Seismic Mitigation Effect of Overlying Weakening Strata in Underground Coal Mines

Jiaxin Zhuang, Zonglong Mu (), Xiufeng Zhang, Wu Cai, Anye Cao, Chunlong Jiang and Piotr Małkowski ()
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Jiaxin Zhuang: Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Mining Tremor Monitoring and Prevention, Xuzhou 221116, China
Zonglong Mu: Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Mining Tremor Monitoring and Prevention, Xuzhou 221116, China
Xiufeng Zhang: Shandong Energy Group Co., Ltd., Jinan 250014, China
Wu Cai: Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Mining Tremor Monitoring and Prevention, Xuzhou 221116, China
Anye Cao: Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Mining Tremor Monitoring and Prevention, Xuzhou 221116, China
Chunlong Jiang: Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Mining Tremor Monitoring and Prevention, Xuzhou 221116, China
Piotr Małkowski: Department of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering and Geotechnics, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: Artificial construction of a weakening zone over the roadway is an essential method for preventing coal bursts and rock bursts caused by strong mining tremors. However, concerning the seismic absorption and load reduction capabilities of an artificial structural weakening zone, the degree of rock mass damage to the roadway under weakening zone protection remains unclear. This study employed principles of elasticity and UDEC (Universal Distinct Element Code) to explore the seismic attenuation and load reduction capabilities of the weakening zone. The results indicate that the absorbing ability of the weakening zone increases exponentially with its weakening coefficient. Under the same dynamic load disturbance, when the weakening coefficient rises from 0.00 to 0.99, the sidewall displacement from the elastic wave source side changes from 0.400 m to 0.228 m. The total number of cracks in the roadway-surrounding rock, and the ranges of overstressed zones decreased linearly. The critical threshold of the roadway resisting the mining tremor disturbance increased. In particular, when the mining tremor is located directly above the roadway, the initial deformation of the roof is the largest, and the cumulative deformation of the rib is greater than the roof. By creating a weakening zone with a coefficient exceeding 0.95, the roadway remains unaffected by the 20 MPa dynamic loading. The study provides a theoretical basis for controlling coal burst that is triggered by mining tremors.

Keywords: mining tremors; dynamic load on rocks; weakening zone; elastic wave attenuation; surrounding rock damage; rock burst hazard (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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