Numerical simulation of spatiotemporal distributions of stresses in vicinity of normal fault due to mining within hanging wall

One main reason for mining earthquakes and fault rockbursts is the fault movement induced by mining. In the previous numerical simulation, monitored nodes are few so that a full understanding of the overall mechanical status on the fault is difficult. Moreover, in the past simulation for the stress distribution of the coal seam, the vertical stress (abutment pressure) is focused on, but not for the other stresses. To study stress distributions of the fault and coal seam in the vicinity of the fault, a numerical model of hanging wall mining was built in FLAC3D. In the model, thirteen rock strata and one normal fault with a dip of 45° were included. Spatiotemporal distributions of the fault and coal seam in the vicinity of the fault were obtained during the mining process. Twenty two nodes on the fault in the hanging wall were monitored to obtain the overall mechanical status on the fault. The following numerical results were obtained. As the working face advances, there are one compressing zone and one or more