Determination by numerical modeling of stress-strain variations resulting from gallery cross-section changes in a longwall top coal caving panel

Abstract

As a major pillar of global energy production, coal mining requires continuous advancements in efficiency to contribute to the broader goal of energy sustainability, all the while the shift towards more sustainable energy sources is underway. Mechanized excavation systems employed in underground coal mines, particularly within the longwall mining method, enable high-tonnage coal production. The Longwall Top Coal Caving (LTCC) method, one of the longwall mining techniques, has been developed for the effective extraction of coal from thick coal seams. However, as mining operations delve deeper, various complex issues, such as gallery cross-sectional variation, emerge. Gallery cross-sectional variation can increase the risk of collapse by affecting the stress distribution in the rock mass, posing a threat to worker safety. This study centers on the numerical modeling and analysis of gallery cross-sectional variation in the Ömerler underground mine, operated by the Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKI), West Lignite Enterprise (GLI). To achieve this objective, an extensive database was established through field and laboratory rock mechanics studies. This database was then utilized in the Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua 3D (FLAC3D) (v6.0) program to simulate the cross-sectional variations of the A6 panel in the Ömerler underground mine. The numerical simulation results provide valuable insights into the secondary stress-deformation changes associated with gallery cross-sectional variation.