Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Exploring the Deformation Mechanics of Coal Ribs Using the Distinct Element Modeling Approach

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Understanding coal rib geomechanics is essential for improving rib stability and eliminating fatality and injury trends due to rib failures. There are presently no standardized rib control practices available in most countries. In light of this observed dearth, this investigation aims to improve understanding of rib failure mechanisms using the distinct element modeling (DEM) technique. DEM is chosen because of its superior advantage to explicitly represent discontinuities and their constitutive behaviors, besides that of the intact rock matrix. To analyze the rib stability, a numerical monitoring protocol is implemented to monitor the deformation characteristics of the coal rock mass as its strength is gradually reduced and the deformation and safety factors are established. A number of scenarios were considered in the modeling process, including a non-cleated rib, a cleated rib, and the interaction between support and coal mass. The main conclusions drawn from the study were that the rib failure process initiated with tensile and shear cracks which coalesced to form predominantly sub-parallel tensile fractures to the rib line; and joints and defects in the rib limit fracture development and propagation. The depth of fracture was found to be ~ 1.14 m for the cleated rib and ~ 1.40 m for the non-cleated rib. The depth of softening (DOS) for the cleated and non-cleated ribs was ~ 1.80 m and ~ 1.60 m, respectively. Also, the results demonstrated the capability of DEM-based bonded block models (BBM) in explicitly capturing the rock and support interactions which makes this solution to be suitable for investigating coal rib stability and support requirements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barton N, Shen B (2017) Risk of shear failure and extensional failure around over-stressed excavations in brittle rock. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 9(2):210–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bigby DN, Cassie J (2003) Stability and support of sides of mine roadways. HSE Books

    Google Scholar 

  • Cai M, Kaiser PK (2014) In-situ rock spalling strength near excavation boundaries. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47(2):659–675

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cala M, Flisiak J (2003) Complex geology slope stability analysis by shear strength reduction. FLAC and numerical modelling in geomechanics. AA Balkema Publishers, pp 99–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng YM, Lansivaara T, Wei WB (2007) Two-dimensional slope stability analysis by limit equilibrium and strength reduction methods. Comput Geotech 34(3):137–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christianson M, Board M, Rigby D (2006) UDEC simulation of triaxial testing of lithophysal tuff. The 41st US Symposium on Rock Mechanics (USRMS). American Rock Mechanics Association

    Google Scholar 

  • British Coal (1990) Development of geotechnical design software for roadways and support systems. Final Report on ECSC Research Project No. 7220-AB818.

  • British Coal (1992) Design of roof bolted roadways. Final Report on ECSC Research Project No. 7220-AB827.

  • British Coal (1993) Strata measurement data analysis and presentation. Final Report on ECSC Research Project No. 7220-AB831.

  • Coggan J, Gao F, Stead D, Elmo D (2012) Numerical modelling of the effects of weak immediate roof lithology on coal mineroadway stability. Int J Coal Geol 90:100–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colwell MG (2006) A study of the mechanics of coal mine rib deformation and rib support as a basis for engineering design. University of Queensland

    Google Scholar 

  • Colwell M, Mark C (2005) Analysis and design of rib support (ADRS) a rib support design methodology for Australian Collieries.

  • Dadashzadeh N (2020) Reliability of stress induced damage predictions in hard rocks with continuum and discontinuum numerical modelling approaches. (Doctoral dissertation).

  • Dawson EM, Roth WH, Drescher A (1999) Slope stability analysis by strength reduction. Geotechnique 49:835–840

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diederichs MS (2007a) The 2003 geotechnical colloquium: mechanistic interpretation and practical application of damage and spalling prediction criteria for deep tunnelling. Can Geotech J 44(9):1082–1116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diederichs MS, Lato M, Hammah R, Quinn P (2007) Shear strength reduction approach for slope stability analyses. In Proceedings of the 1st Canada–US rock mechanics symposium. In: E Eberhardt, D Stead, T Morrison (eds) Vancouver.

  • Edelbro C (2009) Numerical modelling of observed fallouts in hard rock masses using an instantaneous cohesion-softening friction-hardening model. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 24(4):398–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esterhuizen GS (2014) Extending empirical evidence through numerical modelling in rock engineering design. J South Afr Inst Min Metall 114(10):755–764

    Google Scholar 

  • Esterhuizen GS (1998) The effect of structural discontinuities on coal pillar strength as a basis for improving safety in the design of coal pillar systems. Safety in Mines Research Advisory Committee. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1347

  • Esterhuizen GS (2012) A stability factor for supported mine entries based on numerical model analysis. In Proceedings of the 31st international conference on ground control in mining, (p. 25). West Virginia University.

