Stability control of gob-side entry retained under the gob with close distance coal seams

In multi-seam mining, the interlayer rock strata between the upper coal seam(UCS) and the lower coal seam(LCS) appear damage and strength weakening after mining the UCS. Ground stability control of the gob-side entry retaining(GER) under the gob with close distance coal seams(CDCS) is faced with difficulties due to little attention to GER under this condition. This paper focuses on surrounding rock stability control and technical parameters design for GER under the gob with CDCS. The floor rock strata damage characteristics after mining the UCS is first evaluated and the damage factor of the interlayer rock strata below the UCS is also determined. Then, a structural mechanics model of GER surrounding rock is set up to obtain the main design parameters of the side-roadway backfill body(SBB) including the maximum and minimum SBB width calculation formula. The optimal SBB width and the water-to-cement ratio of high water quick-setting material(HWQM) to construct the SBB are determined as 1.2 m and 1.5:1.0,respectively. Finally, engineering trial tests of GER are successfully carried out at #5210 track transportation roadway of Xingwu Colliery. Research results can guide GER design under similar mining and geological conditions.