Evaluation and Comparison of Rock Bolting Versus Steel Arch Support Systems in Thick Coal Seam Underground Galleries: a Case Study

Abstract

This study investigates the feasibility of rock bolting support in an underground coal mine gallery with a thick coal seam. The & Ouml;merler underground coal mine working area, owned by the West Lignite Enterprise (GLI) of the Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKI), was selected for this purpose. Longwall top coal caving (LTCC) is implemented as the production method in the & Ouml;merler underground coal mine. Field and laboratory studies were conducted to determine rock mass and rock material properties, followed by experimental, empirical, and numerical analyses based on the acquired data. The obtained design results were evaluated using a resin-grouted rebar (RBR) rock bolting system and steel arch support (SAS) pilot application areas. The numerical modeling results conducted using the Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua 3D (FLAC 3D) (v6.0) program indicated less displacement and secondary stress change in the RBR-supported zone compared to the SAS-supported zone. In situ measurements also demonstrated that RBR provided more successful support to the roof during coal production activities. The findings suggest that RBR is a more effective solution when evaluating the feasibility of rock bolting support systems in underground galleries with thick coal seams at the & Ouml;merler underground coal mine. This study emphasizes the importance of more sustainable and safe support systems to enhance operational efficiency in the coal mining industry.