  • Fabjan T, Ivars DM, Vukadin V (2015) Numerical simulation of intact rock behaviour via the continuum and Voronoi tessellation models: a sensitivity analysis. Acta Geotechnica Slovenica 12(2):5–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Frith RC, Ditton S (1993) Monitoring report for geomechanics of rib failure and development of appropriate support technology. ACIRL Report EGE 3087/1.

  • Frith R, Reed G (2019) Limitations and potential design risks when applying empirically derived coal pillar strength equations to real-life mine stability problems. Int J Min Sci Technol 29(1):17–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gale WJ, Mark C, Oyler DC, Chen J (2004) Computer simulation of ground behaviour and rock bolt. 23rd international conference on ground control in mining, (pp. 27–34). Virginia.

  • Galvin J (2016) Ground engineering: principles and practices for underground coal mining. Springer

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Galvin J (2006) Considerations associated with the application of the UNSW and other pillar design formulae. n Golden Rocks 2006, The 41st US Symposium on Rock Mechanics (USRMS). American Rock Mechanics Association.

  • Gao FQ, Stead D (2014) The application of a modified Voronoi logic to brittle fracture modelling at the laboratory and field scale. Internat J Rock Mech Min Sci 1:1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao F, Stead D, Kang H (2014) Simulation of roof shear failure in coal mine roadways using an innovative UDEC Trigon approach. Comput Geotech 61:33–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao F (2013) Imulation of failure mechanisms around underground coal mine openings using discrete element modelling. Doctoral dissertation, Simon Fraser University.

  • Ghazvinian E, Diederichs MS, Quey R (2014) 3D random Voronoi grain-based models for simulation of brittle rock damage and fabric-guided micro-fracturing. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 6(6):506–521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giam SK, Donald IB (1988) Determination of critical slip surfaces for slopes via stress-strain calculations. Fifth Australia-New Zealand Conference on geomechanics: prediction versus performance; preprints of papers (p. 461). Institution of Engineers.

  • Griffiths DV, Lane PE (1999) Slope stability analysis by finite elements. Geotechnique 49(3):387–403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hajiabdolmajid V, Kaiser PK, Martin CD (2002) Modelling brittle failure of rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 39(6):731–741

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hebblewhite BB, Lin B, Galvin J, Walter R, Drew J (1998) Coal mine rib mechanics – an improved. In: international conference on geomechanics (pp. 403–412). NSW.

  • Heritage Y (2019) Mechanics of rib deformation—Observations and monitoring in Australian coal mines. Int J Min Sci Technol 29(1):119–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hijazo T, González De Vallejo LI (2012) In-situ stress amplification due to geological factors in tunnels: the case of Pajares tunnels, Spain. Eng Geol 137:13–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Itasca Consulting Group (2019) User’s manual version 5.0. Inc., Minneapolis.

  • Kalamaras GS, Bieniawski ZT (1993) A rock mass strength concept for coal seams. In Proc. 12th Conf. ground control in mining, (pp. 274–283). Morgantown, VA.

  • Kazerani T, Zhao J (2010) Micromechanical parameters in bonded particle method for modelling of brittle material failure. Int J Numer Anal Meth Geomech 34(18):1877–1895

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim BH, Larson MK (2017) Evaluation of bumps-prone potential regarding the spatial characteristics of cleat in coal pillars under highly stressed ground conditions. In 51st US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium. American Rock Mechanics Association.

  • Kirsch EG (1898) Die theorie der elastizität und die bedürfnisse der festigkeitslehre. Zeitschrift Des Vereines Deutscher Ingenieure 42:797–807

    Google Scholar 

  • Krahn J (2003) The 2001 RM Hardy lecture: the limits of limit equilibrium analyses. Canadian Geotech J 40(3):643–660

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laubach SE, Marrett RA, Olson JE, Scott AR (1998) Characteristics and origins of coal cleat: a review. Int J Coal Geol 35(1–4):175–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li ZK, Liu H, Dai R, Su X (2005) Application of numerical analysis principles and key technology for high fidelity simulation to 3-D physical model tests for underground caverns. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 20(4):390–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lisjak A, Grasselli G (2014) A review of discrete modeling techniques for fracturing processes in discontinuous rock masses. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 6(4):301–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Sang S, Xue J, Wang G, Xu H, Ren B, Liu S (2016) Characteristics of an in situ stress field and its control on coal fractures and coal permeability in the Gucheng block, southern Qinshui Basin, China. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 36:1130–1139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lorig L, Varona P (2001) Practical slope-stability analysis using finite-difference codes. In: WA Hustrulid (eds) In Slope stability in surface mining (pp. 115–124). Society for mining, metallurgy and exploration, Inc.

