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The overburden rock mining fissures are the main cause of coal spontaneous combustion, gas pooling, and mine water inrush caused by goaf air leakage. Rapid and accurate determination of the development and evolution law of mining fissures have great significance for the application of coal spontaneous combustion prevention and control, gas disaster prevention and control, and water damage prevention and control measures. In this paper, a preliminary judgment of the development height of the water-conducting fracture zone is made based on the theoretical analysis, and the physical model size of the numerical simulation is determined according to its judgment result. It is judged that the development height of its water-conducting fracture zone is between 49 and 64.2 m, which is in line with the actual results. Based on this, a three-dimensional solid model was established in PFC (Particle Flow Code) software to analyze the fissure development pattern of the overburden rock and the development height of the water-conducting fracture zone when the main key stratum of the rock seam is in different positions by simulating the excavation process of the coal seam. The results show that when the main key stratum is located in the "original crack belt boundary," the development of water-conducting fracture zone is significantly inhibited; when the main key stratum is located in the "original caving zone," the water-conducting fracture zone is fully developed, and the crack belt finally develops to the top of the model. In order to verify the accuracy of the numerical simulation, similar material simulation experiments were performed under the same scheme. The results are consistent with the numerical simulation conclusions, effectively verifying the accuracy of the numerical simulation. Finally, the extraction of porosity of the goaf was carried out based on numerical simulation, and the permeability zoning of the goaf was performed; the results show that the development of the water-conducting fracture zone has a significant influence on the permeability of the mining area, and the more fully developed the fissure is, the greater is its permeability. In this paper, the fissure development law in the goaf under different key stratums is explored by various research stratums, and the results show a good consistency, which provides a scientific basis for the prevention and control of disasters such as water inrush and coal and gas outburst in mines, and provides theoretical guidance for safe mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal and gas burst is one of the significant and catastrophic hazards in underground longwall operations. To date, the protective coal seam mining has been recognized as the most effective mining method for minimizing or even avoiding the effect of the coal and gas burst. In this paper, numerical modelling and field test were carried out for the longwall operation in Qidong Coal Mine in order to investigate the induced stress and coal seam gas drainage performance in the protected coal seam after the complete extraction of the protective coal seam. It was found that four stress zones can be classified in the protected coal seam being the original stress zone, stress concentration zone, stress relief zone, and recompaction zone. In addition, the monitoring data of gas concentration and volume change in the field agree well with the numerical modelling results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the energy accumulation and rate of release in hard coal under dynamic, static, and coupled dynamic-static loading and its failure mode is of significance when studying the mechanism underpinning coal mine dynamic disasters such as rock burst, coal, and gas outburst. In this paper, four experimental methods (uniaxial compression, Brazilian splitting, and coupled dynamic-static tensile and coupled dynamic-static compression) were used to analyze the energy accumulation, energy rate of release, and failure modes of this type of hard coal under different loading conditions. It was concluded that (1) the energy accumulation and rate of releases of this type of hard coal under static compression are 17.63–179.90 times and 18.57–13157.89 times those under static tension; the energy accumulation and rate of releases in dynamic compression are 2.11–248.53 and 0.23–48 times those under dynamic tension, respectively. (2) During dynamic loading, the ratio of compressive energy accumulation to tensile energy accumulation is reduced by 1.6 times compared with static loading, and the ratio of compressive energy release to tensile energy rate of release is decreased by 363.84 times compared with static loading. (3) The energy accumulation and rate of releases of this type of hard coal for dynamic tensile are, respectively, 2.64–17.42 and 1.07–5.26 times those under static tensile load; the energy accumulation under dynamic compression is greater than that under static compression, being 0.24–15.04 times that under static compressive, but the energy rate of release under dynamic compression is 0.0003–0.56 times that under static compression. (4) The greater the prepeak energy accumulation, the greater the degree of damage of the coal sample at each stage, and also the higher the degree of fragmentation after the failure. The research results play an important guiding role in further understanding the mechanism of coal mine dynamic disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For deep coal mines, geological disturbances or mining activities can cause damage to coal and rock masses, easily inducing dynamic disasters such as rock bursts or coal