Study on Prediction of Burst Hazard Associated with Advancing a Tunnel through Goaf

To prevent gas burst disasters while advancing a tunnel through the goaf, the technology for predicting burst hazard associated with advancing a tunnel through the goaf is presented in this paper. First, the safety control distance of prediction holes in each zone before the tunnel is advanced through the goaf is established via numerical simulation to further determine the number and arrangement of prediction holes. Then, burst prediction indicators are determined and prediction results are obtained through analysis. Prediction of burst hazard associated with advancing the left tube of Huayan Tunnel of Chengdu-Chongqing Motorway through the goaf of coal seam K₁ of South Zhongliangshan Mine at ZK3+130 was performed and it was found that none of the prediction indicators exceeded critical values, thus concluding there was no burst hazard. With more pre-support measures put in place, the proposed technology ensured the safety in advancing the tunnel through the goaf of coal seam K₁.