The development of cracks in mining is the scientific basis for the safety and environmental exploitation of shallow multiple-seam. According to the “thickness of coal seam, interactive distance, and buried depth,” four mining coal mines are selected in Shen Fu-Dong Sheng coalfield (SFDSC). To research the mining conditions of shallow coal seam under different base-load ratio mining conditions and different working faces by the physics simulation and in-sit measurement, the key roof caves are sketched by different colors. This study shows that the typical shallow coal seams in the thin overlying bedrock and thick loose sand layer (LSL) as well as the development of the setup entry cracks (SEC) is dominated by LSL arch damage. The surface cracks are almost directly above the setup entry. The flat seam mining and the SEC development is dominated by parabolic type. The surface cracks are located inside the setup entry. With the mining height increased typically in a shallow coal seam, the rate of crack development and the extent of damaged area increased significantly. The SEC and boundary cracks are fixed. The dynamic periodic cracks (DPC) show the ability of the strata to self-repair. During the multiple-seam mining, the above three kinds of cracks have the phenomenon of activation and development. Through the reasonable coal pillar distance arrangement, the development of boundary cracks can be effectively controlled and the relatively uniform surface settlement and crack closure can be achieved. The purpose of reducing damage mining can also be achieved. Furthermore, it provides scientific support for the green mining in the shallow coal seam.

The overburden movement of the large mining height working face of shallow buried thin bedrock (SBTB) is a complex engineering problem with “time-space-intension”, which is of great significance to realize efficient and safe mining in the northern Shaanxi mining area. Based on the research object of No. 22201 working face in Zhangjiamao Coal Mine, the roof structure characteristics of large mining height working face in SBTB are researched by field drilling measurement, laboratory test, physical and numerical simulation. The results show that: (1) Based on the measured data of the drillholes, it is concluded that under the mining conditions of SBTB with large mining height, the roof movement is ahead of the weighting of the working face, and the working resistance has a significant time effect. The advanced movement distance is about 20 m, which can be used as an early warning index of the weighting. The lag movement distance in the roof with horizon of 30 m is two periodic weighting intervals, which are about 26 m. (2) The first weighting interval of the working face is 32 m. The roof first break has obvious step sinking phenomenon, and the measured surface appears at a position 45 m away from the transport slot. It is statistically concluded that the periodic weighting interval is 9.5~16.5 m, the average weighting interval is 13 m, which is equivalent to the periodic dynamic crack spacing of the surface. (3) The results of field measurement and physical simulation show that the breaking angle of the roof of the No. 22201 large mining height is about 66°, and the periodic stepping distance of the T-junction suspension area is 6~8m. Along the strike of the working face, the roof breaking is mainly arc arched. The research results ensure the safe and green mining of shallow coal seam.

Because of the problem of gangue discharge and surface subsidence during coal mining, the current research on underground filling mainly focuses on the paste filling, solid filling, and grouting filling of the overburden separation layer after scaffolding. We proposed the technology of fluidization gangue grouting for filling the collapse area based on our previous research. The prediction method of residual space in the collapse area and the diffusion law of gangue fluidization filling slurry are two essential points for successfully implementing the technology and maximizing the use of goaf for gangue backfilling and reducing overburden settlement. To further explore the remaining space distribution law of the collapsed goaf in thick seam fully mechanized top coal caving mining and the effect of coal gangue fluidization filling, the caving goaf of the 3307 fully mechanized top coal caving face in Sangshuping No. 2 coal mine in the Weibei mining area was detected by the transient electromagnetic method. We studied the distribution law of the measured abnormal area in the caving goaf, which reflects the distribution law of the remaining space from one aspect. The coefficient of the remaining space was calculated to be 19.5%. Then, we applied COMSOL simulation software. The diffusion law of coal gangue fluidized slurry in the caving goaf was simulated and analyzed. It shows that the most obvious diffusion direction of the coal gangue slurry is the trend of the gradual expansion of the “cavity pore” multi-type residual space, indicating that with the increase in the diffusion distance, the diffusion resistance gradually increases, and the slurry morphology gradually presents the “claw” form. According to the space theory and fractal dimension theory, the prediction method of the remaining space in the caving goaf is given, and the design basis of the filling drilling parameters is determined. Finally, the field-filling test was carried out. The results show that the high- and low-level fluidized filling in the caving goaf can safely and efficiently handle the gangue in the mine, and the residual space characteristics and slurry diffusion law in the caving goaf are consistent with the above. The research results provide theoretical support for the fluidization filling technology of coal gangue in thick seam fully mechanized top coal caving areas.

