The Effect of Sloping Terrain on the Prediction of Dynamic Surface Movement in Undermined Valleys

Horizontal movements on the surface due to longwall mining are an important predictor of structural damage associated with subsidence as they are directly associated with ground strains. Because of this, accurate prediction of these values is of paramount importance for operators. It is well known that topography impacts the resulting deformations and is vital to consider during prediction. This work utilizes the slope effect parameter, slope aspect and dip angle as applied to the influence function, an analytical solution, to predict both final and dynamic deformations. Predicted values are compared to both measured data and predictions completed without consideration of topography. Results indicate that inclusion of the slope parameter is critical to accurate prediction of surface deformation in sloping topography. It is shown that sloping terrain impacts both the magnitude and timing of deformation. Limitations to the methodology are noted and presented as grounds for future work. These include the modeling of uplift and the capturing of broad ground shifts due to extended severe sloping.