Study of abutment pressure zone formation in the system of "paired drifts"

The paper presents comprehensive studies of abutment pressure formation zones in the geotechnical system of "paired drifts", including numerical simulation based on the finite element method. For the simulation, the Mohr - Coulomb elastic-plastic model was used, as well as physico-mechanical properties of coal and host rocks. The simulation was carried out for specific mining and geological conditions of k2 anthracite seam occurrence. In a software module, several stages were simulated, allowing to determine magnitude of stresses and displacements of the roof in stopes at various stages of abutment pressure formation in front of the advancing stoping face. As a result of the simulation, the values of the stresses and displacements of the roof in the rock mass around the stopes at various stages of the development of the abutment pressure formation zones were obtained, enabling using the experimental design method to optimize the parameters of adjustable pillar (as support structure). These studies are aimed at improving efficiency of stope protection by optimizing the parameters of protective support structures (adjustable pillars) to increase productivity of the stoping face during excavation of flat-lying anthracite seams, including rockburst-dangerous ones.