Failure characteristics and control technology of fault-near roadway in an isolated island working face

Abstract

To improve the stability of roadways located near faults within isolated island panels, the track haulage entry of panel S5-18 in Changcun Coal Mine was selected for detailed analysis. An integrated research approach combining numerical simulation and in-situ observations was adopted to investigate the deformation patterns and failure behavior of the surrounding rock. The findings indicate that the roadway in the fault-affected zone was influenced by both fault-induced stress disturbances and repeated mining activities, leading to the gradual transfer of deviatoric stress from the roof and floor regions to the lateral sides. Simultaneously, the plastic zone expanded in a distinctly asymmetric manner, originating at the upper corner of the solid coal side and the lower corner of the coal pillar side, with its development trajectory closely corresponding to changes in the orientation of deviatoric stress. Based on these insights, a control scheme combining flexible cable reinforcement and floor grouting was designed. Field practice demonstrates that deformation was effectively controlled within 300 mm, and the roadway maintained good overall stability, verifying the applicability of the proposed technique.