonic reflection techniques were utilized to determine fracture depth, and a variation of p-wave velocity was used as an indication of the fracture intensity. Instrumentation has been tested for consistency and accuracy first in the laboratory using small scale models, then applied in the field in two mine sites with different mining geometry and geologic conditions. A new sonic viewer was utilized for sonic velocity measurements. Regular hammering method was on acoustic source. The results were concurrent with monitored horizontal strain profiles and measured open fractures over the longwall panels.

Jan 1, 1989

By Jeff Whyatt

Deformation of underground salt, trona and potash mines is generally time dependent, providing for gradual adjustment of strata to mining induced stresses. Time dependence can allow for higher extraction ratios provided eventual failure can be tolerated. However, this eventual failure can be violent if creep deformation can shift stress and potential energy to strong, brittle geologic units. The mine failure case studies reviewed here illustrate this process. Yield pillars and defects in bridging strata figure prominently in these cases. Yield pillars provide local and temporary support to the roof, temporarily delaying the cave; and allowing extraction ratios and overburden spans to increase beyond the long term capacity of overlying strata. Defects (faults, voids, thinning) of strong overburden strata reduce the critical span, sometimes to less than panel width. Analyses of many of these cases have focused on a cascading pillar failure mechanism, but recent work and this review point to failure of strong overburden strata as the essential element. The suddenness of failure and attendant seismic events pose hazards to miners and, in some cases, to those on the surface. Characterizing these failures is a first step towards recognizing and managing the risk of catastrophic collapse in underground mines.

Jan 1, 2008

By D. C. Oldroyd

Western Coalfield?s Tandsi Mine, has difficult support conditions and a history of roof falls, resulting in mining roadway widths and depths being restricted for safety reasons. Rock Mechanics Technology Ltd was contracted to improve the support system to allow the introduction of mechanised room and pillar mining. The introduction of a ?world best practice? bolting system resulted in major improvement in roof stability, allowing mining restrictions to be lifted and Tandsi to become one of the first two Indian mines to introduce a mechanised continuous miner system. The first year?s production was some six times previous levels. Because of the improvement in the support system, RMT was also able to design a partial de-pillaring system suitable for the Tandsi continuous miner districts together with the introduction of monitoring procedures and guidelines to maintain safe roof support conditions. In situ monitoring of pillar and roof behaviour was undertaken as the first pillars were extracted to confirm the design. De-pillaring operations have also proved highly productive, and to date there has been no associated support related major injury or dangerous occurrence. The success of this project demonstrates the potential for mechanised room and pillar mining in India.

Jan 1, 2006

By Murali Gadde

Design of underground excavations in coal mines involves two major tasks: estimation of stresses and determination of rock mass strength. Owing to the complicated nature of rock mass, progress in its strength determination has lagged significantly compared to advancements in stress analysis techniques. Also, because of the impracticality of conducting field-scale strength tests, experimental approaches have very limited applicability in estimating rock mass strength. As a result, many empirical rock failure criteria have been developed based on observed performance of in situ rock structures. Unfortunately, all the popular rock mass strength criteria are based on data from large-scale ?isotropic? non-coal structures and thus can not be directly applied to coal mines. In this paper, an attempt has been made to adopt the popular Hoek-Brown (H-B) criterion for use with coal measure rocks. First, the H-B criterion is examined against laboratory triaxial strength data for different types of coal measure rocks. Then, procedures to estimate the H-B rock mass strength parameters relevant to coal measure rocks are suggested. Finally, a case-study has been given to show the usefulness of the proposed strength estimation approach.

Jan 1, 2007

By Jiulong Cheng

Underground coal mining causes overburden deformation and failure, one major form of which is bed separation in the overburden. Surface subsidence can be controlled by injecting grout into the bed separations. For a long time, the grouting results of bed separation can not be validated. This is the problem in the application of this technique. This paper analyzes the conditions leading to bed separation, develops mathematical models for seismic wave fields generated before and after bed separation, and bed separations grouted with different materials, and computes the seismic wave field characteristics using the finite difference method. The results show that the existence of bed separation causes changes in the characteristics of seismic wave field, and that different grouting materials generate different seismic wave field characteristics. Intact strata, bed separation, and bed separation filled with air or water all display distinctive seismic wave field in amplitude and frequency spectra. After mining, the original location that provides strong seismic reflection wave no long exists. It is replaced by a weak and syncline-shaped reflection wave. The area, where the seam wave disappears, is larger than that of the mined area. The location, where a bed separation occurs, generates a set of reflection waves stronger than the normal one. The energy of the reflection waves varies with the materials filling the separations. Bed separations filled with air generate stronger reflection waves than those filled with water. The major frequencies for those filled with air are lower than those filled with water. Therefore, it is possible to determine the property of filling materials by analyzing and comparing the amplitude and frequency spectra of the reflection waves. Case studies of application of seismic method for exploring bed separations and grouting were analyzed. The results show that it is feasible to use seismic technique for exploring bed separations and grouting.

