Evaluation of Floor Water Inrush based on Fractal Theory and an Improved Analytic Hierarchy Process

A new evaluation model, based on fractal theory and an improved analytic hierarchy process (IAHP), was developed to predict the potential for water inrush. Fractal theory was used to quantitatively evaluate the complexity of the fault zones, which is a major water inrush factor. Study of the Lu-an mining area showed that the faults there can be subdivided into four levels of complexity: simple, medium, relatively complex, and complex. The overall complexity of the fault network in the study area was moderate. The IAHP was used to study the potential for coal floor water inrush through these faults. The results indicated that this mining district can be divided into risk-based zones. The extremely high risk zones were mainly located in the northern Tun-liu mine and the northern Chang-cun mine; high risk zones were primarily distributed in the Tun-liu mine and the southwestern Wang-zhuang mine. All other mines were classified as medium and low risk zones.