Rock Pillar Fracture-Induced Vibration Characteristics and Rock Burst Mechanism in Steeply Inclined Extra-Thick Coal Seam Group Mining

Clarifying the dynamic mechanism of rock pillar fracture and its rock burst-inducing mechanism is fundamental for the prevention and control of rock burst disasters in steeply inclined extra-thick coal seam groups. In this study, field monitoring, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulation were combined to investigate the rebound vibration behavior and rock burst-inducing mechanism of fractured rock pillars, and corresponding mitigation measures for rock pillar-induced rock bursts were proposed. The results indicate that instantaneous rock pillar fracture induces reciprocating rebound vibration behavior within the coal seam rock pillar, causing the velocity, displacement, and strain energy density of the rock pillar to remain in a persistent fluctuation state. Meanwhile, periodic mutual conversion between strain energy and kinetic energy occurs throughout the vibration process. During any vibration cycle, the rock pillar cannot recover to its initial equilibrium position, resulting in a sharp increase in the loads acting on the floor side of the B3–6 coal seam and a significant decrease in the loads acting on the roof side of the B1–2 coal seam. Consequently, the B3–6 coal seam remains subjected to transient dynamic loading, whereas the B1–2 coal seam experiences transient unloading after rock pillar fracture. This asymmetric transient loading mechanism is identified as the intrinsic reason for the higher rock burst proneness of the B3–6 coal seam. Based on the dynamic response characteristics of the stope coal rock system, staggered-level mining of the B1–2 and B3–6 coal seams and slotting presplitting in the B3 roadway were proposed as mitigation measures for rock pillar-induced rock bursts. When the stagger distance of the working face increases from 25 m to 100 m, the stress drop of the B3–6 coal seam is 22.9%~28.7%. When the slotting depth of the rock pillar increases from 25 m to 80 m, the stress of the B3–6 coal seam decreases by 9.88%~24.1%. These findings provide theoretical support and engineering guidance for rock burst prevention and control in steeply inclined coal seam.