Gob-Side Entry Retaining Involving Bag Filling Material for Support Wall Construction

Gob-side entry retaining, also termed as non-pillar mining, plays an important role in saving coal resources, high production and efficiency, extending the service life of mine and improving the investment benefit. Herein, a gob-side entry retaining method involving the use of bag filling material for wall construction is proposed based on the thin seam mining characteristics. First, a gob-side entry retaining mechanical model is established, and the side support resistance of the 8101 working face is calculated. The mechanical properties of the bag material are investigated through experiments, and the construction technology of the gob-side entry retaining approach involving the use of bag filling material for wall construction is introduced. The deformation on the two sides, the roof and floor of the roadway, are simulated via numerical methods and monitored during field tests. The results show a small control range for the deformations and a good roadway retention effect, thereby proving the feasibility of the bag filling material for wall construction. This study provides a reference for the development of gob-side entry retaining mining for thin coal seams.