Mining-Induced Rock Strata Damage and Mine Disaster Control

Dear Colleagues,

Coal mining will lead to overlying strata failure and movement. Generally, the overlying rock strata will form three zones from bottom to top: a caved zone, a fractured zone, and a continuous subsidence zone. When the fractured zone is connected with the aquifer, the groundwater will flow into the mined-out area, causing the groundwater level to decline and ecological damage within a certain range. Traditionally, mine water is pumped to the surface and discharged, resulting in surface environmental pollution and wastage of water resources. Especially in the mining areas of western China, the contradiction between large-scale coal mining and water shortage has become more prominent. The damage to groundwater resources and surface ecology caused by coal mining is the main problem faced by coal development, which is closely related to overburden damage, failure, movement, and its control. The key strata theory lays a theoretical foundation for the overlying rock strata movement and its control due to coal mining.

Additionally, coal mining can cause a redistribution of stress fields, which can produce stress concentrations in localized areas. There are great differences in the occurrence conditions of coal seams in different mining areas in China. In some mining areas, there are thick or extra-thick coal seams, and multiple thick and hard key strata in overburdened areas. The breaking of overlying key rock strata will result in dynamic load effects within a large range, which may induce disasters in coal mines, such as rock burst, large deformation of the surrounding rock, and roof caving. In this Special Issue, we focus on the latest and most challenging research topics in the area of mining-induced rock strata damage, failure, movement, and control. We invite researchers to contribute to this Special Issue with original research articles and review articles on the mechanisms and control of disasters related to rock strata failure and movement.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. New theories and findings on mining-induced rock strata failure;
2. Evolution of the stress, fracture, and displacement fields during coal mining;
3. Dynamic disasters caused by rock strata breakage and movement;
4. Foundation rock mechanics of rock strata failure caused by coal mining;
5. Control theories and technologies related to overburdened movement and ecology in mining areas;
6. Control theories and technologies related to the roadways surrounding rock under complex stress fields;
7. Efficient energy-absorbing and anti-impact support materials and structures.

Dr. Yunjiang Sun
Prof. Dr. Gen Li
Prof. Dr. Guangchao Zhang
Guest Editors

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• coal mining
• rock strata failure and movement
• mine disasters related to rock strata failure and movement
• control theory and technology of overburden movement
• complex stress field
• key strata theory