Coal mining bumps

The hazards associated with continuous haulage systems underground have been described by el-Bassioni (1996) in an article that documents fatalities, injuries, safety issues, and safe work procedures. Continuous haulage systems, also known as bridge conveyors, are used with continuous miners. Concerns unique to continuous haulage systems include lack of communication between a miner and haulage operators, the lack of space around the systems, and Hmited visibiUty. Figure 26.6 illustrates an actual fatality in a coal mine. The operator was killed when his shuttle car bumped into the rib, and he was crushed between the rib and the car. 

Liu X. 2008. Research of prediction model of bumping pressure in coal layers based on fuzzy neural network. Industry and Mine Automation (1) 8-12. 

Yi E, Mou Z, Dou L, et al. 2011. Study on fuzzy comprehensive evaluation on mine pressure bumping dangers. Coal Engineering (6) 70-73. 

Deep mine excavations perturb the stresses in the surrounding rocks, reducing some components from values initially of the order of 100 MPa practically to zero. The resulting stress differences can exceed the strength of competent rock and cause earthquakes (often called rock bursts, coal bumps, etc.). Seismic data show clearly that many earthquakes at mines have non-DC mechanisms, usually with predominantly dilatational radiation patterns, that are incompatible with shear faulting. 

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