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Evaluation of Mechanisms Contributing to Valley Closure Subsidence Effects Under Irregular Topographic Conditions

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Evaluation of Mechanisms Contributing to Valley Closure Subsidence Effects Under Irregular Topographic Conditions Evaluation of mechanisms contributing to valley closure subsidence effects under irregular topographic conditions Chengguo Zhang A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Mining Engineering Faculty of Engineering August 2014 Abstract Valley closure subsidence has been observed for decades in Australia and overseas where underground extractions have occurred beneath or in close proximity to valleys and other forms of irregular topographies. Valley closure is referred to as the inward movements of the valley sides towards the valley centreline. Upsidence is the reduction in subsidence or relative upward movement at the bottom of the valley. Due to the complexity of the local geology and interplay between several geological, topographical and mining factors, the underlying mechanisms that actually cause this behaviour are not fully understood. Numerical investigations are conducted to investigate stress related failure mechanisms that may contribute the observed valley closure subsidence. Numerical models are developed using the Distinct Element Code, UDEC and 3DEC, based on assessments of the geological conditions in the Southern Coalfield, New South Wales, Australia. The numerical models are then systematically calibrated and validated against field observations and empirical incremental profiles. The positive correlations indicate that the models are capable of replicating the features of mining induced subsidence and horizontal movements. The calibrated models are subsequently extended to develop several hypothetical scenarios (two-dimensional and three-dimensional) to quantify the effects of the geological, topographical and mining factors on valley closure subsidence and their inter-relationships. The numerical modelling predictions of valley closure subsidence are consistent with field observations. The results of this research indicate that the major influences on valley closure subsidence are longwall locations with respect to valley and the horizontal compressive stress. A stress arching concept is proposed and the redistribution of the horizontal compressive stress within the valley I results in a strong pushing effect on valley walls, leading to pronounced bedding plane shearing that contributes to greater closure values. The roles of valley geometric factors, depth of cover and geological features around valley have also been quantitatively identified in this study. The results have applications in the study of both the underlying mechanisms that lead to this non-conventional subsidence behaviour, and how these should be incorporated in future valley closure subsidence prediction and mitigation of its impacts on natural features. Keywords subsidence, valley closure, upsidence, numerical modelling, mechanisms, valley closure prediction II Acknowledgements There are a number of people without whom this thesis might not have been written, and to whom I am greatly indebted. First and foremost I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my supervisors Dr. Rudrajit Mitra, Dr. Joung Oh and Professor Bruce Hebblewhite for their consistent encouragement, support and understanding over the past four years. I have been fortunate to work with them. Dr. Rudrajit Mitra has been supportive since the day I began working on my PhD. He has guided me not only by providing a research assistantship for almost four years, but also by giving his friendship and academic and emotional support through the rough road to finishing my PhD. I am very grateful for his kindness, patience, and motivation. Dr. Joung Ohn joi ed my supervision team during the third year of this thesis, and he has been a strong and encouraging adviser to me throughout the toughest time of my research. He is always approachable to discuss any issues. I greatly appreciate the support from my co-supervisor Professor Bruce Hebblewhite. He interviewed me in 2009 back in China and offered me the opportunity to pursue my doctoral degree in UNSW. My special thanks to Prof. Hebblewhite, he made it possible for me to achieve this great chapter in my life. Many thanks to Dr. Greg Tarrant from Metropolitan Coal Mine for believing in my research and providing invaluable advice and field data access. I am also very grateful to Don Kay, James Barbato and Peter DeBono from Mine Subsidence Engineering Consultants Pty Ltd. They provided excellent help with data collection and model III validation, and they have taught me a lot. I would also like to acknowledge the help and assistance of staff and friends in the School of Mining Engineering, UNSW. It is important that I acknowledge here the love and encouragement of my family. My parents and grandparents have always been there to support me