Jan 1, 2006

By Yajie Wang

Traditionally, roof falls are usually attributed to bad roof strata and high vertical stress related to the overburden depth. However, roof falls under shallow overburden depth are oflen caused by a high horizontal stress field. Recent studies have proven that the high horizontal stress field, if existing, plays a major role in roof stability. Also the roof conditions are related to the entry diredions under a horizontal stress field. Questions are: How to orient the entry to a favorable direction to prevent the roof falls? If the entry cannot be oriented, how to support it? Through a case study in mine A, this paper analyzes the horizontal stress effect on roof stability. The guideline for the entry orientation is given based on the results of analysis. Additionally, suggestions are made for those entries that cannot be oriented to a favorable direction.

Jan 1, 1998

By Gabriel Esterhuizen

The room-and-pillar mining method is used extensively in underground limestone mines in the Eastern and Midwestern U.S. The rock mass is typically a near-horizontal, bedded deposit at relatively shallow depth. A survey of 34 mines was conducted in which data on roof spans, rock mass properties and support practices were collected as part of a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health research project into ground control in limestone mines. The average room width is 13.5 m (44 ft), accommodating large mechanized equipment. The results show that the immediate roof beam can consist of many individual layers and can contain several near-vertical joints. In spite of the room widths, the roof is naturally stable in many mines. Observed roof instabilities can generally be related to excessive horizontal stresses or unfavorable geological structures that cause block fallout or beam failure of the bedded roof rocks. The survey showed that the rock mass quality of the limestone does not vary significantly throughout the Eastern and Midwestern U.S. Roof conditions and the need for support were found to be closely related to the thickness and competence of the first layer of limestone in the roof. The findings highlight the need to identify local geological structures and the roof beam characteristics so that support alternatives can be evaluated. Monitoring and observational technologies that are available for identifying potentially unstable roof are presented, which include: roof characterization using the Rock Fall Risk Index, automated logging of roofbolt hole drilling, microseismic monitoring and displacement monitoring.

Jan 1, 2007

By Andreas Hucke

For the roadway design in the German hard coal mining industry, an advanced combined planning system has been applied during the past 20 years. The German mining industry is working with single entry roadways system. After first longwall passage the roadways will be stabilised with side wall building material packages. Later this roadway will be used again for the second retreating longwall. The intention of the implementation of several different design methods for the planning of the roadways is to enhance the reliability of the results. On one hand the planning system uses numerical simulation and physical modelling in addition to analytical and empirical methods. On the other hand in-situ monitoring and analysis during the roadway development will be used to verify and calibrate the numerical and physical models. Especially before the implementation of new support elements in underground, this system is suitable and reasonable because the new support elements will be tested in the physical and numerical simulation prior to cost intensive underground tests. The interaction between the numerical and physical modelling in comparison with underground monitoring and analysis during development and the later use of roadways will be shown with some examples. The first example shows a rock bolted rectangular roadway which will be mined at both sides of the roadway. Different support and roadway building material package systems are investigated under various stress conditions. The results are utilised to optimise the roadway support and the roadway side package systems. The influence of different points in time of the installation of several support elements in a combined arch and bolted roadway is shown as another example. Two different types of support systems are compared within the physical models. These models are used as a base for ongoing numerical analysis and simulation to find out the ideal point of time to assemble the different support elements. The last example handles the influence of slickensides in the roof of arch shaped roadway on their stability. Different slickenside positions and densities are investigated and classified.

Jan 1, 2006

By Jun Lu

There are many factors affecting the strength of pillar, including width-to-height (W/H) ratio, mechanical properties of coal and surrounding rocks, property of partings in the coal, and the interface property between coal seam and the roof/floor. In this paper, the effect of varying pillar?s width-to-height ratio (W/H=3, 5, 7, and 10) and coal/rock interface cohesion (Cj =50 psi, 150 psi, and 300 psi) on pillar strength has been studied. The confinement effect of W/H ratio and interface shear strength is investigated by studying their effects on the average minimum principal stress developed in the pillar. The deformation behavior of the coal pillar is investigated. It is found that the pillar?s transition from strain softening to strain hardening behavior depends on its W/H ratio and the interface shear strength.

