A novel short‐wall caving zone backfilling technique for controlling mining subsidence. Issue 5 (4th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Wenbing; Xu, Jingmin; Zhu, Weibing; Wang, Sihua
• Is Part Of: Energy science & engineering. Volume 7:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 2124
• Page End: 2137
• Publication Date: 2019-08-04
• Subjects: backfilling technology -- key stratum -- short‐wall caving zone -- surface subsidence -- void filling; Energy industries -- Periodicals; Energy development -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1002/ese3.418
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-0505

Abstract

Abstract: Mining‐induced voids are the main circulation pathways for underground fluids such as water and coalbed methane. The collapse of these voids transmits to the ground surface, resulting in subsidence and building collapse. Accordingly, effective and feasible solutions are needed to control surface subsidence. In this study, a novel technique of void filling in the short‐wall caving zone was proposed to better control surface subsidence in thin coal seam mining. The width of the working face plays a key role in the proposed technique. A maximum surface subsidence value was predicted using numerical simulation and physical simulation experiments with different working face widths. The results indicate that the appropriate working face width should be less than 50 m for the studied coal mine. In this example, the surface subsidence coefficient was less than the standard value for initial damage to rural structures. Both advancing speed and productivity of the working face were achieved using the proposed technique because the filling and mining processes were conducted simultaneously on different faces. The results suggest that surface subsidence during thin coal seam mining could be controlled using the proposed technique. This technique can also help mitigate mining‐induced water inrush and gas leakage disasters by filling voids. Abstract : A novel backfill mining technique was proposed in this paper to control the surface subsidence. Theoretical analysis, numerical, and physical modeling were conducted to study the required parameters. The effectiveness of the technology was successfully tested in a Chinese coal mine.