A special place among the problems of rock pressure is occupied by the support and control of the roof in the stope. Domestic and foreign researchers have studied these issues on models and in mine conditions. In this case, the main importance was attached to the mining depth, the thickness and strength of coal and side rocks, the length of the face, the rate of advance of the face, as well as the choice of the type of support and roof control. Although many scientists and mining practitioners recognize the significant importance of the time factor and its impact on the reliability of the support, in research it is almost not taken into account. At shallow depths, with negligible mining pressure, the time factor and reliability do not play a significant role. With the mining depth, a significant increase in mining pressure leads to changes in the physical and mechanical properties of rocks. The tendency to heaving increases, their plasticity, creep and fluidity increase. These processes, as well as the processes of rock destruction, vary over time. Therefore, it is impossible to study mining processes without taking into account the time factor and its influence on the reliability of production schemes ...

With the development of theoretical and experimental studies, the general picture of manifestations of rock pressure, the mechanism of deformation and destruction of rocks in time and space, becomes increasingly clear. It is established that one of the main acting factors is not short-term, as previously thought, but long-term strength. The issues of stability, reliability of support of cleaning and preparatory workings and many others cannot be satisfactorily solved without taking this factor into account. Specificity of solving these issues (short life of many mine workings, changes in mining and geological conditions, etc.) makes it necessary to obtain the characteristics of long-term strength in the shortest possible time. The existing method of determining these characteristics with the help of special equipment during testing under constant load requires a long time (from several months to several years) and does not satisfy the necessary conditions ...