and gas outbursts, which seriously threaten the safety production of coal mine. In this paper, first, the Liyazhuang Coal Mine introduced the SOS MS (Sensor Observation Service Microseismic) monitoring system from the Polish Research Institute and verified the accuracy of its positioning. Then, to study the characteristics of MS signals induced by different mining activities, based on the field monitoring results, the waveform and frequency spectrum characteristics of MS signals at different energy levels induced by different mining activities are analyzed, and the energy levels of MS signals caused by different mining activities are classified. Studies have shown that there are large differences in the waveform and spectral characteristics of MS signals at different energy levels. High-level energy seismic signals are characterized by large amplitudes, low frequencies, relatively concentrated distribution, long vibration duration, and slow attenuation. In addition, the relationship between mining activities and MS events is also statistically analyzed based on the spatial and temporal distribution of MS events with the advancement of working face, and the results show that the increase of vibration frequency and energy can be precursor information for roof pressure. With the advance of the working face, the MS energy has the characteristic of periodic distribution, which is consistent with the periodic weighting revealed by the working resistance of the support. This study provides a reference for further revealing the energy release mechanism of rock burst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal and gas outburst is a kind of complex dynamic disaster with short duration and strong explosiveness, and the modes and strength of the outburst are determined by the in situ stress, gas pressure, and physical and mechanical properties of the coal mass. In this paper, the status quo of research on the mechanism of coal and gas outburst in China is described from three aspects: the controlling effect of single factor, the controlling effect of multi-factor, and new understandings of the outburst mechanism in recent years. Firstly, controlling factors of coal and gas outburst are classified for an in-depth analysis of the main factors of the same type of disasters, and the research progress and new understandings of the mechanism of coal and gas outburst are systematically sorted out. Secondly, the influencing factors of the strength coal mass are analyzed, and the related issues of coal mass strength on coal and gas outburst disaster mechanism are discussed. The results show that the stages of incubation, occurrence, development, and stop on coal and gas outburst are affected by the coupling effects of in situ stress field, gas pressure field, and seepage field, and the coal strength becomes an important factor affecting outburst strength under the same in situ stress and gas pressure. Therefore, the scientific and reasonable improvement methods of such similar simulation experiment devices are proposed according to the existing experimental methods and devices, which is of great significance to provide ideas for the continuous transferring to deep mining and preventing coal and gas outburst in China in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from the article: With the rapid development of global economy, underground projects such as underground transportation, strategic storage, and mineral resource exploitation are increasing in scale and speed. Four characteristic energy parameters, namely, storage energy rock, storage energy limit, energy storage ratio, and energy dissipation ratio, were proposed to describe energy storage and dissipation properties of rock. "Building Deformation Prediction Based on Ground Surface Settlements of Metro-Station Deep Excavation" authored by D. Li and C. Yan studies the influence of tunnel excavation on ground settlement and building deformation.

When building tunnels in karst areas, the hidden high-pressure water-bearing karst caves are prone to cause geological disasters such as water inrush and mud gushing. In order to study the disaster process of water and mud resistant rock mass with the quasi-masonry structure and the accompanying catastrophe information of water inrush in karst tunnels by the drilling and blasting method, a new method based on the DEM and fictitious joint technology is adopted to simulate the evolution process of water inrush and study the evolutionary characteristics of catastrophe information like seepage pressure and displacement under the conditions of different joint inclination angles, tunnel depths, and thickness of the water and mud resistant rock mass. The research results show that (1) the seepage pressure and displacement in the water and mud resistant rock mass decrease and increase respectively along the water and mud resistant rock mass from top to bottom in the process of water inrush. (2) The displacement and seepage pressure in the water and mud-resistant rock mass increases with the increase of the joint inclination angle. The greater the tunnel depth and thickness of the water and mud-resistant rock mass, the faster the propagation speed of the fissure zone. (3) With the increase of the water and mud-resistant rock mass thickness, the failure mode of the tunnel outburst layer structure gradually changes from the overall collapse to the partial collapse of the vault to form a relatively stable slump arch. The research results can provide some guidance for tunnel construction in the karst tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal and gas outbursts can lead to serious disasters in coal mines. The drilling of