Characterizing the Top Coal Cavability with Hard Stone Band(s): Insights from Laboratory Physical Modeling

One of the most challenging problems in longwall top coal caving is the top coal cavability. Stone bands, which are usually found in thick coal seams, have shown adverse effects on top coal fragmentation and cavability. Understanding the characteristics of the stone band caving process is a primary step in evaluating top coal cavability in such conditions. In this study, a series of laboratory tests was implemented to find an appropriate...