The large‐scale mining of coal resources promotes the formation of section coal pillar groups between working faces. The overlying strata are supported by coal pillars, which leads to the formation of a unique fracture‐bearing structure in the key stratum, resulting in the evolution of fissures (cracks) and a generally high load on the supports. Studying the fracture‐bearing structure formed by coal pillars and overlying strata (fissures) is the basis for realizing rational mining of working faces. Here, the evolution characteristics of coal pillar‐overburden rock (fissures) in shallow coal seam mining and the working resistance of the support with stable fracture bearing structure of section coal pillar and overburden rock were studied in the No. 1‐2 coal mining of Longhua Coal Mine in Shenmu City, Northern Shaanxi. The fissure evolution characteristics on both sides of the coal pillar and the fracture‐bearing structure of the rock stratum were obtained by physical similarity simulation experiment. The mechanical calculation model of the coal pillar‐overburden rock (fissure) structure was established by theoretical derivation and calculation, and the working resistance of advanced support with a stable mechanical structure was studied. The research shows that the fracture evolution and rock fracture characteristics of a shallow coal seam mining face can be divided into three zones. Through the reanalysis of the mechanical structure of coal pillar‐overburden rock (fissure), the combined mechanical structure of the subkey stratum consisting of a lagging broken step rock beam structure and the main key stratum consisting of a hinged rock beam structure was obtained. Combined with the failure characteristics of the section coal pillar, a mechanical structure calculation method suitable for the bearing characteristics of section coal pillar support in shallow coal buried layers was obtained, and the field measurement results were verified.

To study the deformation and failure mechanisms of soft rock mining roadways, the 1506 return airway of Anyang Coal Mine is taken as the engineering background. Based on limit analysis theory, a failure model based on a rigid slider system is constructed to assess the failure of the soft rock surrounding a roadway. The formulas for calculating the self-weight power of the slider in the velocity discontinuity line of the rock surrounding the roadway, the work power of the surrounding rock pressure, and the energy dissipation rate of the velocity discontinuity line are derived, and the upper limit objective function of the velocity discontinuity line height is obtained. The failure characteristics and fracture evolution process of the surrounding rock under different mining stresses are analyzed by means of physical similarity simulations. The simulation results show that shear failure occurs first on the roadway side due to stress concentration. The fissures expand along the bottom angle of the roadway to the blind support area and the low-intensity support area. The cracks weaken the support strength of the angled anchor cable and bolt in the roadway shoulder. Under the action of roof pressure, the status of the rock mass inside and outside the shear slip zone changes from static to dynamic. This causes deformation and failure of the roadway roof, side, and floor.

Shallow coal seam mining makes the evolution form of mining fissures in rock and soil layers diversified, which leads to the easy penetration of mining fissures as the main channel of water, sand inrush, and air leakage. In order to reveal the co-evolution mechanism of broken rock beam structure and mining fissures in key strata, taking Hanjiawan Coal Mine as the research background, the relationship between mining fissures and rock beam structure, fissure activation period, propagation characteristics, and connectivity of working face was studied by means of field observation, physical similarity simulation, and theoretical derivation. The research shows that the fracture structure of key strata in shallow coal seam mining mainly includes hinged rock beam and step rock beam structures. Through the analysis of the rock beam structure, we found that the types of mining fissures in the overlying strata of key strata were up and down I-I and I-II mining fissures, and the heights of fissure development were 44.38 m and 98.35 m, respectively. The key block rotation made the mining fissures undergo five dynamic activation processes. The calculation formula of the fissure activation cycle was established, and the rock breaking angle, mining fracture lag distance, and fissure penetration discriminant were obtained and verified by field measurement results.

