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By R. Fraher

Hazard analysis utilizes interaction mechanisms in combination with geologic, structural and mining conditions to delineate areas of potential damage in seams subject to interaction. Using characterizations of conditions peculiar to multi-seam mining, such as innerburden thickness, geology and structures, initial interaction contour maps can be constructed. Geologic hazard analysis is then carried out on roof, pillar and floor conditions in the affected seam using lower seam rock properties and layout geometries in the overlying seam. Either safety factors or damage ratings can then be developed representing degree of hazard in the lower seam. The final hazard map shows both the aerial extent and magnitude of potential damage from interaction.

Jan 1, 1992

By M. W. Fabjanczyk

Cement and resin encapsulated tendons are widely used in the stabilisation of mine roadways. One of the main factors in controlling the efficiency of the reinforcement is the ability of the tendon to generate load in response to rock deformation. The analysis of field data from instrumented reinforcing tendons complimented with extensive laboratory investigations have more accurately defined the mechanisms by which load generation occurs. The role of reinforcing tendon profiles, hole geometry and encapsulation medium properties in controlling the reinforcement stiffness and capacity are discussed. The results of the investigation have implications in both the design of rock reinforcing systems and the optimisation of encapsulation mediums and tendons.

Jan 1, 1992

By E. Yasar

This paper describes the use of the sand and plaster physical modelling technique to investigate the deformation around mine roadways using a variety of support methods in a particular form of stress field. The characteristics and conditions of coal measures rock were considered prior to the preparation of the models and the insertion of support The investigation has clearly shown how floor lift, roof failure and sidewall movements of mine roadways in laminated weak rock conditions gradually develops as a result of the increase in the stress and, also, how it is related to the level of support used.

Jan 1, 1995

By Daniel W. H. Su

Underground roof geology reconnaissance is being conducted by CONSOL Inc. to enhance mine productivity. Often, roof instability within mine entries is the consequence of highly variable geology that cannot always be detected from information provided by widely-spaced surface core holes. Utilizing a combination of roof drilling data, geophysical logs, and borehole camera and fiberscope observations, roof geology mapping is conducted within longwall development entries in areas of specific concern prior to commencement of longwall mining, Depending on the uniformity of the site-specific roof geology, data point spacing along the longwall development generally ranges from one to five crosscuts. Surface core hole data are correlated with the roof geology mapped underground to validate the underground observations. Detailed roof geology maps can then be produced to enable ground control engineers and mine management to select cost-effective ground control techniques. However, this procedure is not necessary or useful in all situations and it is employed only when there is strong geologic evidence to justify a closer inspection.

Jan 1, 1999

By Jesse L. Craft

Field investigation of surface subsidence events associated with both active and abandoned underground coal mines in the United States has established criteria that enable the prediction and classification of mine-related subsidence. The key was establishing the role of geology in all types of subsidence and the recognition of beam subsidence in specific geologic settings. The classification is based on overburden thickness, variations in stratigraphy, topography and mine plan. Types of subsidence are Pit, Room, Sag, and Beam. Pit subsidence is associated with three geologic settings: shale overburden, seasonally wet unconsolidated overburden, and perched water table in unconsolidated overburden. Room subsidence occurs where the roof across the width of the room fails to the surface and a shallow depression develops. Sag subsidence develops where the pillars are failing in conjunction with roof failure. Overburden thickness is generally greater than 150 feet. Beam subsidence can occur in all terrains. It is associated with retreat mining and room and pillar mining where pillar crushing or pillar compression has taken place and barriers are left inplace. They occur as beam arch or one-sided beam subsidence. Beam arch failure occurs where mining has taken place on both sides of a coal barrier. One-sided beam failure is associated with retreat mining moving from a barrier towards the entry in hilly topography. This type of subsidence occurs where a hard, thick, rock unit is acting as a bridge supporting the overburden and outcrops on the hill side.

Jan 1, 1992

By Satyendra K. Singh

If the extraction is beneath massive roof strata, the roof tends to 'bridge' across large spans without failing, the caving behaviour is complex and irregular. Understandably, these give rise to many geotechnical problems with safety implications and involving sometime huge direct and indirect costs. Only two important problems, 'feather-edging' in pillar mining and `severe periodic weighting' in longwalling, are discussed in this paper in the background of geomechanics investigations in Australia at Blue Mountain Colliery and in South Bulga Colliery respectively. `Feather edging'- a major source of injury and fatal accidents in Australia and South Africa in such situations, refers to a phenomenon where the roof, at the goat edge, falls as a thin wafer of rock often suddenly, over-riding conventional timber breakerlines. The results of the first comprehensive, monitored trial in an Australian pillar extraction coal mine, suggests how the roof falls into feather-edging caving (generally) because of multiple shear-planes (interpreted) and how it may be alleviated. Because of complex fracturing behaviour of massive roof strata, periodic weighting at a longwall face is certain to manifest itself as 'yielding supports', heavy conditions', rapid convergence and in the worst case, as a cause of face stoppage. After briefly discussing the programme of instrumentation (in a chain-pillar and over the would-be goal) and results, this paper attempts to improve mechanistic understanding of the related geotechnical issues associated with the weighting behaviour and aims at establishing a 'threshold' value of weighting severity index (suggesting intensity of periodic weighting) with an objective to optimise operational controls before mining through potential (future) weighting areas.

