Development characteristics of the rock fracture field in strata overlying a mined coal seam group

The fracture development of the overlying strata after coal mining is an important guarantee of efficient gas drainage. In order to explore the fracture evolution characteristics close to a mined coal seam group, the F15.16−24130 working face in the Pingdingshan No. 10 coal mine was taken as the research background. The FLAC3D numerical simulation software was used to study the migration and failure characteristics of the overlying strata during mining of a coal seam group, and the fracture evolution process of the stope was investigated. The results show that as the advancing distance increased, the fracture density and fracture height increased continuously due to deformation and failure of the overlying rock. The displacement of the overlying rock initially increased and then decreased, and the displacement of the floor rock initially decreased and then increased. When working face F15.16 of the coal seam advanced to 75 m, a saddle-shaped plastic zone gradually formed in the upper part of the goaf and the floor of the goaf was formed. The pressure relief depth was proportional to the advancement distance. As the advancement distance of the working face increased, the pressure relief depth gradually extended to the F17 coal seam, which was conducive to the development and penetration of the fractures in the coal floor and rock mass and was convenient for pressure relief gas drainage from the F17 coal seam.