Numerical Survey on the Destabilization Mechanism of Weakly Cemented Soft Rock Roadway Considering Interlayer Effect

One of the major challenges facing coal mines in western China is occurrence of large deformation and hanging roof falls when roadway contains weak interlayer. To determine the effect of the thickness, stiffness and strength of the weak mudstone interlayer on the deformation of the weakly cemented soft rock roadway, two numerical models were built aiming to clarify the mechanism of roof fall and large deformation in Hongqingliang coal mine, China. The results show that the thickness and stiffness of the weak mudstone interlayer have a great influence on the subsidence of the roof. With the increase of the thickness of the weak mudstone interlayer or the decrease of stiffness, the subsidence of the roof increases obviously, but the strength of the weak mudstone interlayer has little effect on the deformation of the roof. The results can be used as a reference for the study of deformation and destabilization of surrounding rock in weakly cemented soft rock roadway with weak mudstone interlayer.