GUO W B, HU C Q, ZHANG Y H，et al.A study on the stability of reverse faults and of overlying strata movement under mining disturbance[J].Journal of Henan Polytechnic University(Natural Science) ,2026,45(2):1-10.

doi:10.16186/j.cnki.1673-9787.2025030009

Received:2025/03/05

Revised:2025/05/24

Published:2026/01/28

A study on the stability of reverse faults and of overlying strata movement under mining disturbance

Guo Wenbing1,2, Hu Chaoqun1, Zhang Yihui3, Ge Zhibo1

1.School of Energy Science and Engineering， Henan Polytechnic University， Jiaozuo  454003， Henan， China；2.Collaborative Innovation Center of Coal Work Safety and Clean High Efficiency Utilization， Jiaozuo  454003， Henan， China；3.Daping Coal Mine， Zhengzhou Coal Industry Group Co.， Ltd.， Zhengzhou  452370， Henan， China

Abstract: Objectives The stability of reverse faults and the overlying strata movement pattern under mining influence is investigated to prevent fault activation and instability triggered by mining activities.  Methods Through a combination of engineering case studies， theoretical analysis， and numerical simulations， the fault activation mechanism under mining disturbance is systematically analyzed. The susceptibility of fault activation during hanging-wall and foot-wall mining operation is quantitatively assessed and the corresponding failure modes and fracture development patterns in the overlying strata are compared. Results The results show that： （1） During hanging wall mining of the reverse fault， both normal and shear displacement vectors of the overlying rock joints approach 0， indicating minimal mining impact on strata movement and fault activation. Although stress concentration is observed near the fault but no slip displacement occurs. （2） During foot-wall mining， the maximum overlying strata settlement is 0.16 m higher than during hanging-wall mining， with greater fracture development height. The normal and shear displacement vectors of the overlying rock joints reach 0.4 m and 1.3 m， respectively. Under the influence of mining， the fault exhibits both stress concentration and activation-induced slip instability. （3） Using the activation risk index Q to evaluate the fault activation risk， foot-wall mining is found to demonstrate higher susceptibility to fault slip activation. （4） The stability criteria for faults during hanging-wall and foot-wall mining are determined to be T/F＞0.087 and T/F＞11.43， respectively， indicating greater instability risk during foot-wall mining. Significant differences in fault stability are observed between the two mining scenarios. （5） For foot-wall mining， a protective coal pillars with a  horizontal distance exceeding 117 m between the working face and the fault is required.  Conclusions These results provide critical insights for optimizing coal resource recovery while ensuring mining safety in areas affected by reverse fault structures.

Key words: reverse fault; mining disturbance; activation; fracture development; stress concentration