Experimental study of the movement of backfilling gangues for goaf in steeply inclined coal seams

For the coal mining with flexible shield supports which is used widely in the exploitation of steeply inclined coal seams, a method with which to backfill enough gangues efficiently in goaf is the key to meet the control requirements for the roof. In order to research the movement of gangues in goaf and the factors influencing backfilling effects, an experimental device for the movement of gangues for backfilling the goaf in steeply inclined coal seams was designed. The movement trajectory of gangues was monitored and was divided into three stages. Gangue movement characteristic under different engineering condition was studied, which showed that the backfilling rate of gangues in the goaf of steeply inclined coal seams is positively correlated to the dip angle of the coal seam and the mining thickness, while being negatively correlated to the grain size of the gangues and the deformation of the roof.