New Approach to Longwall Gate Support

Abstract

Present gate support systems are typically only passive in design, and in less than ideal ground conditions, often result in loss of travel-way integrity and longwall productivity as the front abutment passes. Notably, “Mines in the western United States the amount of convergence measured in the mine entry will vary depending on how much load resistance is provided by the support system the lowest required support capacity would be one that is developed just before this critical roof deformation occurs where failure of the immediate roof is fast approaching. However, designing to this lower limit of support capacity leaves no margin of error if load conditions worsen have had limited choices for standing support [1].”