The Application of Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process for Thick Coal Seam Mining Methods in China

In China’s energy reserves and production, the thick coal seams account for almost 45 per cent of national coal resources. It is in dominant position for coal mining. At present, mining methods of thick coal seam include slicing, top coal caving and large cutting height. Although these methods have achieved great development and applied in many mining area, there are subjectivity and one-sideness in the process of mining methods selection, various factors are not considered, therefore, mining method that is final determined can not be fully convinced, it will bring some dangers to mining, and cause hazardous accidents. In order to solve these problems, four factors that affect selection of mining methods are presented in this paper, the evaluation model of thick coal seam mining methods are constructed based on Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process. This model is more scientitic and reasonable than traditonal choice in coal mining. It can not only enhance recovery rate of coal resource, decrease accident of coal mining, but also ensure steady growth of social economy. In this paper, FAHP model is applied in shendong mining area to evaluate 7~9m thick coal seam mining methods, and achieving satisfactory