  • Lorig LJ, Varona P (2013) Guidelines for numerical modelling of rock support for mines. In: YP Brady (Ed.), In proceedings of the seventh international symposium on ground support in mining and underground construction (pp. 81–105). Australian Centre for Geomechanics.

  • Lorig LJ, Cundall PA (1989) Modeling of reinforced concrete using the distinct element method. Fracture of concrete and rock. Springer

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin CD (1997) Seventeenth Canadian Geotechnical Colloquium: the effect of cohesion loss and stress path on brittle rock strength. Can Geotech J 34(5):698–725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin CD, Chandler NA (1994) The progressive fracture of Lac du Bonnet granite. Internat J Rock Mech Mining Sci Geomech Abst 31(6):643–659

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohamed MK, Murphy MM, Lawson EH, Klemetti T (2016) Analysis of the current rib support practices and techniques in US coal mines. Int J Min Sci Techno 26(1):77–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohamed K, Rashed G, Radakovic-Guzina Z (2020a) Loading characteristics of mechanical rib bolts determined through testing and numerical modeling. Int J Min Sci Technol 30(1):17–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohamed K, Van Dyke M, Rashed G, Morgan MS, Robert K (2021) Preliminary rib support requirements for solid coal ribs using a coal pillar rib rating (CPRR). Internat J Mining Sci Technol 31(1):15–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohamed KM, Cheng Z, Rashed G (2019) Coal rib stability based on the strength reduction of the coal mass model. In 53rd US rock mechanics/geomechanics symposium. American Rock Mechanics Association.

  • Mohamed K, Kimutis R, Xue Y, Rasheed G (2020) Rib support optimization for a room-and-pillar mine. In proceedings of the 39th international conference on ground control in mining.

  • Mohamed K, Van Dyke M, Rashed G, Sears MM, Kimutis R (2020a) Preliminary rib support requirements for solid coal ribs using a coal pillar rib rating (CPRR). Internat J Mining Sci Technol.

  • MSHA (2018) Preliminary accident reports, fatality alerts and fatal investigation reports. US department of labor. Mine safety and health administration.

  • Nasehi MJ, Mortazavi A (2013) Effects of in-situ stress regime and intact rock strength parameters on the hydraulic fracturing. J Petrol Sci Eng 108:211–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naylor DJ (1982) Finite elements and slope stability. In Numerical methods in geomechanics 229–244.

  • Nie DN (2011) Experimental analysis of the post-failure behavior of coal and rock under laboratory compression tests. Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports.

  • Rashed G, Mohamed K, Kimutis R (2021) A coal rib monitoring study in a room-and-pillar retreat mine. Int J Min Sci Technol 31(1):127–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rusnak J (2017) Coal strength variation by lithotype for highvolatile a bituminous coal in the Central Appalachian Basin. In Proceedings of the 36th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, (pp. 198–207). West Virginia University.

  • Saati V, Mortazavi A (2011) Numerical modelling of in situ stress calculation using borehole slotter test. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 26(1):172–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sainsbury DP (2008) Analysis of river bed cracking above longwall extraction panels in the Southern Coalfield of New South Wales, Australia. Proc. 1st Southern Hemisphere International Rock Mechanics Symp (pp. 325–338). Australian Centre for Geomechanics.

  • Sakurai S, Akutagawa K, Takeuchi K, Shinji M, Shimizu N (2003) Back analysis for tunnel engineering as a modern observational method. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 18(2–3):185–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salamon MD (1970) Stability, instability and the design of pillar workings. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 7:613–631

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salamon MG, Munro AH (1967) A study of the strength of coal pillars. J South Afr Inst Min Metall 68(2):55–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Salamon MD (1974) Rock mechanics of underground excavations. In Advances in rock mechanics. Proceedings 3rd Congr Int Soc Rock Mech (pp. 951–1099). Denver: Nat. Acad. Sci.

