Overburden Behavior and Coal Wall Spalling Characteristics Under Large-Mining-Height Conditions
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Large-mining-height technology has been increasingly applied in thick seam mining to enhance productivity and resource recovery. However, it also intensifies strata pressure and complicates surrounding rock control, leading to greater overburden movement, stronger roof weighting, and severe coal wall spalling. Taking the 12306 working face of the Wangjialing Mine as a case, this study employs physical similarity experiments and UDEC numerical simulations to investigate the coupled mechanism of overburden migration and coal wall instability. Results show that abutment stress induces non-uniform deformation, while strata pressure changes directly govern spalling depth. Moreover, coal wall instability is strongly affected by multiple factors: greater burial depth intensifies crack propagation, larger mining height expands failure depth, larger mining step size extends the stress-affected zone, larger dip angle shifts failure upward, and lower support resistance weakens control capacity. These findings clarify the disaster mechanism of deep large-mining-height faces and provide theoretical and engineering guidance for optimizing support design and enhancing coal wall stability.
Source: Applied Sciences
DOI: 10.3390/app152212303
Authors: Wenze Fan, Lijun Han
Institution: China University of Mining and Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanics of Materials
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W4416407292