Precursor of Spatio-temporal Evolution Law of MS and AE Activities for Rock Burst Warning in Steeply Inclined and Extremely Thick Coal Seams Under Caving Mining Conditions

Abstract

Rock burst is one of the main coal and rock dynamic disasters in steeply inclined and extremely thick coal seams (SIETCS). Timely identification of potential precursor information enables effective and specifically targeted measures to mitigate hazards. To provide a reference for the determination of precursor information in SIETCS with similar conditions, an in situ investigation that lasted for more than 1 year was conducted on the +\u2009450 horizontal no. B3\u2009+\u20096 fully mechanized top-coal caving face of the Wudong coal mine. This mine has an average dip angle of 87° and experienced a total of three rock bursts. The investigation focused on the consequences of rock burst (including the source location, energy, damage range, and modes of ensuing damage), the temporal and spatial evolution laws of the monitoring parameters of microseismic (MS) and acoustic emissions (AE), and the relationship between precursory information of both the AE and MS monitoring systems. Furthermore, a comparison of the evolution laws of the precursory characteristics between steeply and gently inclined coal seams was conducted. The obtained results indicate that rock burst failure mainly shows a directionality from south to north of the roadway, and the main factor causing the rock burst was the suspended rock pillar. Prior to the rock burst, sources of MS events gradually clustered and congregated around the rock pillar or coalface, and high-energy events (energy\u2009>\u2009103\u2009J) noticeably increased. Similar variations of sharp rise–sharp drop were found for both daily total energy and event counts. Prior to rock burst or large energy mine tremors, the AE energy deviation continued to rise, a peak was observed in the total number of high-value daily AE deviations, and the precursory information of AE was ahead of the precursory information of the MS monitoring system. The evolution laws of MS precursor information prior to rock burst differed between SIETCS and gently inclined coal seams. These evolution laws can be used as precursory warning for rock burst in SIETCS. Integrated monitoring of the AE and MS monitoring systems realizes the real-time monitoring and early warning from the germination stage to the occurrence of rock burst, and can determine the danger area in space. This can improve the early warning efficiency and provides a solid foundation for safe mining in SIETCS.