219 Stability of gateroad in rockbolt support under complex geological and mining conditions – a case study from Poland *Łukasz Bednarek1, Zbigniew Niedbalski1, Piotr Małkowski1, Łukasz Nita2 1Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management, AGH University of Krakow, Poland, (*Presenting author: bednarek@agh.edu.pl) 2”Budryk” Coal Mine, Poland ABSTRACT In Polish coal mines, excavations supported solely with rockbolts are still considered rare and innovative solutions. Compared to conventional steel supports, rockbolt support offers a number of significant advantages: it enhances safety, improves working conditions, can be applied regardless of the excavation dimensions, enables full mechanization of the installation process, and provides measurable economic benefits. To date, there is no single universal and widely adopted methodology for the design of excavations supported exclusively with rockbolts. The effectiveness and selection of such support are largely determined by local geological and mining conditions. In Polish coal mines, these conditions are becoming increasingly challenging due to greater mining depths, the consequences of previous multi-seam extraction, numerous faults, and other unfavourable factors. A particularly complex issue is the maintenance of excavation stability in the vicinity of advancing longwall faces. In response to these challenges, a comprehensive research program was undertaken, combining advanced laboratory analyses with in situ measurements conducted directly in the mine. The aim of the study was to assess the stability of a roadway supported exclusively with rockbolts under complex geological and mining conditions in one of the Polish coal mines. The scope of work included: • detailed analysis of geological and mining conditions, accompanied by underground tests of rock strength parameters, • in situ measurements and interpretation of mine data, including rockbolt loading, roof layer separation, fracture zone extent, • assessment of the influence of the orientation of maximum horizontal stress on rockbolt support behavior, The results of this unique combination of rock parameters checked underground and mine observations provided valuable insights and formed the basis for conclusions enabling the optimization of design and improvement of excavation stability in rockbolt support under difficult and variable geological and mining conditions. KEYWORDS
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