Abstract: In order to ensure sublevel mining safety of inclined orebody, theoretical calculation method and numerical simulation method were combined to analyze the stability of the hanging wall rock at sublevel-step stope with different structure parameters. The relationship between equivalent exposed area, stress variation, displacement and plastic zone distribution of surrounding rock on the hanging wall and the length, height of the stope was analyzed under different parameter conditions. Based on the theory of rock strength, the distribution area of tensile stress zone and the limit criterion of displacement, the parameters of stope structure which can guarantee the stability of the upper plate were put forward and demonstrated by the engineering application. The results show that the increase rate of equivalent exposed area with the stope length is greater than that with the height. When the stope length is greater than 40 m, the influencing weight of stope height on equivalent exposed area increases gradually. When stope length and height are both 40 m, the maximum displacement of surrounding rock on the upper wall along the left and right edges and the bottom of stope is 41.77 mm, and the plastic zone gradually generates in local. However, each plastic zone does not penetrate with each other, so it can maintain its own stability. The engineering application results show that there is no peeling and slag dropping of the surrounding rock on the hanging wall during the mining process, with good stability. Therefore, in order to effectively ensure the safety and production efficiency of the stope, it is suggested that the height of the stope should be 40 m and the length should be 40 m.

Key words: Sublevel stope, Hanging wall rock, Equivalent exposed area, Numerical simulation, Engineering application