Jan 1, 2008

By Gabriel Esterhuizen

Underground stone mines in the United States make use of the room-and-pillar method of mining. A prerequisite for a safe working environment is that the pillars should adequately support the overburden and the pillar ribs and rooms should remain stable during mining. At present pillar dimensions are either based on experience at neighboring mines or on strength equations that were developed for metal or non-metal mines. This paper presents a pillar design methodology that was developed from a study of pillar performance in operating stone mines. Data were collected that describe the rock mass quality, pillar conditions, mining dimensions and intact rock strength. The results showed that current mining practices have resulted in generally stable pillar layouts with no recent cases of extensive pillar collapses. However, a small number of single failed or failing pillars were observed in otherwise stable layouts. Numerical analyses were used to supplement the observations and develop a pillar strength equation that describes the stable and small number of failed pillars observed. The developed strength equation can be used to design stable pillar layouts provided the factor of safety is greater than 1.8 and the width-to-height ratio of the pillars is greater than 0.8. The paper concludes with guidelines for applying the developed equation and selecting appropriate input parameters.

Jan 1, 2008

By Victor Nazimko

A new technique for reaming the holes has been tested. This technique is available for reaming a hole at its deep end creating an enlarged cavity that has helicoidal grooves oriented at less than 40 degrees to the hole axis. This technique increases bolt resistance by a factor 1.3-1.62; its bearing capacity by 3 times and enhances underground roadway stability. This technique is suitable for great depth (1000m and greater) and weak wet rocks.

Jan 1, 2008

By C. Dinis da Cama

In order to reduce the complexity of mechanisms influencing rock- fragmentation by blasting a simulation approach is proposed, using the capabilities of micro-computer interactive graphics. Situations involving cratering and bench blasting are simulated, and both jointed and intact rocks can be subjected to explosive action, taking into consideration its breakage mechanisms. Size analysis curves relating rock distribution before and after the blasts are determined and compared with field data.

Jan 1, 1984

By Peter Hatherly

As a discipline, geophysics covers an enormous range of scales and applications - from planetary geophysics through to the monitoring of acoustic emissions of rock samples. Although it is not a core discipline within the mining industry, geophysics has a useful role in providing information on the nature of the rock mass and the way it is responding to the mining process. For coal mining purposes, geophysical studies mainly seek to - delineate boundaries between the coal and the various layers within the surrounding strata - determine the physical properties of the rocks in-si tu, and - monitor the response of the rocks to the mining process Some of these applications may be associated primarily with mine planning, but once a mine is underway, most geophysical results can be used for the purposes of ground control. For example, insights into the nature of a geological fault mapped by a 3D seismic reflection survey will be relevant to determining support requirements while mining through it. In some instances there are parallels in the use of geophysics by the petroleum industry. Seismic reflection and wireline logging techniques have mainly been developed for petroleum exploration where their on-going development continues to provide spin-offs for the coal industry. The 3D seismic survey techniques that we now routinely employ were in their infancy 25 years ago and, almost certainly, the high quality borehole scanning tools that are now available would not have been developed without the need for petroleum well evaluation. Mining has also led to the development of specific techniques. An example is microseismic monitoring for the management of roof conditions during longwalling, and also the prediction of rock and coal bursts. The use and success of this technique have grown greatly over recent years. Another example lies with the use of geophysical wireline logs to predict rock strength and in rock mass classification. Coal seams also provide an unusual geophysical situation in that they form seismic and electromagnetic waveguides. The in-seam seismic and radio imaging methods have been developed to exploit these geological properties. In this paper I address the development and application of geophysical methods such as these with a particular emphasis on their role in ground control. We will see that there have been many developments over the past 25 years but we should also think about the future and how geophysics needs to be developed. From a miner?s perspective, one obvious area of need is in the detection of voids in the vicinity of current mine workings, be they old workings or karsts within nearby carbonate beds.

