Effects of gully terrain on stress field distribution and ground pressure behavior in shallow seam mining

This study proposes a novel approach to study stress field distribution and overlying ground pressure behavior in shallow seam mining in gully terrain. This approach combines numerical simulations and field tests based on the conditions of gully terrain in the Chuancao Gedan Mine. The effects of gully terrain on the in situ stress field of coal beds can be identified by the ratio of self-weight stress to vertical stress (η) at the location corresponding to the maximum vertical stress. Based on the function η = f(h), the effect of gully terrain on the stress field of overlying strata of the entire field can be characterized as a significantly affected area, moderately affected area, or non-affected area. Working face 6106 in the Chuancao Gedan Mine had a coal bed depth <80 m and was located in what was identified as a significantly affected area. Hence, mining may cause sliding of the gully slope and increased loading (including significant dynamic loading) on the roof strata. Field tests suggest that significant dynamic pressures were observed at the body and foot of the gully slope, and that dynamic loadings were observed upslope of the working face expansion, provided that the expanding direction of the working face is parallel to the gully.