Study on Failure Mechanism and Synergistic Support–Unloading Control Approach in Goaf-Side Roadways in Deep Thick Coal Seams

Chong Zhang, Yue Sun, Yan Zhang, Yubing Huang (), Huayu Yang, Zhenqing Zhang, Chen Chen and Hongdi Tian
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Chong Zhang: State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
Yue Sun: Luxi Mining Tangkou Coal Industry Co., Ltd., Jining 272055, China
Yan Zhang: State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Yubing Huang: State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Huayu Yang: State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Zhenqing Zhang: Wanfu Energy Company Limited of Yanzhou Coal, Heze 274922, China
Chen Chen: State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Hongdi Tian: State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-28

Abstract: With coal mines’ mining depth increasing, the stress environment in deep mining (including key factors such as high ground stress, strong disturbance, and complex geological structures, as well as stress redistribution after deformation of surrounding roadway rock) is complex, which leads to increasingly prominent deformation and failure problems for goaf-side roadways in thick coal seams. Surrounding rock deformation is difficult to control, and mine pressure behavior is violent, making traditional support technologies no longer able to meet the mining safety requirements of roadways in deep thick coal seams. Taking the 6311 working face of Tangkou Coal Mine as the engineering research background, this paper systematically summarizes the deformation and failure characteristics of goaf-side roadways in deep thick coal seams through field monitoring, borehole peeping, and other means, and conducts in-depth analysis of their failure mechanisms and influencing factors. Aiming at these problems, a synergistic support–unloading control method for goaf-side roadways is proposed, which integrates roof blasting pressure relief, coal pillar grouting reinforcement, and constant-resistance energy-absorbing anchor cable support. The effects of the unsupported scheme, original support scheme, and synergistic support–unloading control scheme are compared and analyzed through FLAC 3D numerical simulation. Further verification through field application shows that it has remarkable effects in controlling roadway convergence deformation, roof separation, and bolt (cable) stress. Specifically, compared with the original support schemes, the horizontal displacement on the coal pillar side is reduced by 89.5% compared with the original support scheme, and the horizontal displacement on the solid coal side is reduced by 79.3%; the vertical displacement on the coal pillar side is reduced by 45.8% and the vertical displacement on the solid coal side is reduced by 42.4%. Compared with the original support scheme, the maximum deformation of the roadway’s solid coal rib, roof, and coal pillar rib is reduced by 76%, 83%, and 88%, respectively, while the separation between the shallow and deep roof remains at a low level. The coal stress continues fluctuating stably during the monitoring period; the force on the bolts (cables) does not exceed the designed anchoring force, with sufficient bearing reserve space (47% remaining), and no breakage occurs, which fully proves the feasibility and effectiveness of the synergistic support–unloading control technology scheme. This technology realizes the effective control of on-site roadways and provides technical reference for the support engineering of coal mine goaf-side roadways under similar conditions.

Keywords: thick coal seams; numerical simulations; roadway failure; support–unloading control (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: 2025
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