Characters Evaluation of Ground Pressure in Fully Mechanized Top Coal Caving Face in Soft Coal Seams

Based on the big thickness, low stiffiness and other characters of No. 8 coal seam in Huaibei mining area, the moving laws of top coal seam and roof, and distribution law of ground pressure were studied under the fully mechanized top coal caving. The research methods included working resistance observation of hydraulic supports in working face, deformation observation of stope roadways and deeper base point observation in roof and top coal. The results show that, in the thick and soft coal seams, the influence coverage of mining ground pressure in fully mechanized top coal caving face is much wider than that in the working face with general mining technology, but the intensity of pressure is much lower.