Shallow coal seam mining results in the formation of various bearing structures in key strata, leading to varying degrees of surface subsidence and severe disruption to the surface ecological environment. To investigate the coupled evolution characteristics of key strata fracture-bearing structures and surface subsidence in shallow coal seam mining, with a focus on the 1–2 coal seam mining at Longhua Coal Mine in northern Shaanxi as the research background, this study employed physical similarity simulation to establish the correlation between key strata fracture-bearing structures and surface subsidence. The study also utilized theoretical calculations to develop models for the trapezoidal hinged arch structure and the coupling between key strata-bearing structures and surface subsidence. Mechanical properties of bearing structures and the coupled evolution characteristics of surface subsidence were examined, and the scientific validity of the models was verified through field monitoring. The research reveals that the inclined section of the working face in shallow coal seam mining forms a trapezoidal hinged arch structure, where stress transmission actually resembles an arch shape. Based on the fracture characteristics of rock strata, this structure can be categorized into three types: a full-trapezoidal hinged arch structure, a semi-trapezoidal hinged arch structure, and a trapezoidal-like hinged arch structure. A mechanical calculation model for the trapezoidal hinged arch structure was constructed, and the mechanical calculation formula for this structure was derived based on mechanical equilibrium conditions. Using a masonry beam mechanical model, the formula for calculating the subsidence of key blocks in the key strata fracture was obtained. Based on the “masonry beam” mechanical model, a formula was derived to calculate the subsidence of key blocks in fractured key strata. The relationship between key strata-bearing structures and surface subsidence curves was analyzed, leading to the development of a calculation model for both. This model reveals the coupled evolution between rock movement and surface subsidence. Field measurements indicate a maximum surface subsidence of 1.93 m, with a subsidence coefficient of 0.65, showing that the surface helps suppress and reduce the overall subsidence.

With the gradual increase in the mining depth of coal resources, the destruction of the rock structure of the inter-layered rock of the near coal seam under the influence of mining has led to the frequent occurrence of water-inrush disasters in mines, which seriously affects the safety of mine production and the safety of the people in the underground. Therefore, it is important to study the mechanism of the water inrush of the rock between the coal seams under the influence of mining to control the occurrence of water inrush disasters and protect the loss of groundwater resources. This paper takes the Hanjiawan coal mine with typical stratigraphic characteristics as the background for research and studies the structural characteristics of interlayer rock breakage and the solid–liquid coupling inrush water disaster mechanism during the mining of 2⁻² and 3⁻¹ coals. The study shows that according to the damage degree and destruction depth of the inter-layered rock caused by the mining of the upper and lower coal seams, combined with the slip line theory and the “three bands” collapse theory, the inter-layered rock is classified into a completely fractured inter-layer, a fractured–broken stacked inter-layer, and a fractured–broken–fractured combined inter-layered rock using $L\le h_m+H_{k2}{}^{\prime }$, $L>h_m+H_{k2}{}^{\prime }$, and $L\ge h_m+H_{li2}{}^{\prime }$ as the discriminating criteria. Combined with the structural classification of inter-layer rock and the discriminating criteria, we used similar simulation experiments and on-site research to analyze the evolution law and distribution characteristics of four types of inter-layer rock water-inrush fractures in different mines and put forward the classification of inter-layer rock water-inrush channels based on the width, length, and penetration of the fractures. Based on the characteristics of the water-inrush channel of inter-layer rock, we constructed the network-boundary inrush water calculation model of inter-layered rock and network-attach-boundary inrush water calculation model, solved the water movement of the water-inrush channel in the model by transforming the flat flow state, fracture to flow state, and pore-fracture flow state, and finally revealed the mechanism of the disaster by which water-inrush of inter-layer rocked was induced. Finally, we revealed its mechanism of inducing the inter-layer rock inrush water disaster. Our research enriches the theory and research ideas of the water-inrush disaster, provides theoretical support and a basis for the control of water-inrush disasters in similar conditions, and ensures the safe production of mines.

The mining of shallow coal seam groups triggers the activation of overlying strata, leading to increased pressure and support difficulties, thereby posing a threat to the safe extraction of underlying coal seams. Against the backdrop of Longhua Coal Mine, this study utilized physical similarity simulation experiments to obtain the activated, restructured load-bearing structure and the migration characteristics of overlying strata. Theoretical calculations were employed to establish both a rolling friction mechanics model for the activated load-bearing structure and a mechanical model for the combined load-bearing structure of key strata. The research indicates that during the initial activation phase, the load-bearing structure exhibits a V-shaped hinged arch, with directly collapsed rock masses transitioning towards spherical shapes, resulting in the sub-key strata shifting from sliding friction to rolling friction. Based on the rolling friction mechanics model of the activated load-bearing structure, we derived the rolling friction coefficient of key blocks in the sub-key strata and the instability criterion of the load-bearing structure under rolling friction conditions. Considering the migration characteristics of the activated restructured load-bearing structure, four types of combined load-bearing structures were identified, and the load calculation formulas in the mechanical model were derived, with the rationality of these formulas verified through case analysis.