Study on the mechanism of coal pillar instability in coal seam sections containing gangue

The tail entry of the Shanxi Mine No. 10103 working face is a gob-side roadway featuring a 25 m protective coal pillar that contains double-strata gangue. This composition poses a risk of instability and failure, which can endanger personnel safety and mining efficiency. To address this issue, a mechanical model of coal pillars containing gangue was constructed, and a combination of discrete element modeling and engineering monitoring was utilized to reveal the failure mechanism and influencing factors of such coal pillars. The study offers a sound theoretical foundation for the support of coal pillars in gob-side roadways. Through an examination of the friction coefficient (f) of the coal gangue interface in relation to the Barton peak shear strength (tau max), it was determined that coal pillars containing gangue are susceptible to slip instability failure at the coal gangue interface when the normal stress (sigma R) reaches 20 MPa. The stability of coal pillars containing gangue was further analyzed using discrete element numerical simulation software, which identified key factors such as gangue hardness, thickness, location, and number of strata. Utilizing the outcomes of discrete element simulation, the FLAC-PFC coupling model was formulated to meticulously scrutinize the temporal and spatial progression of the deformation of the surrounding rock, as well as the features of its deformation and failure. As a result of this research, the implementation of the grouting cable + through layer bolt anchoring technique is proposed, wherein the bolt is inclined on both sides to traverse through the coal seam and gangue, thereby stabilizing the interface between the two.