An essential stage of mine design is an estimation of the steps of the first and periodic roof caving in longwall mines. Generally, this is carried out using the field experience and can be much enhanced by numerical simulation. In this work, the finite-difference method was applied coupled with the continuum damage mechanics (CDM) approach to simulate the stress-strain evolution of the rock mass with the underground opening during coal extraction. The steps and stages of roof caving were estimated relying on the numerical simulation data, and they were compared with the field data from several operating mines in the south of the Kuznetsk Basin, Russia. The dependence of the first roof caving step in simulation linearly correlates with field data. The results correspond to the actual roofs of longwall panels of the flat-dipping coal seams and the average rate of face advancement is approximately 5 m/day.

A general model and a unified mathematical formalism are proposed for description of inelastic deformation and fracture of any solids, where brittle or plastic, as their evolution in effective force...

Longwall mining is one of the most widespread methods globally. During the preliminary development of the working, the coal seam is sectioned into panels divided by protective pillars. The pillars are necessary for maintaining the service life of underground mines, a highly productive stope, and personnel safety. In this work, we apply the finite-difference continuum damage mechanics approach to modeling the stress–strain evolution of the rock mass during the extraction of two adjacent longwall panels of an inclined seam. A new modification of the damage accumulation kinetic equation is proposed. The numerical-modeling approach accounts for an explicit number of numerous factors affecting the rock mass behavior. These factors are gravity forces, lithology, tectonic stresses, natural discontinuities, geotechnical, and mining parameters. When the model parameters are calibrated against the in situ observations, the results of the numerical-modeling approach provide a reliable basis for a pillar stability assessment. We build a structural model of a rock mass containing an underground working based on a simplified stratigraphy of the Kondomsky deposit, Kuznetsk coal basin, Russia. Based on the results of the numerical modeling, the stability of a pillar is analyzed. A new numerical technique extending the classical approach to the stability analysis is proposed and verified against the field data.

A phenomenological jerky flow model was developed in which macroscale plastic strain rates are defined by dislocation kinetics. The model takes into account destructive processes governed by shear and bulk defect accumulation. At the heart of the model lie equations of solid mechanics and relaxation-type constitutive equations. A loaded elastoplastic solid is treated as a nonlinear dynamic system whose evolution, according to synergetic laws, is much contributed by negative and positive feedbacks expressed, respectively, through constitutive equations of the first group (relaxation equations) and constitutive equations of the second group (kinetic equations for deformation defect and damage accumulation rates). The negative feedback stabilizes deformation by relaxation, bringing the process to some local dynamic equilibrium. The positive feedback destabilizes deformation, driving the system to a critical state. Numerical experiment was performed in 2D and 3D statements. Statistical analysis of stress fluctuations about the average trend shows that the jerky flow model of an elastoplastic medium demonstrates evolution characteristic of nonlinear dynamic systems: through states of dynamic chaos and self-organized criticality to a global catastrophe.

Intensive mining activity has highlighted the need to study the dynamics of rock mass elements and to assess the degree of their nonequilibrium. The roof, floor, pillars, gateways, and so on are in a...