Cooperative Control Mechanism of Long Flexible Bolts and Blasting Pressure Relief in Hard Roof Roadways of Extra-Thick Coal Seams: A Case Study

Abstract

The higher strength of a hard roof leads to higher coal pressure during coal mining, especially under extra-thick coal seam conditions. This study addresses the hard roof control problem for extra-thick coal seams using the air return roadway 4106 (AR 4106) of the Wenjiapo Coal Mine as a case study. A new surrounding rock control strategy is proposed, which mainly includes 44 m deep-hole pre-splitting blasting for stress releasing and flexible 4-m-long bolt for roof supporting. Based on the new support scheme, field tests were performed. The results show that roadway support failure in traditional scenarios is caused by insufficient bolt length and extensive rotary subsidence of the long cantilever beam of the hard roof. In the new proposed scheme, flexible 4-m-long bolts are shown to effectively restrain the initial expansion deformation of the top coal. The deflection of the rock beam anchored by the roof foundation are improved. Deep-hole pre-splitting blasting effectively reduces the cantilever distance of the “block B” of the voussoir beam structure. The stress environment of the roadway surrounding rock is optimized and anchorage structure damage is inhibited. The results provide insights regarding the safe control of roadway roofs under extra-thick coal seam conditions.