IC 9014 Remedial And Strata Replacement Techniques On Longwall Faces - A Report On The State Of The Art

Following the introduction of roof shields to the U.S. longwall mining scene in 1975, the number of shield faces (faces supported by shields) has increased steadily, and the occurrence of accidents associated with ground control inadequacies at longwall operations has shown a downward trend. However, ground control problems in longwall mining still exist. New mining systems, however efficient, have run afoul of roof control. Shield faces have suffered extended stoppages because of roof cavities. In this report, the Bureau of Mines addresses the problem of longwall roof control. The report presents a review of foreign remedial and strata replacement techniques for longwall faces and evaluates their potential for domestic application. The technology reviewed includes meshing, chemical rock stabilization, cribbing, strain-absorbent modules, inflatables, synthetic foam, and monolithic fills.