Safe roof thickness and span of stope under complex filling body

• Published in: Journal of Central South University 2013-12, Vol.20 (12), p.3641-3647
• Main Authors: Luo, Zhou-quan, Xie, Cheng-yu, Jia, Nan, Yang, Biao, Cheng, Gui-hai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Engineering; Metallic Materials
• ISSN: 2095-2899; 2227-5223
• DOI: 10.1007/s11771-013-1891-2

Longhole caving method was used to mine gently inclined thick orebody step by step in a test stope of tin mine under complex filling body. The problem that the complex filling body around the stope affects the stability of roof thickness, chamber and spacer pillar in actual mining was investigated; meanwhile, the formed goaf during mining is so vulnerable that surrounding rock collapses early. Based on this point, elasticity mechanics and limit span theory were used to study separately the roof thickness and the span limit of goaf formed in mining, and then a reasonable roof thickness of 8 m and goaf span of 14 m are proposed. In addition, the stability of roof thickness, chamber and spacer pillar were investigated and analyzed by using numerical analysis method; meanwhile, the field monitoring on the displacement of caving chamber was conducted. The results show that the maximum compressive stress of surrounding rock is 20 MPa, and the maximum tensile stress is 1.2 MPa, which is less than the ultimate tensile strength of 2.4 MPa. Moreover, plastic zone has little influence on stope stability. In addition, the displacement of 11 mm is also smaller. The displacement monitoring results are consistent with the numerical results. Thus, the roof thickness and span of goaf proposed are safe.