Numerical Simulation Study on Mechanical Characteristics and Width Optimization of Narrow Coal Pillar in Gob-Side Coal Seam Tunnel

Pengxiang Zhao, Wenjin Zhang (), Shugang Li, Zechen Chang, Yajie Lu, Congying Cao, Yu Shi, Yongyong Jia, Fang Lou, Zongyong Wei and Jun Liu
Additional contact information
Pengxiang Zhao: College of Safety Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Wenjin Zhang: College of Safety Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Shugang Li: College of Safety Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Zechen Chang: College of Safety Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Yajie Lu: College of Safety Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Congying Cao: College of Safety Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Yu Shi: College of Safety Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Yongyong Jia: Xinjiang Coal Science Research Institute, Urumqi 830091, China
Fang Lou: Xinjiang Coal Science Research Institute, Urumqi 830091, China
Zongyong Wei: College of Safety Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Jun Liu: State Key Laboratory of Gas Disaster Monitoring and Emergency Technology, Chongqing Research Institute, China Coal Technology and Engineering Group, Chongqing 400037, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-17

Abstract: To investigate the influence of coal pillar width on the stress variation of narrow coal pillar (NCP) in the gob-side tunnel in an inclined thick coal seam, theoretical analysis, numerical modeling, and field monitoring are performed to determine the optimal width of the narrow coal pillars in inclined coal seams. The mechanical characteristics of the NCP for varying widths were investigated. Furthermore, vertical and horizontal stress were calculated for various widths of the NCP. The results revealed that with the rise in the width, the vertical stress initially increased dramatically and then stabilized, whereas the mean horizontal stress increased gradually. The mathematical relation between stress and NCP widths was represented by two fitting equations. The evolution process of the plastic zone in the NCP under various widths and the damage form of various widths were obtained; that is, when the width was small, the position of the roadway near the shoulder corner of NCP was inclined to the top of NCP. The field monitoring data revealed that the optimum NCP width was 4 m. This NCP width could stabilize the roadway and improve the loss prevention of the NCP at the gob-side tunnel of similar mines.

Keywords: narrow coal pillar; inclined thick coal seam; optimal width; damage form; loss prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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