boreholes to predrain the gas is an effective measure for preventing such accidents. However, due to the complexity of the geological situation, the drilling trajectory often deviates from the design trajectory, resulting in poor gas extraction. To solve the problem of gas drainage borehole deflection, an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model is established based on geological factors, technical factors, and human factors. The AHP model is used to rank the weights of various influencing factors, and the analysis is combined with a drilling model and engineering examples. Finally, the results show that soft and hard interlayers are the most important factors affecting the deflection of the borehole. The rock drilling model is mainly affected by the formation forces. The regularity of the change in the azimuth angle during drilling is not obvious when the angle of the encountered layer is less than some critical value. When the borehole is skewed downward, the deflection angle ranges from 0 to 4°, and the deflection of the borehole occurs mainly at the interface of the rock layers. When the angle of the encountered layer is greater than the critical value, the borehole is skewed upward, with a deflection angle of 0–6°, and the deflection occurs at the rock interface. The trajectory curve obtained by theoretical predictions from field data is found to be consistent with that of an actual project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aims to analyze the principles of integrated technology of explosion to tackle the problems of coal seam high gas content and pressure, developed faults, complex structure, low coal seam permeability, and high outburst risk. Based on this, we found through numerical simulation that as the inclination of the coal seam increases, the risk of coal and gas outburst increases during the tunneling process. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures to reduce the risk of coal and gas outburst. We conducted field engineering experiments. Our results show that the synergistic antireflection technology of hydraulic fracturing and deep-hole presplitting blasting has a significant antireflection effect in low-permeability coal seams. After implementing this technology, the distribution of coal moisture content was relatively uniform and improved the influence range of direction and tendency. Following 52 days of extraction, the average extraction concentration was 2.9 times that of the coal seam gas extraction concentration under the original technology. The average scalar volume of single hole gas extraction was increased by 7.7 times. Through field tests, the purpose of pressure relief and permeability enhancement in low-permeability coal seams was achieved. Moreover, the effect of gas drainage and treatment in low-permeability coal seams was improved, and the applicability, effectiveness, and safety of underground hydraulic fracturing and antireflection technology in low-permeability coal seams were verified. The new technique is promising for preventing and controlling gas hazards in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with the increases in coal mining depths, the risk of coal seam outburst occurrences has increased. Therefore, it is of major significance to study the multiscale structures of soft and hard coal deposits in order to prevent and control the coal and gas outbursts. In this research investigation, soft and hard coal multiscale structures were comprehensively examined using various laboratory methods. The results revealed the following: (1) From a macrostructural aspect, the physical and mechanical properties of the soft coal were weaker than those of the hard coal. It was found that the majority of the examined specimens were characterized by scaly structures without blocks larger than 50 mm. The hard coal was observed to be mainly massive with only a small part being clastic. Therefore, the structural characteristics were considered to be stable. (2) From a microstructural perspective, the surfaces of the soft coal specimens were observed to be rough. The pores were found to be more developed, with the edge of pores being mainly hackly. At the same time, fractures were also relatively developed, showing good connectivity. (3) From a micropore structural perspective, it was found that the BET-specific surface areas and BJH-specific surface areas of the soft coal specimens were higher than those of the hard coal specimens, which indicated that the gas adsorption and diffusion migration abilities of the soft coal were greater than those of the hard coal. (4) It was suggested from the study results that the ventilation and gas extraction processes should be strengthened in the mining activities of coal seams with high, soft stratification content. At the same time, the methods used for water injection modification should be enhanced in order to improve the mechanical stability of soft coal. Consequently, the instantaneous released gases will be decelerated, and the occurrences of coal and gas outburst events in mine working faces can be prevented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal and gas outburst is an important risk faced by coal seam mining in the Huainan region of China. In order to control gas outburst, the gas is predrained by digging a floor gas drainage roadway. To study deformation due to dynamic pressure, the failure characteristics of the floor, and their effect on the stability of the floor gas drainage roadway, a comprehensive monitoring method combining Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry- (BOTDR-) distributed fiber optics and self-potential exploration was adopted. Dynamic data