Research on the Twin-Link Stepping Temporary Support Mechanism and the Repeatable Supportability of the Roof in the Underground Excavation Roadway of Coal Mine

The coal mine’s underground heading roadway suffers from a lack of effective temporary support, which contributes to low efficiency and inadequate safety in excavation operations. This paper presents a novel approach for roadway excavation, support, and anchoring, utilizing the twin-link stepping temporary support method. To address the stability requirements of the roadway roof in this support method, a numerical model of the excavation face was developed using the BBM (Bonded Block Model) method in 3DEC 7.0 software. Through numerical simulation, the repeatability of the twin-link stepping temporary support process was assessed for various roadway roof rock types, thicknesses, and burial depths. By considering aspects such as roof fragmentation, roof convergence, and relative displacement between the direct roof and the bedrock, the range of roadway roof repeatability was determined. The proposed twin-link stepping temporary support process, along with its applicable roof conditions, establishes a theoretical foundation for implementing the parallel operation mode in coal mine underground heading roadways, thereby significantly enhancing safety and efficiency.