Shallow buried close-distance coal seam (SBCCS) is widely found in northern Shaanxi, China. In the process of mining under the loess hilly area (LHA) in SBCCS, many accidents of strong ground pressure have occurred. Taking the in the Zhangjiamao Coal Mine as the background, this study revealed the mechanism of high ground pressure when the working face of lower coal seam passes through the surface loess hilly region. On-site measurements, physical similarity simulation, numerical calculation, and theoretical analysis were combined to study the mining process of SBCCS. The movement characteristics of the activated structure of the interval strata of the lower coal seam were analyzed. The dynamic load and the change pattern of the front abutment pressure (FAP) of the support during the loading stage of entering and exiting the loess hilly were determined. A coupled structural mechanics model of the overlying activated voussoir beam and the step voussoir beam rock beam of the interval strata was established, revealing the dynamic loading mechanism of strong ground pressure during passing through the LHA. The results showed that the dynamic load of the working face was the highest in areas affected by the load of the LHA, followed by the load while entering the LHA, the peak value of the FAP in the load-influenced LHA was high, which was approximately 1.12 times that after leaving the load-influenced LHA and 1.61 times that before entering this area. By establishing a mechanical model of the roof coupling structure when entering and exiting the load-influenced LHA, it was revealed that the dynamic load of the support while mining under the goaf in the LHA is mainly due to the synchronous movement of the activated structure of the collapsed roof of the upper coal seam and the interval rock structure. The load in the LHA was transmitted to the interval rock structure through the activated structure, resulting in a high dynamic load on the support. The study concluded that the determination of the support resistance of the working face should be based on the high-period compressive load of the synchronous movement of the roof structure in the LHA. Through the engineering practice of hydraulic fracturing, the roof structure of the interval strata is changed, which can effectively reduce the dynamic pressure disaster of the working face. The research provides a scientific basis for the safe and efficient mining of shallow coalfields, and it provides reference for similar mining.

The dynamic load effect of supports is mainly caused by the movement of the roof structure and the load transfer of overburden. In view of the practice issue that the phenomenon of strong ground pressure is easy to happen, when the working face of the lower coal seam passes the inclined coal pillar in shallow buried closely multiple-seam, it will lead to supprot damaged. This paper takes the mining of over-inclined coal pillars in the 22410 working face of the Bulianta Coal Mine as the background, based on the research method combining the field measurement, physical simulation experiment, and numerical calculation, the evolution law of the front abutment pressure (FAP) and roof weighting in mining under the inclined coal pillar is analyzed, and the mechanism of the stress transfer of the inclined coal pillar and the dynamic load of the support is revealed. The research shows that the concentrated stress of the coal pillar is jointly borne by the front coal wall of the working face and the interburden structure above the support. The vertical stress transmitted from the coal pillar to the floor acts on the key blocks of the interburden of the lower coal seam, which causes strong pressure and dynamic load effect, such as roof structure cut-off. The periodic breaking of the key stratum of the interburden leads to the development height and range of the cracks increasing stepwise. The partition characteristics of the mutual transformation of the interburden stress, the FAP, and the working resistance (WR) by passing the coal pillar stage are revealed, which is divided into three stages and four regions. With the working face passing through the inclined coal pillar, the influence area of the concentrated stress of the coal pillar is reduced, and the peak stress of the coal pillar is gradually transferred to the outside of the coal pillar. When the working face is 5 m away from the coal pillar, the peak of FAP and WR reaches the maximum values, the roof is cutting along the peak stress line, and the working face has a strong weighting phenomenon. The research results are consistent with the field measurement results, providing a reference for the mining of working faces under similar conditions.

The roof structure of the stope is the core of revealing the weighting mechanism and determining the working resistance of support. The Shenfu Dongsheng coal field of China has abundant reserves of shallow coal seam. The phenomena of strong ground pressure and step subsidence caused by the mining of shallow buried single key stratum (SBSKS) poses a serious threat to the fragile environment. Revealing the shape and movement process of roof structure of SBSKS is the primary prerequisite for ensuring safe mining of working face. Firstly, the field measurement technology of the space grid-like drill field was developed to construct vertical holes and incline holes in the auxiliary headgate gateway and tailgate airway ahead of the working face and to obtain the measured data of the broken position and vertical displacement of the roof by the drilling peep and multipoint displacement. Secondly, the key parameters of the stope roof were analyzed by the grid drillhole filed method, for example, the inclined roof break angle, the rotation angle, the thickness of equivalent immediate roof (EIR), and the roof structure-articulated level and shape. Then, we combined with the mining face comparison of compression laws revealing the time and space relationship between the movement of the roof structure and the roof weighting, and three more dangerous states of the roof were determined. Finally, the roof structure of SBSKS is moved upward through the field research on the 22201 working face, the “high step rock beam” structure and the advanced breaking position of the roof are obtained, and the calculation equation of the support resistance in large mining height face is given. The research results provide scientific guidance for the safety of SBSKS coal seam and provide technical support for green mining in ecologically fragile mining areas.