Taking Nanfen open-pit iron mine in Liaoning Province as the engineering background, this study analyzes the effect of water-rock circulation on the mechanical properties of rock through a combination of macro-mechanical experiments and microstructure tests in the laboratory. Uniaxial compression experiments and acoustic wave tests are used to determine the degradation law of the mechanical properties of chlorite under the periodic action of water. The experimental results show that dry-wet cycles have a continuous and gradual effect on the rock sampled: Its uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus, and acoustic velocity all decrease gradually with an increase in the number of cycles. After 15 wet-dry cycles, the uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus of the rock decreased by 34.21% and 44.63%, respectively. Electron microscope scans of the rock indicate that the particle size, characteristics, and pore distribution at the rock surface had changed significantly after water-rock interaction. Finally, a drainage system and sliding force monitoring devices have been arranged at the mine site that can effectively reduce the impact of water-rock interaction on the stability of the mine. This combination of macro-experiments and micro-analysis allowed the weakening effect of dry-wet cycles on slope rock to be studied quantitatively, providing a theoretical reference for stability evaluation in geotechnical engineering.

Aiming at the large deformation instability problem caused by the excavation unloading of a coal roadway in deep-buried slowly inclined jointed rock mass, the geomechanical parameters and deformation failure characteristics of an engineering geomechanical model were investigated. The in-situ stress state of the model was measured with the stress relief method. The geological and mechanical properties of roadway surrounding rock were described. The surrounding rock structure was revealed with the electron microscopy scanning method, micro-fractures and randomly distributed joints highly developed in roadway surrounding rock. Field investigation and monitoring indicated the cross-section of roadway surrounding rock shrank continuously and the deformation distribution was obviously asymmetric. Shotcrete spalling and cable broken failures frequently occurred in the middle and ride side of roof and right rib. Based on the geomechanical conditions of the coal roadway, a discrete element numerical model of coal roadway in gently inclined jointed rock mass was established. The parameters of rock mass in the numerical model were calibrated. The model ran in unsupported condition to restore the evolution process of stress, crack propagation and deformation in roadway surrounding rock due to gradual deviatoric stress release caused by excavation. On this basis, the space-time evolution characteristics and law of stress, crack propagation and deformation were obtained and then the asymmetric large fragmentation and dilatation deformation failure mechanism of roadway surrounding rock in deep-buried slowly inclined jointed rock mass was revealed. The failure reasons of the support structure were analyzed, and the relevant support principles were proposed. The research results can provide scientific references for the stability control of roadways excavated in jointed rock mass.

In order to reduce large deformation failure occurrences in non-pillar longwall mining entries due to roof weighting behaviors, a case study in Halagou coal mine was conducted on optimization and control techniques for entry stability in non-pillar longwall mining. The Universal Discrete Element Code (UDEC) modeling was adopted to study entry stability in non-pillar mining, and the characteristics of deformation and stress and crack propagation were revealed. The large deformation transmission between the entry-immediate roof and the gob-immediate roof could be eliminated by optimizing the entry roof structure through a directional roof-cutting method. The localized tensile stresses generated in the entry-surrounding rock caused the generation of coalescent macroscopic fractures, which resulted in the instability of the entry. The tensile stress state could be inhibited by an active flexible support system through enhancing the confining pressure on the surrounding rock. Serious rotation subsidence occurs in the entry roof due to periodic weighting of the main roof, which could be greatly reduced by a passive rigid support pattern. The numerical and field test results both showed that the roof weighting pressure was offloaded by the technique and that the deformation of the entry surrounding the rock in non-pillar mining was quite small. Thus, the technique can effectively ensure the stability of the gob-side entry, which can provide references for entry stability control in non-pillar longwall mining.

Research on underground coal mines has primarily focused on the stability of roadways. Mining activities lead to significant damage to the surrounding rocks and also degrade the support to the roadways. Considering the 21309 roadway of the Huojitu coal mine as a case study, this work comprehensively analyzed the characteristics of the surrounding rock using three methods: theoretical calculations, FLAC^3D numerical modeling, and field observations. The results indicate that, under the influence of secondary mining, the failure range and stress concentration degree of the surrounding rock are considerably higher than those under the influence of primary mining. In this case, the maximum damage range in the surrounding rock can reach 1.8 m, the maximum principal stress can reach 19.82 MPa, and the ratio of the maximum principal stress to the minimum principal stress can reach 1.95. According to the results, the previous support design for roadways was optimized and applied in the field. Field monitoring revealed that the roadway deformation was effectively controlled, and the optimized support design was safe and reliable. This study is expected to serve as a reference for support designs or optimization under similar geological conditions.