Research on the Strain and Stress of Powered Roof Support Construction to Limit Damage

A powered roof support in a mining complex comprises a set of sections positioned side by side. Thus, it creates space for the mining longwall shearer and the excavated material haulage conveyor. The main role of the powered roof support is to secure the machinery and equipment, as well as the working crew. This roof support also takes over the load from the rock mass during operation. The loads and phenomena that cause damage to the powered roof support construction in real conditions became the basis for conducting a series of studies and analyses of the stresses and strains that occur. This study aimed to obtain the results of research and analysis on the damage to the floor base, which is the most important part of the entire powered roof support construction. The actual pressure measurements carried out in the space under the piston leg of the powered roof support under real conditions indicated an excessive load on the powered roof support construction. This load was mainly due to the ceiling conditions, while the floor conditions for providing the construction were difficult to determine due to the too-soft floor substrate. The Finite Element Method (FEM) was used to solve the problem. The construction of the two powered roof support bases was subjected to numerical analysis in order to propose structural changes. The obtained numerical test results indicated a solution to the problem of damage and significant structural changes.