  • Sears MM, Rusnak J, Van Dyke M, Rashed G, Mohamed K, Sloan M (2018) Coal rib response during bench mining: a case study. Int J Min Sci Technol 28(1):107–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shepherd J (2002) Assessment of rib instability hazards for strata management systems. In: Aziz N (ed) University of Wollongong research onlinecoal operators’ conference. University of Wollongong & the Australasian Institute of Mining andMetallurgy, pp 122–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh M, Seshagiri RK (2005) Empirical methods to estimate the strength of jointed rock masses. J Geophys Eng 77:127–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinha S, Walton G (2021) Investigation of pillar damage mechanisms and rock-support interaction using Bonded Block Models. Internat J Rock Mech Mining Sci 138.

  • Sinha S, Walton G (2020) A study on Bonded Block Model (BBM) complexity for simulation of laboratory-scale stress-strain behavior in granitic rocks. Comput Geotech 118:103363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith WC (1992) Rib stability: practical considerations to optimize rib design (Vol. 9323). US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines.

  • Sunkpal M, Alebayat M, Taghi S (2020) Coal rib geomechanics: a numerical approach for the analysis of rib stability in underground coal mines. 54th US Rock mechanics/geomechanics symposium. American Rock Mechanics Association.

  • Tulu IB, Esterhuizen GS, Klemetti T, Murphy MM, Sumner J, Sloan M (2016) A case study of multi-seam coal mine entry stability analysis with strength reduction method. Int J Min Sci Technol 26(2):193–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ugai K, Leshchinsky DO (1995) Three-dimensional limit equilibrium and finite element analyses: a comparison of results. Soils Found 35(4):1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vardar O, Zhang C, Canbulat I, Hebblewhite B (2019) Numerical modelling of strength and energy release characteristics of pillar-scale coal mass. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 11(5):935–943

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walton G, Diederichs MS (2015) A mine shaft case study on the accurate prediction of yield and displacements in stressed ground using lab-derived material properties. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 49:98–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walton G, Diederichs M, Punkkinen A, Whitmore J (2016) Back analysis of a pillar monitoring experiment at 2.4 km depth in the Sudbury Basin, Canada. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 85:33–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson AH (1983) The stability of underground workings in the soft rocks of the Coal Measures. Int J Min Eng 1(2):91–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yaméogo ST, Corthésy R, Leite MH (2013) Influence of rock failure and damage on in situ stress measurements in brittle rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 61:118–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L (1997) Einstein HH (2004) Using RQD to estimate the deformation modulus of rock masses. Internat J Rock Mech Mining Sci 41(2):337–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Mitra R, Oh J, Canbulat J, Hebblewhite B (2018) Numerical analysis on mining-induced fracture development around river valleys. Int J Min Reclam Environ 32(7):463–485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng H, Sun G, Liu D (2009) A practical procedure for searching critical slip surfaces of slopes based on the strength reduction technique. Comput Geotech 36(1–2):1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng YR, Zhao SY, Song YK (2005) Advance of study on the strength reduction finite element method. J Log Eng Univ

  • Zhu WS, Sui B, Li XJ, Li SC, Wang WT (2008) A methodology for studying the high wall displacement of large scale underground cavern complexes and it’s applications. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 23(6):651–664

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu WS, Zhang QB, Hong-Hu Z, Yong L, Yin JH, Li SC, Zhang L (2010) Large-scale geomechanical model testing of an underground cavern group in a true three-dimensional (3-D) stress state. Can Geotech J 47(9):935–946

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu DF, Tu F, Ma HS, Zhang XW (2017) A 3D Voronoi and subdivision model for calibration of rock properties. Model Simul Mater Sci Eng 25(8):085005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu D, Wu Y, Liu Z, Dong X, Yu J (2020) Failure mechanism and safety control strategy for laminated roof of. Engineering Failure Analysis 111.

  • Zienkiewicz OC, Humpheson C, Lewis RW (1975) Associated and non-associated visco-plasticity and plasticity in soil mechanics. Geotechnique 25(4):671–689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zipf K (2006) Numerical modeling procedures for practical coal mine design. The 41st US Symposium on Rock Mechanics (USRMS). American Rock Mechanics Association

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for their support in making this research possible.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, USA

    Maurice Sunkpal & Taghi Sherizadeh

Authors
  1. Maurice Sunkpal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Taghi Sherizadeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Taghi Sherizadeh.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sunkpal, M., Sherizadeh, T. Exploring the Deformation Mechanics of Coal Ribs Using the Distinct Element Modeling Approach. Rock Mech Rock Eng 55, 2879–2898 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-021-02619-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-021-02619-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation