ORIGINAL PAPER
An assessment of the impact of the degree of the filling of shallow voids on the possibility of sinkhole formation on the surface
 
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Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation
 
 
Submission date: 2022-09-08
 
 
Final revision date: 2022-12-15
 
 
Acceptance date: 2023-01-17
 
 
Publication date: 2023-03-22
 
 
Corresponding author
Ewa Strzałkowska   

Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation
 
 
Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi – Mineral Resources Management 2023;39(1):173-191
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The issues covered by the work are important and topical as sinkholes that develop in large numbers over shallow mining excavations pose a great threat to public safety. In Upper Silesia (Poland), the formation of sinkholes can be observed even for a period of over 100 years following the termination of mining works. An effective method of risk elimination consists of filling the voids with a binding material with strength properties similar to those of the rocks surrounding the void. The application of fly ash is very suitable for this purpose, the use of which also has an ecological aspect. The literature studies presented in the paper indicate the possibility of making mixtures with the use of fly ash that has the required strength parameters. The compressive strength of the mixtures after solidification is up to 3 MPa, or even up to 7 MPa, and in some cases, up to 15 MPa. Most of the voids at shallow depths are found in coal seams, in which the compressive strength at shallow depths amounts to approx. 5 MPa. Thus, by filling the void with such material, we can ensure conditions similar to those prevailing before the excavation was made. The paper presents a case study involving the formation of a sinkhole above a dog heading and an ex post forecast made with the use of two selected methods. These methods yielded results affirming that the development of a sinkhole in the considered conditions is certain. Then, using the said methods, the impact of the filling level of the void on the possibility of sinkhole development was analyzed. The obtained results indicated the necessity to fill the void to around 90% with the use of one of the methods and its complete filling with the use of the other method.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Ocena wpływu stopnia wypełnienia płytkich pustek na możliwość powstania zapadliska na powierzchni
zapadlisko, likwidacja zagrożenia zapadliskiem
Zagadnienia, których dotyczy praca, są ważne i aktualne, gdyż zapadliska licznie powstające nad płytkimi wyrobiskami górniczymi stanowią duże zagrożenie dla bezpieczeństwa publicznego. Na Górnym Śląsku (Polska) powstawanie zapadlisk obserwuje się nawet przez okres ponad 100 lat od zaprzestania prowadzenia robót górniczych. Skuteczną formą likwidacji zagrożenia jest wypełnianie pustek materiałem wiążącym o własnościach wytrzymałościowych zbliżonych do własności skał otaczających pustkę. Znakomicie do tego celu nadają się popioły lotne, których wykorzystanie posiada również aspekt proekologiczny. Studia literaturowe przedstawione w pracy wskazują na możliwość tworzenia mieszanin z udziałem popiołów lotnych o wymaganych parametrach wytrzymałościowych. Wytrzymałość na ściskanie mieszanin po zestaleniu wynosi do 3 MPa, a nawet do 7 MPa, a w niektórych przypadkach do 15 MPa. Większość pustek na małych głębokościach występuje w pokładach węgla, którego wytrzymałość na ściskanie wynosi około 5 MPa na małych głębokościach. Zatem wypełniając takim materiałem pustkę, można zapewnić warunki zbliżone do tych, jakie panowały przed wykonaniem wyrobiska. W pracy przedstawiono studium przypadku powstania zapadliska nad wyrobiskiem korytarzowym i wykonano prognozę ex post przy zastosowaniu dwóch wybranych metod. Metody te pozwoliły na uzyskanie wyników mówiących o pewności powstania zapadliska w rozpatrywanych warunkach. W dalszej kolejności analizowano przy ich zastosowaniu wpływ stopnia wypełnienia pustki na możliwość powstania zapadliska. Uzyskane wyniki wskazały na konieczność wypełnienia pustki w około 90% przy zastosowaniu jednej z metod i całkowitego jej wypełnienia przy zastosowaniu drugiej z metod.
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