Numerical simulation study on the evolution characteristics of the stress induced by mining in deep adjacent working faces

Abstract Background The mining-induced stress in the surrounding rock after coal seam mining is the primary cause of damage and failure of the surrounding rock in the mining area. However, the magnitude and direction of the stress field induced by mining in the overburden strata during the excavation process of deep and adjacent coal seams are not yet clear, and it is difficult to determine how adjacent working faces interact with each other. Results In this study, a large-scale numerical model was built using FLAC3D (Fast Lagrange Analysis Continua) to simulate the sequential mining process of three adjacent working faces (No.1, No.2, and No.3) in Liuzhuang Coal Mine located in southern China. The results showed that the maximum height of plastic zone development after mining in the No.1 working face was 41 m, and the maximum height of plastic zone development was 33.8 m away from the 13 coal seam. It did not affect the top and bottom of the No.3 working face. The development height of the plastic zone on the roof of the No.2 working face after mining was 52m, and the top and bottom plates of the No.3 working face remained intact. The plastic zone of the floor of the No.3 working face after mining was not communicated with the plastic zone of the roof of the No.1 and No.2 working faces. There was a complete rock layer between the two coal seams, and there was not the mutual influence of the mining activities. During the mining process of working faces No.1 and No.2, the range of dynamic pressure influence was extended up to 100m ahead of the working face. During the mining process of the No.3 working face, the range of dynamic pressure influence was 120 m ahead of the working face. The No.1 working face goaf and the mining of No.2 working face had not disturbance to the No.3 working face. Conclusions After the mining of No.1 and No.2 working faces, the stress in the goaf significantly decreased, and the lateral support stress concentration area of No.1 and No.2 working faces had a relatively small impact on the 13 coal seam. Therefore, the No.1 goaf and mining of No.2 working faces had not disturbance to No.3 working face.