Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia

Title: APPLICATION OF EQUIVALENT MATERIALS TO MODELING FRACTURES IN THE VICINITY OF A NORMAL FAULT IN THE AREA OF MINING EXPLOITATION INFLUENCE
Authors: Wang Pu, Jiang Lishuai and Zheng Pengqiang
DOI: 10.13168/AGG.2017.0027
Journal: Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia, Vol. 14, No. 4 (188), Prague 20170
Full Text: PDF file (1.1 MB)
Keywords: Equivalent materials Physical simulation test Fault activation Mining-induced fracture
Abstract: The study of mining-induced behaviors of faults and strata in underground coalmines is significant to know the mechanism and prediction of some accidents (i.e., water inrush, gas flowing and outburst). Equivalent materials are applied herein in an underground project to simulate a progressive mining operation with a normal fault occurrence. The failure–movement evolution of the overlying strata and the stress–displacement evolution of the fault are studied through a physical simulation test. The formation of a mining-induced fracture and the mechanism of accidents caused by the mining-induced fracture are analyzed. The results show that the footwall strata underwent a more notable movement compared to the hanging wall strata. Hence, the mining-induced fracture height of the footwall is higher than that of the hanging wall. The effect of the fault can be observed on the mining-induced fracture evolution of the footwall, hanging wall, and fault plane. The developed patterns of the fracture channel successively present an evolution in the shape of a “saddle”, a “trapezium”, and an “M”. The causes of accidents induced by the mining fracture are also discussed.