Overburden movement and fracture distribution induced by longwall mining of the shallow coal seam in the Shendong coalfield

Physical and numerical simulations were used to analyze the dynamic propagation and distribution of overlying fractures in horizontal and vertical planes that are caused by longwall mining in shallow coal seams. The Shendong coal field was used to provide the three representative geological conditions for the analysis. The results show that the overlying strata collapses in synchronization with surface subsidence. The faster the working face advances the more slowly fractures develop and the faster fractures close. The strongly weathered rock in the overlying stratum can adsorb a portion of the mining-induced fractures.