Study of electromagnetic characteristics of stress distribution and sudden changes in the mining of gob-surrounded coal face

The incidence of dynamic coal or rock disasters is closely related to the distribution of stress in the surrounding rock. Our experiments show that electromagnetic radiation (EMR) signals are related to the state of stress of a coal body. The higher the stress, the more intense the deformation and fractures of a coal body and the stronger the EMR signals. EMR signals reflect the degrees of concentrated stress of a coal body and danger of a rock burst. We selected EMR intensity as the test index of the No.237 gob-surrounded coal face in the Nanshan coal mine. We tested the EMR characteristics of the stress distribution on the strike, on the incline and in the interior of the coal body. The EMR rule of rock bursts, caused by sudden changes in stress, is analyzed. Our research shows that EMR technology can be not only used to test qualitatively the stress distribution of the surrounding rock, but also to predict a possible occurrence of rock burst. Based on this, effective distress measures are used to eliminate or at least weaken the incidence of rock bursts. We hope that safety in coalmines will be enhanced.