In 2024, a complex roadway auxiliary transportation project was successfully implemented for a soft rock mine in Guizhou Province, China.
This coal mine, characterized by its soft rock geology, presents complex conditions including multiple faults in the mining areas, prone-to-deformation roadways, high roof pressure, and numerous right-angle bends. Traditional monorail track systems, constrained by their operational characteristics, were unable to adapt to the complex roadway layout. This resulted in redundant auxiliary transport links and low efficiency, severely restricting the mine’s excavation and replacement progress. An urgent need arose for a highly adaptable monorail system suitable for soft rock working conditions.
Our team conducted on-site surveys to accurately measure critical data such as roadway dimensions and intersection angles. Addressing the deformation characteristics of soft rock roadways, we innovatively employed high-strength suspension anchors and adjustable support brackets to counteract the impact of roadway settlement and deformation on the track system. Custom track components were designed for the multiple bends, utilizing a combination of curved and straight beams to achieve a perfect fit with the roadway curves. The system achieves a minimum horizontal turning radius of 3.5 meters, adapting to both 130° and 90° angled bends underground. Furthermore, an intelligent monitoring system was integrated, equipped with anchor bolt stress sensors and surrounding rock sensors, enabling dynamic monitoring of the roadway roof and track conditions to ensure safe equipment operation.
Since its deployment, the project has achieved “one-stop” transportation of materials from the surface to the underground working face, eliminating repeated loading and unloading. Transportation efficiency has increased by over 30%, with a reduction of 5 to 7 operators per shift. This successfully solved the complex roadway transport challenges in the soft rock mine. The dismantling and transportation of 46 hydraulic supports were completed in just 10 days, completely breaking free from the constraints of traditional transport modes. This project provides a replicable示范 model for upgrading auxiliary transport systems in soft rock mines across China and stands as a representative example of our capabilities in complex geological conditions.
