Research on gob‐side entry‐retaining technology with coal rib and corner strengthened support in soft rock strata.

The gob‐side entry‐retaining by roof cutting and pressure relief (GERRC) method is an advanced no‐pillar mining method that can significantly improve coal recovery and reduce roadway accidents. However, according to case studies, there is relatively little research on the application of the GERRC method in geological conditions of soft rock formations (especially when the roof and floor are both mudstone), and such research is needed. Therefore, based on the typical soft strata of the Xinyi Coal Mine, this paper analyzes the failure mechanism of the roadways and proposes the GERRC method with coal rib and corner strengthened support (CRCSS). The evaluation indexes of the roof convergence rate and cable safety margin are established, and the effects of roof cutting and CRCSS on roadway deformation control are explored by a numerical comparison test. The results show that roof cutting has a limited effect on roadway deformation. The deformation can be reduced by 75.77% by implementing CRCSS on the basis of GERRC. Then, the evolution characteristics of roadway stress and deformation in the process of mining are further discussed through field contrast tests. The field application results show that compared with that of GERRC with conventional support, the surrounding rock deformation of GERRC with CRCSS is reduced by more than 55%, the safety margin of the cable is improved. The overpressure of the hydraulic prop is diminished, and the stability distance of the roadway is reduced by approximately 30%. Finally, this paper discusses the mechanism to control roadway deformation by CRCSS. This research expounds the rationality of CRCSS, and the results can provide a reference for other situations with similar geological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]