Abstract: Aiming to solve the serious problem of spalling in 31201 air income gateway of Cuncaota No.2 Caol Mine, based on theoretical analysis and calculating, a reasonable width of coal pillar was designed, the bolt-mesh support design was proposed as follow, “roof: deformed steel bar bolt + welded steel grid + anchor +πsteel band”, “gob side wall: deformed steel bar bolt + welded steel grid ” , “ solid coal wall: GFRP bolt + double high strength resistant plastic mesh”. In order to verify the reasonableness of this design, FLAC3D numerical simulation software was used. The result shows that roof subsidence and two-sided displacement are so small that can omit under this conditions of the support program. And the horizontal stresses are under zero, it shows that the stresses can not lead to spalling of coal wall. 200 m gateway was excavated, but there were no spalling , and the gateway deformation was small.

Key words: thick coal seam, gob-side entry driving, bolt-mesh support, theoretical calculations, numerical simulation