Determination of working resistance based on movement type of the first subordinate key stratum in a fully mechanized face with large mining height

Abstract

The increase in extraction height will increase the mining-induced overlying strata failure height. In this scenario, the strata pressure behavior is strong in a fully mechanized face with large mining height (FMFLMH), which frequently causes coal wall falls, roof falls, and hydraulic support failure accidents (e.g., support closure and hydraulic column damage). The key to solving these issues is to determine support's working resistance of the FMFLMH. In this paper, comprehensive theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and field observation were applied to determine the support's working resistance in the FMFLMH based on movement type of the first subordinate key stratum (SKS 1). First, six kinds of movement types of SKS 1 in the FMFLMH are found and defined by theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, which are the direct caving movement type of cantilever structure (direct caving), the double-sided rotation movement type of cantilever structure (double-side rotation), the quadratic rotation movement type of cantilever structure (quadratic rotation), the alternative movement type of cantilever structure hinged structure (alternate hinged), the voussoir beam structure movement type (voussoir), and the short voussoir beam structure movement type (short voussoir), respectively. Besides, based on this, the support load calculation model of each movement type was established, and a formula for the support working resistance of each movement type was obtained. Finally, the correctness of the formulae for the support working resistance under six types of movement of SKS 1 were verified using measurement data from four FMFLMHs in China. These research results have important guiding significance for reasonable selection of support and ensuring safe mining of the FMFLMH.