Determining the rational layout parameters of the lateral high drainage roadway serving for two adjacent working faces

To determine the rational layout parameters of the lateral high drainage roadway (LHDR) serving for two adjacent working faces, a mechanical model of the LHDR under mining influence was established, and the overburden fissure, mining-induced stress distribution rules were analyzed. First, the development characteristics of mining-induced overburden fissure and the stress distribution law of the upper section of the working face were analyzed. Second, by analyzing the distribution law of vertical stress at different layers, the lateral distance of the LHDR was determined as 25 m. Third, by analyzing the surrounding rock deformation effect, stress distribution law, and overburden fissure distribution law of the LHDR at the heights of 20, 25, and 30 m away from the roof, the rational horizon of the LHDR was determined to be 25 m. Finally, an example of a LHDR located 25 m above the roof of the No. 2 coal seam and 25 m away from the No. 2-603 working face was presented. Results show that when the No. 2-603 coalface is being mined, the surrounding rocks lag 80 m or even further and the working face tends to be stable. The relative deformations of the roof and floor of the roadway and both of its walls were 583 and 450 mm, respectively. The reduction rate of the roadway section was 21.52%-25.32%. The section of the roadway was sufficient to extract the pressure relief gas in the overburden of the No. 2-605 working face. The average gas concentration and the pure volume at the branch pipeline were 24.8% and 22.3 m(3)/min, respectively, showing that the position of high-level boreholes was reasonable. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of China University of Mining & Technology.