in all my pursuits. To my fiancée Lingyun Guo, who has been by my side throughout this PhD, living every single minute of it, and giving up many things for me to accomplish this PhD. Thank you. IV Table of Contents ABSTRACT I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS III LIST OF FIGURES VIII LIST OF TABLES XV CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Problem statement 1 1.2 Research objective and scope 4 1.3 Methodology 5 1.4 Thesis outline 6 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 9 2.1 Introduction 9 2.2 Conventional mine subsidence 9 2.3 Horizontal stresses in the Sydney Basin 15 2.4 Horizontal ground movements 23 2.4.1 Systematic horizontal movements 23 2.4.2 Regional horizontal movements 26 2.4.3 Topography related movements 29 2.5 Previous numerical modelling studies 30 2.5.1 Finite element method 30 2.5.2 Finite difference method 33 2.5.3 Boundary element method 36 2.5.4 Distinct element method 38 2.5.5 Hybrid method 43 2.6 Postulated mechanisms of valley closure and upsidence 48 2.6.1 Valley stress relief 48 2.6.2 Effects of horizontal stress 52 2.6.3 Lateral dilation mechanism 56 V 2.6.4 Movements towards goaf area 59 2.6.5 Rigid block model 60 2.6.6 Other field observations 63 2.7 Conclusions 64 CHAPTER 3. LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF MATERIAL PROPERTIES 67 3.1 Introduction 67 3.2 Overview of geology in the Southern Coalfield 67 3.3 Sampling of rock specimens 75 3.4 Laboratory testing of rock materials 80 3.4.1 Determination of the uniaxial compressive strength 80 3.4.2 Determination of the tensile strength 86 3.4.3 Determination of the strength in triaxial compression 88 3.5 Conclusions 94 CHAPTER 4. MODEL SETUP AND VALIDATION 96 4.1 Introduction 96 4.2 Modelling technique 96 4.3 Estimation of model input data 97 4.3.1 Mechanical properties of intact rock 97 4.3.2 Properties of rock structures 106 4.3.3 In situ stress 111 4.4 Model validation 112 4.4.1 Overview of mining setting in Metropolitan Colliery 112 4.4.2 Overview of the Incremental Profile Method 116 4.4.3 Single longwall panel excavation 118 4.4.4 Multiple panel excavations 124 4.5 Conclusions 137 VI CHAPTER 5. NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE MECHANISMS CONTRIBUTING TO VALLEY CLOSURE SUBSIDENCE 139 5.1 Introduction 139 5.2 Development of UDEC models 139 5.3 Valley bulging movements 140 5.4 Effects of geological and geotechnical factors on valley closure subsidence 144 5.4.1 Influence of longwall location relative to valley 145 5.4.2 Influence of horizontal stress 156 5.4.3 Influence of valley sloping angle 162 5.4.4 Influence of cover depth above longwall 168 5.4.5 Influence of valley shape 177 5.4.6 Influence of cross bedding plane degree 182 5.5 Conclusions 188 CHAPTER 6. THREE-DIMENSIONAL NUMERICAL MODELLING OF THE POTENTIAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO VALLEY CLOSURE SUBSIDENCE 190 6.1 Introduction 190 6.2 Model setup 190 6.3 Comparison of 3DEC and UDEC results 194 6.4 Three-dimensional parametric analysis 197 6.4.1 Orientation of mining relative to valley 198 6.4.2 Orientation of the major horizontal stress relative to valley and mining 217 6.4.3 Longwall extractions with different offset distance to valley 221 6.5 Conclusions 226 CHAPTER 7. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 228 7.1 Major conclusions 228 7.2 Contributions of this study 230 7.3 Recommendations for future research 232 REFERENCES 234 VII List of Figures Figure 1.1: Major water bodies, mining leases and upland swamps in the Southern Coalfield .....1 Figure 1.2: (a) Buckling of near surface strata associated with upsidence; (b) override of bedding slabs caused by shear failures in Waratah Rivulet .......................................2 Figure 2.1: Different types of discontinuous subsidence: (a) crown hole; (b) chimney caving; (c) plug subsidence; (d) solution cavities; (e) block caving; (f) hangingwall caving ...10 Figure 2.2: Typical cross section of a longwall face ....................................................................11 Figure 2.3: Schematic model of mining induced overburden deformation zones .......................12 Figure 2.4: Typical section of subsidence trough, illustrating various subsidence parameters ...13 Figure 2.5: Effects of panel width, depth of cover on subsidence ...............................................15 Figure 2.6: Sydney Basin Stress Map ..........................................................................................17 Figure 2.7: Relationships of stress magnitude and depth in the Sydney Basin and in its sub- regions. σH, σh and σv is the major, intermediate and minor principal stress ........19 Figure 2.8: Relationship of horizontal to vertical stress ratio and depth......................................21 Figure 2.9: Horizontal movements due to extraction of Longwall 17 at Tower Colliery ............24 Figure 2.10: Horizontal deformation of rock masses above longwall extraction ........................25
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