Geomechanical Modeling of the Stability of Deep Tunnel in Dingji Coal Mine in China

Tunnel collapses emerge during the process of coal exploitation in deep mining area, seriously affecting coal production. The occurrence of zonal disintegration phenomenon (ZDP) is one of the causes of tunnel collapses. To investigate the formation mechanism and influencing factors of this phenomenon, taking a buried depth of − 910 m tunnel of Dingji coal mine as the background, true 3D geomechanical model tests are performed. The typical ZDP is observed, and oscillated variation laws of the radial displacement and radial strain of surrounding rocks are measured. The formation conditions and failure laws of the ZDP of a deep tunnel are revealed through a model test, which lays a solid test foundation for further studying the nonlinear deformation and failure mechanism of the deep tunnel.