Set up on April 24, 2002.
Its principal lines of research are:
- physics of deep mining processes;
- developing methods for in-process control of rock massif condition;
- developing physico-chemical technologies for coal seam conversion into outburst-safe formation;
- developing prognostic techniques to predict changes in rock-mass and earth-surface conditions due to flooding of abandoned mines.
Main R&D achievements:
In the field of physics of coal and underground mining, Institute’s scientists were the first to study microstructure and sorption properties of coal matter with techniques of radio physics, such as nuclear magnetic resonance and electron paramagnetic resonance, to improve control methods in coal beds susceptible to gas-dynamic processes. Mechanisms of surfactants and chemically active agents interaction with coal organic matter are studied as well. The application of NMR broad line technique allowed a deeper insight into methane behavior in coal.
A novel facility has been designed and produced for experimental studies of rock condition and behavior under actual high triaxial loading. This equipment is unique and allows simulating the bulk stress state with any ratio of principal stresses in real rocks at the depths down to 3 km and studying their extreme state for various loading rates and rock fissuring degrees.
Relying on the results of fundamental research, these studies have produced criteria and methods of outburst-hazard prognostics in underground coal mining; a classification of coal seams according to their outburst hazard; outburst-site forecasting during in-seam development working and a classification of the past gas-dynamic accidents involving both sudden outbursts and roof sloughing. All those methods and criteria have been tested at sites where outburst-hazardous coal seams are mined.