COAL MINING

Rock Mechanics PART 5

 SUBSIDENCE

• When pillars are extracted in a room-and-pillar retreat section or a

longwall panel is retreated, the ground moves to try and fill the void
created by the full extraction.

• The overburden loses subadjacent support and moves down into the
void created by removing the coal.

• This movement of the overburden is known as subsidence.

 SUBSIDENCE cont.
• While discussing abutment loading, the different zones in the overburden were
presented:
1. Caving zone
a. Complete caving zone (<6h, 4 average, where h = extraction thickness)
b. Partial caving zone (<12h, 8 average)

2. Fractured zone (24–60h)

3. Continuous deformation zone or bending zone (>60h)
4. Soil zone or surface subsidence zone
 SUBSIDENCE cont.

• The behavior of these zones is also appropriate to a discussion of

subsidence.
 Subsidence Factor

• The magnitude of the vertical surface movement is typically less than

the extraction thickness (h) of the seam due to the bulking in the gob
and the vertical dilation of the overlying strata.

• If the panel is wide enough in relation to the depth, the edges of the
panel will not limit the subsidence at the middle of the panel (a
critical or supercritical panel), and the “maximum possible
subsidence” (𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 ) is obtained.
 Subsidence Factor cont.
• The ratio between the seam height and the maximum possible subsidence
(𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 ) observed on the surface is known as the “subsidence factor” (a):

𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎 × ℎ

• In a situation where the panel is narrow enough that the edges of the
panel support the middle of the panel (a subcritical panel, see next figure),
the maximum observed subsidence or maximum subsidence (S) is less than
the maximum possible subsidence that defines the subsidence factor.
 Subcritical, Critical, and Supercritical
Panels
• Cross-sectional views of a subcritical, critical, and supercritical
subsidence trough are shown in Figures.

• These figures highlight a number of the parameters and features that

are used in subsidence engineering.

• The subsidence gradually decreases to zero outside the edge of a

panel.
 Subcritical, Critical, and Supercritical
Panels CONT…
• The angle formed between a vertical line at the panel edge and the
line connecting the panel edge to the point on the surface where the
observed subsidence is zero is called the “angle of draw” (A), “angle
of influence,” or “limit angle.”

• All of the surface subsidence occurs within the area delineated by the
angles-of-draw on either side of the panel.
 Subcritical, Critical, and Supercritical
Panels CONT…
• The angle of draw essentially defines the limit of the influence of the
panel edge on the subsidence.

• The edge of the panel is also limited as to the extent of its influence
on subsidence on the inside of the panel.

• The internal angle of draw delineates the area of maximum possible

subsidence.
 Subcritical, Critical, and Supercritical
Panels CONT…
• Often the internal angle of draw is considered to be equal to the “external”
angle of draw.

• The internal angle of draw should not be confused with, or equated to, the
abutment angle.

• The abutment angle determines the amount of abutment load, whereas

the internal angle of draw delineates the extent of subsidence.
 Subcritical, Critical, and Supercritical
Panels CONT…
• While the value of these two angles may often be quite similar, how
they are calculated and what they signify is quite different.

• Conceptually, both panel edges are still supporting the surface at the
middle of the panel and limiting the subsidence.

• This type of panel is called “subcritical,” and it is mathematically

defined as
 Subcritical, Critical, and Supercritical
Panels CONT…
𝑊
< 2 tan 𝐴′
𝐻

• Similarly, when a panel has exactly the required ratio of width (W) to
depth (H) that the lines denoting the internal angle of draw just meet
at one point at the surface, the maximum possible subsidence is
obtained at exactly that point in the middle of the panel.
 Subcritical, Critical, and Supercritical
Panels CONT…
• This type of panel is called “critical,” and it is mathematically defined
as
𝑊
= 2 tan 𝐴′
𝐻

• A panel is called “supercritical” when it is so wide in relation to the

depth (H) that the lines denoting the internal angle of draw do not
cross or meet before they reach the surface.
 Subcritical, Critical, and Supercritical
Panels CONT…
• The maximum possible subsidence is obtained at all points between
the surface intersections of the internal angle-of-draw lines.

• A supercritical panel is defined by

𝑊
> 2 tan 𝐴′
𝐻