Jan 1, 2006

By G. J. Hasenfus

This paper presents the results of an extensive hydrological and geomechanical monitoring program which Gas conducted at a longwall coal mine in W. Va. The field program included monitoring of groundwater levels. overburden hydraulic conductivity, overburden movement, and surface subsidence relative to the passage of the longwall. Overburden geology and rock strength characteristics were evaluated prior to mining. A postmining corehole was drilled to evaluate main roof fracturing. An overburden response model is proposed based on the correlations between hydrological and geomechanical data.

Jan 1, 1988

By Rudi Podjadtke

In a short chronological review the development concepts and improvements in steel roadway support are shown. The successful standardization concept of RAG Deutsche Steinkohle and currently used support systems are important topics. The history of optimizing the material properties for the steel arch support with different alloys up to the tempering used today is discussed. The present-day application of the steel support is additionally presented. Today, it represents a system component of modern roadway support also for highly stressed roadways. In addition to the yielding roadway arch support, this overall system - the combination support - consists of the additional components of a rockbolting system and concrete backfilling. The comparison of the application areas for each individual partial system with the overall system illustrates its high performance capability. Actual practical experience with the state of the art typed steel arches are pointed out exemplarily. Understanding the complete system permits the selection of the economically optimal support for all conditions.

Jan 1, 2008

By Mark K. Larson

Calibration of LaModel for deep coal mines begins with adjustment of overburden stiffness for load transfer distance. This calibration determines whether mining induced stresses are concentrated in the immediate abutment of the gob, or spread over a wider area. In the absence of site information, an empirically-based estimate is often used. Where data is available, a recommended calibration procedure can be followed, as is done in this case study at a deep western longwall mine, with minor modifications and extensions. In this case, data sources included borehole pressure cells, flatjacks installed in series with support Cans, and observed changes in ground conditions. Calibration was based on the first detection of mining-induced stress from the advancing longwall. Detection was found to depend on the type and sensitivity of measurement. Borehole pressure cell data with a 20-psi-increase detection threshold were chosen as the standard, in accord with data used in deriving empirical relationships. Application of this standard produced a load transfer distance estimate roughly four times the empirical relationship developed by Peng and Chiang (1984). This is a significant deviation with important implications for panel design at this site. Data from flatjacks, ground condition observations, and borehole pressure cells with higher threshold values, were tightly clustered and show load transfer distances from two to four times empirical guidance. Ratios between various measurements can be used to adjust measurements to the standard (although they may depend on mine geology). Once established, ratios can be used to adjust estimates, say from support flatjacks or ground observations, to the standard, where borehole pressure cell data is not available.`

Jan 1, 2012

By Richard Campbell

Effective strata control, utilising fully encapsulated resin grouted roof bolts is dependent on the installed quality of the reinforcement elements. Resin based grouts are the main form of rock bolt anchorage in the underground coal industry in Australia and New Zealand. To be effective the system requires the mixing of the catalyst and mastic components of the resin as well as shredding of the cartridge that contains the resin. Over the past six years Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd (SENZ) has pioneered an extensive work programme quantifying the effects and extent of poor installation quality due to gloving, poor mixing and loss of encapsulation (Pastars 2003, Campbell et al 2003, Mould et al 2004, Campbell et al 2005 and Pastars & MacGregor, 2005). The One-Step Bolt (OSB), an innovative bolting solution designed and manufactured by Hilti Pty Ltd offers a self drilling, single pass bolting method that eliminates gloving, guarantees mixing quality and encapsulation performance of the installed product while not jeopardising the mechanical performance of the bolt. This paper details recent work undertaken by SENZ designed to understand and quantify the system performance of the Hilti OSB in New Zealand?s thick coal seam mining environments.

Jan 1, 2006

By Khaled Morsy

In the past two decades, high horizontal stress has been attributed to many ground control failures. Most believe that entries parallel to the high horizontal stress is most stable and least stable when perpendicular to it. Entry stability decreases when the angle between entry and horizontal stress increases. The concept of 2-D stress shadow has been proposed for selection of proper panel orientation, often with mixed results. In this paper 3-D finite element modeling was used to analyze the stress distribution at the headgate of a longwall panel subject to high horizontal stress at various angles. It was found that the directions of induced principal stresses at the longwall face and headgate are independent of the panel orientation. The induced principal stresses concentrate or relief at headgate based on the panel orientation with respect to the directions of the induced principal stresses. Accordingly, only 3-D modeling can fully account for the effects of high horizontal stress on panel orientation. The paper illustrates in details the changes in orientation and magnitude of all three principal stresses around the longwall face and T-junction area as panel orientation changes.

Jan 1, 2006