Experimental research and application of automatically formed roadway without advance tunneling

Abstract Longwall mining is a widely used coal mining method in underground engineering, in which a considerable roadway tunnelling is required. This makes it difficult for the roadway surrounding rock control. In order to realize the safety of coal mining and also economic impact, a new mining method called automatically formed roadway (AFR) without advance tunnelling is proposed. The S1201-II working face of the Ningtiaota Coal Mine is used as an engineering background to explore this method. We conduct numerical comparisons between the AFR and the traditional mining methods. The mining pressure distribution and evolution of the two mining methods under the influence factors of different pillar width, in-situ stress level, roof cutting height, and angle are systematically analyzed. Furthermore, a geo-mechanical model test system for the new mining method is independently developed. In order to clarify the control mechanism of the AFR surrounding rock, the model test is performed. Corresponding engineering suggestions are then proposed according to the results of the numerical simulations and geo-mechanics model test. The in-situ application results show that the new mining method satisfies the surrounding rock control requirement.