Investigation of Stochastic Fluctuation Spreading through a Longwall Gob

Abstract

We considered a problem of random fluctuation spreading in complex multilayer rock strata during longwall extraction of a coal seam at a great depth. This issue is urgent because it is not easy to forecast harmful and dangerous events in underground environment having extremely uncertain geologic structure and variation of the rock properties. This paper aimed to investigate the process of the rock property random fluctuation to understand if it is possible to forecast the state of the longwall and ground pressure distribution in the gob in particular. We used a numerical computer simulation of the stress-strain redistribution during the longwall advance. The computer models were verified by the results of the ground pressure experimental monitoring in situ. We investigated the distributions of the fluctuation disturbance and revealed the underlying patterns that follow a simple and complex system. We concluded that it is possible to forecast the harmful situation during longwalling but it is need to select a direct and simple chain of cause-effects. We developed efficient proactive technologies to control the longwall operations.