Microseismic Monitoring and Numerical Simulation Research of Floor Failure Depth in Extra-Thick Coal Seam

Based on the condition of fully mechanized caving face in one mine, two methods of microseismic monitoring and numerical analysis were combined to study the evolution characteristics and development law of floor failure depth in extra-thick coal seam. Microseismic monitoring results show that the number of microseismic events partly reflects the influence of mining disturbance in the roof and floor rock mass. The distribution of microseismic events are intensive near the coal mining face, which show the floor rock mass is seriously damaged during the coal mining. The greatest floor failure depth estimated from mine microseismic monitoring is 31 meters. Numerical analysis indicate that the rock stress around the mine stope is redistributed during the coal mining, due to the effect of mining disturbance. The abutment pressure increases in front of the coal mining face and the stress reduces in the mined areas. The concentration and release of the stress makes contribution to the destroy of the floor rock. The maximum floor failure depth is up to 28 meters calculated from numerical simulation. The consistency of microseismic monitoring results and numerical analysis improve that it is effective and reliable to obtain floor failure depth and considerably possible to predict the water inrush using microseismic monitoring technology with its inherent ability to remotely monitor the progressive failure caused by mining. The research results have great popularization and application values for the similar mine.