Abstract: In order to solve the roadway support problem in soft steeply inclined coal seam, numerical calculation method has been used to study the roadway stress and displacement distribution characteristics in steeply inclined coal seam. The results have shown that the natural balanced arch formed at the top of roadway after excavation gradually extends upward along the inclined plane of coal seam, which is similar to the distribution form of vertical stress. The key supporting parts of the roadway are top coal and coal side. Based on the above research, a comprehensive support system with bolts, steel strips, nets, anchor cables and high strength arch beams has been proposed, aiming at fully mobilizing self-bearing capacity of surrounding rock to form a whole bearing system with the support system. Field test results have shown that the support system can effectively control the roadway stability, and the wall-to-wall relative displacement is less than 40 mm, which may also provide some reference to the roadway support in similar conditions of steeply inclined coal seams.

Key words: steeply inclined coal seam, deformation characteristics, arch beam, control technology