The vertical stress distribution in a coal side of a roadway—an elastic foundation approach

A coal seam is usually sandwiched between two relatively stronger beds: the roof and floor. Drivage of a rectangular roadway into coal creates a different mining stress situation than that appearing in homogeneous and isotropic rocks with circular, elliptical or rectangular openings. In the present paper, the vertical stress distribution in coal forming the side of a rectangular roadway has been derived, taking into account some assumptions and applying the principle of a “beam on an elastic foundation”. The change of the state of confinement of coal from biaxial at the edge of the roadway to triaxial inbye has been accounted for in the method and the result is the reduction of the maximum vertical stress at the roadway side compared to a continuous biaxial or triaxial confinement. The stress distribution curves using different parameters are presented and the influence of some of parameters on the maximum vertical stress has been analysed.