monitoring of the rock strata between the 11123 working face floor and the floor gas drainage roadway of a mine in Huainan was carried out. The field data obtained showed that, when stabilized by rock bolts and other fixed components in the surrounding rock mass of the floor gas drainage roadway, under the influence of mining, the area of concentrated stress appeared at a depth of 20.7 m, when cracks eventually formed, but the overall structural stability of the surrounding rock mass remained good. The stress distribution and crack evolution of the bottom plate under the influence of dynamic pressure showed spatiotemporal characteristics. Of these, the effect of the lead support stress was 107.48 m, and the range of effect of the hysteresis stress was 34.42 m. When the working face mining position arrives and is far from the monitoring station, the failure depth of floor rock stratum shows the following rule: unchanged in the early stage, deepened continuously in the middle stage, and finally remained stable. It takes about eight days for the dynamic adjustment of this process to finally stabilize. The results of this study can provide guidance for devising suitable procedures for carrying out intelligent green safety mining and for warning about the hazards of roadway damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal and gas outburst is an important risk faced by coal seam mining in the Huainan region of China. In order to control gas outburst, the gas is predrained by digging a floor gas drainage roadway. To study deformation due to dynamic pressure, the failure characteristics of the floor, and their effect on the stability of the floor gas drainage roadway, a comprehensive monitoring method combining Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry- (BOTDR-) distributed fiber optics and self-potential exploration was adopted. Dynamic data monitoring of the rock strata between the 11123 working face floor and the floor gas drainage roadway of a mine in Huainan was carried out. The field data obtained showed that, when stabilized by rock bolts and other fixed components in the surrounding rock mass of the floor gas drainage roadway, under the influence of mining, the area of concentrated stress appeared at a depth of 20.7 m, when cracks eventually formed, but the overall structural stability of the surrounding rock mass remained good. The stress distribution and crack evolution of the bottom plate under the influence of dynamic pressure showed spatiotemporal characteristics. Of these, the effect of the lead support stress was 107.48 m, and the range of effect of the hysteresis stress was 34.42 m. When the working face mining position arrives and is far from the monitoring station, the failure depth of floor rock stratum shows the following rule: unchanged in the early stage, deepened continuously in the middle stage, and finally remained stable. It takes about eight days for the dynamic adjustment of this process to finally stabilize. The results of this study can provide guidance for devising suitable procedures for carrying out intelligent green safety mining and for warning about the hazards of roadway damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the influence of deep high stress, geothermal heat, and other factors, the law of desorption of methane in coal seams is more complicated in the process of mining deep coal seams, which is prone to methane over-limit, coal and gas outburst, and other accidents. In order to study the desorption characteristics of coalbed methane under different loading and temperature conditions, the desorption tests at different deformation stages of coal containing methane were carried out in the process of loading-adsorption-desorption-reloading until the coal sample was destroyed by using the seepage-adsorption-desorption test system on coal and rock mass, and the test programs were different combinations of gas pressure 1.2 MPa, two kinds of confining pressure, and three kinds of temperature. The results show that the cumulative methane desorption amount corresponding to each deformation stage presents a convex parabolic increase trend with the increase in desorption time, while the desorption rate presents a power function decay trend. Under the condition of the same desorption time, the cumulative methane desorption amount from large to small is residual deformation stage, compaction stage, near the peak stress, plastic deformation stage, and elastic deformation stage. Under the same confining pressure, temperature, and methane pressure, the maximum desorption rate from large to small is residual deformation stage, near the peak stress, plastic deformation stage, compaction stage, and elastic deformation stage. The desorption and diffusion of methane are promoted under the higher temperature and lower confining pressure, which presents a certain mechanism of promoting desorption. The thermal movement of methane molecules is intensified with the increase in temperature, and the adsorption effect between methane molecules and the molecules at the surface of the coal is weakened. The cumulative methane desorption amount and the maximum desorption rate increase with the increase in temperature. The cumulative methane desorption in the residual deformation stage is obviously greater than that in other deformation stages. The increase in confining pressure inhibits the development and expansion of pore fractures in raw coal specimen and hinders the increase in the effective desorption surface area. The cumulative methane desorption amount and the maximum desorption rate decrease with the increase in confining pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]