Rational Design of Supports in Coal Mines

Abstract

The need to maintain mine excavations stable during the period of their utilization requires the integration of studies on geomechanical characterization, mining methods, and the corresponding economic implications. For coal mines, the sedimentary type of ground and their poor geomechanical properties complicate the solution of that problem.

ln order to implement the selection of supports in the Germunde Coai Mine an extensive research program was developed, under the sponsorship of the European Community of Coal and Steel, which led to several interesting results.

It was found that a good correlation exists between the cavitie's velocity of convergence, the geomechanical properties of the surrounding rocks and the density of support to be applied.

ln consequence of these investigations, a support selection criterion is described with the purpose of stabilizing new mine excavations, which seems to provide safety and economic benefits.