Next Article in Journal
Mechanism of Strength Development and Microstructural Evolution of KDJ-II–Cement Composite-Stabilized Soil for Loess Base Courses
Previous Article in Journal
New Insights into How the Rupture Radius of Deep Fault Rupture Affects the Magnitude of Induced Earthquakes
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Applied Sciences
Volume 16
Issue 11
10.3390/app16115677
applsci-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Width Optimization and Stability Control of Narrow Coal Pillars for Gob-Side Roadways with Retained Top Coal in Thick Soft Coal Seams

by
Feng Li
1,2,
Jia Lei
1,*,
Di Zhang
2,
Gangwei Fan
1,
Guangzheng Xu
1,
Shizhong Zhang
1 and
Shaodong Li
3
1
School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
2
Jiulishan Coal Mine, Henan Coking Coal Energy Co., Ltd., Jiaozuo 454173, China
3
School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(11), 5677; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16115677
Submission received: 26 April 2026 / Revised: 26 May 2026 / Accepted: 1 June 2026 / Published: 5 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Applied Industrial Technologies)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

Gob-side roadways driven along the floor while retaining top coal in thick soft coal seams are prone to instability under strong mining-induced dynamic loading. To clarify the instability mechanism and develop an effective control method, the 1609 return airway of Jiulishan Mine was investigated using field survey, borehole imaging, FLAC3D numerical simulation, industrial testing, and field monitoring. The results show that, under the combined effects of large mining height, insufficient filling of the gob by the caved immediate roof, weak retained top coal, and low coal strength, shear failure planes tend to develop within the narrow coal pillar and extend from the gob-side roof toward the floor. Once the dominant shear plane cuts through the pillar, the overall bearing structure is destroyed, leading to shear slip, asymmetric rib deformation, roof subsidence toward the coal-pillar side, and rib–roof coupled instability. Based on a multi-index evaluation of pillar load-bearing capacity, plastic zone development, stress concentration, roadway deformation, and coal recovery, a 3 m coal pillar was determined as the rational width. A coordinated “narrow coal pillar + cross-rib anchorage” scheme was proposed, and field verification confirmed its effectiveness in controlling roof separation, roadway surface displacement, and internal surrounding-rock damage.
Keywords: thick soft coal seam; gob-side roadway; narrow coal pillar; shear-slip instability; cross-rib anchorage; surrounding-rock control thick soft coal seam; gob-side roadway; narrow coal pillar; shear-slip instability; cross-rib anchorage; surrounding-rock control

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Li, F.; Lei, J.; Zhang, D.; Fan, G.; Xu, G.; Zhang, S.; Li, S. Width Optimization and Stability Control of Narrow Coal Pillars for Gob-Side Roadways with Retained Top Coal in Thick Soft Coal Seams. Appl. Sci. 2026, 16, 5677. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16115677

AMA Style

Li F, Lei J, Zhang D, Fan G, Xu G, Zhang S, Li S. Width Optimization and Stability Control of Narrow Coal Pillars for Gob-Side Roadways with Retained Top Coal in Thick Soft Coal Seams. Applied Sciences. 2026; 16(11):5677. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16115677

Chicago/Turabian Style

Li, Feng, Jia Lei, Di Zhang, Gangwei Fan, Guangzheng Xu, Shizhong Zhang, and Shaodong Li. 2026. "Width Optimization and Stability Control of Narrow Coal Pillars for Gob-Side Roadways with Retained Top Coal in Thick Soft Coal Seams" Applied Sciences 16, no. 11: 5677. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16115677

APA Style

Li, F., Lei, J., Zhang, D., Fan, G., Xu, G., Zhang, S., & Li, S. (2026). Width Optimization and Stability Control of Narrow Coal Pillars for Gob-Side Roadways with Retained Top Coal in Thick Soft Coal Seams. Applied Sciences, 16(11), 5677. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16115677

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop