A Study on the Movement and Deformation Law of Overlying Strata and the Self-Healing Characteristics of Ground Fissures in Non-Pillar Mining in the Aeolian Sand Area

The mining area in western China is ecologically sensitive. Coal mining can cause the formation of ground fissures, leading to geological disasters and further accelerating the process of land desertification. In this study, the working face of non-coal-pillar mining in the aeolian sand area was considered as the research object. The movement and deformation law of overlying strata were investigated through field measurements, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulation, and the mechanism governing the self-healing characteristics of ground fissures was revealed. The results demonstrated that the surface angular parameters were lower. This implies that the surface movement and the degree of deformation in non-coal-pillar mining in the aeolian sand area are significant, with a large mining influence range and rapid surface subsidence speed. After the mining of the working face, the resulting failure form of the overlying rock was asymmetric. Boundary ground fissures are typically located within the boundary of the working face, and no outward expansion is primarily observed. Dynamic ground fissures have “waviness” morphological characteristics and asymmetric “M” type development characteristics. A location model as well as a development cycle model of dynamic ground fissures were established for the first time, which can be used to predict the location and period of ground fissures. Based on the motion characteristics of hinged rock block structures, the mechanical mechanism of the self-healing phenomenon of dynamic ground fissures was revealed. A partition monitoring mode of working faces without coal pillar mining was proposed for the first time, which can reduce a lot of manpower and material resources. The coal mining subsidence basin is divided into a natural restoration area and an artificial restoration area. The combination of natural restoration and artificial guidance was used to control the ground fissures and reduce the associated costs. The research conclusions can provide a basis for mining damage evaluation and ecological environment protection in the aeolian sand area.