Jan 1, 2000

By R. F. Valene

This paper is not available for inclusion in the Proceedings at the time of printing. but it will be included as an insert

Jan 1, 1984

By Bruce K. Hebblewhite

This paper provides an overview of the international ?state of the art? with respect to underground coal mining methods used in seams of thickness greater than 4.5 m, through a review of a selection of high performing thick seam mining operations around the world?both Single Pass Longwall (SPL) and Longwall Top Coal Caving (LTCC). The paper discusses the recent operational experiences from these selected faces, together with the ground control issues faced, and identifies some of the major, inherent geotechnical factors that can influence the mining method selection, design criteria, and ultimate performance, from both an operational and safety perspective. It is clear that both of these methods are developing quickly? not only from an operational and equipment perspective, but also from the understanding of critical geotechnical criteria. There is an increasing role for both methods in thick seam environments, although the higher SPL faces will only be successful in the near to mid-term under benign geotechnical environments. Regardless of the method, a thorough understanding of the critical geotechnical factors is a key to successful implementation of either method.

Jan 1, 2013

By David Newman

The latest version of the Surface Deformation Prediction Software (SDPS) package is presented through its application to a number of case studies. The package now exploits all the benefits of the Microsoft Windows platform and has a direct interface to CAD software, thus facilitating input and output. Also, the package features advanced calibration routines to handle predictions over specific regions. The case studies presented highlight the features and capabilities of the new package.

Jan 1, 2001

By S. K. Sharma

The present study attempts to critically review the pillar-design as required by Coal Mines Regulations of India vis-a-vis latest rockmechanics formulae, Equivalent material modelling was the approach adopted for testing the safety and stability of the pillar sizes predicted by various formulae. Two parameters, considered here for calculating pillar sizes was the stresses acting over the pillars and the strength of the pillars. Stresses acting on the pillars were calculated by the tributary area method. Based on the studies of Coates and Hustrulid, the stress obtained was reduced by 40 percent. For calculating the strength of the pillars, three formulae, namely Holland and Gaddy, Salamon and Munro and Central Mining Research Station, India, were used. The pillar widths were then determined by equating the product of recommended factor of safety and pillar stress with the pillar strength.

Jan 1, 1992

By Keith Heasley, Christopher Newman, Zach Agioutantis

"Previously, in 2013, a laboratory version of the computer code ARMPS-LAM, introduced at the 32""d International Conference of Ground Control in Mining, successfully integrated the laminated overburden model of LaModel into an ARMPS-style pillar stability analysis. The ARMPS-LAM analysis has now been fully integrated into the ARMPS program allowing users to more accurately classify the stability of a given mine design utilizing a laminated overburden model for the determination of pillar loading within theAMZ. ,This paper introduces the new Windows-based ARMPS-LAM program. The program's ease of use, output result generation, and limitations are highlighted through the parametric analysis of three hypothetical case studies where traditional ARMPS output is compared to output generated by LaModel. As mining operations continue to produce at greater depths and in more complex geometric and geological conditions, flexible and efficient analyses of mine stability for underground room and pillar mining has become more and more essential. The ARMPS-LAM program provides the mining industry with an empirically backed, numerical design tool for the evaluation of underground room and pillar mine plans.INTRODUCTIONIn the Southern Appalachian coal fields of the United States, retreat room-and-pillar methods have allowed mining operations to maintain high rates of production in the face of adverse geologic conditions and shrinking coal reserves. Over the years, research has been dedicated to understanding and mitigating mining-related dangers due to second mining practices, such as: pillar squeezes, floor heave, roof falls, pillar bumps, etc. However, as mining operations continue at deeper depths and with more complex geometric and geologic conditions, there is an inherent industry need for more accurate, flexible, and faster evaluations of stability for underground room-and-pillar mining."

Jan 1, 2016

By Ihsan B. Tulu, Keith A. Heasley, Aanand Nandula

"The objective of this paper is to present the development of a software tool that will assist in an area calculation of the Analysis of Roof Bolting Systems (ARBS) support intensity while incorporating more detailed geology, stress, and intersection span input. In this area ARBS tool, a detailed CMRR distribution can be determined from the available geologic database at the mine. In addition, the overburden and multiple-seam stresses, as obtained from the boundary-element program LaModel, can be converted to a “pseudo-depth” which is then used as the depth input to the area ARBS calculation. Finally, the section-specific intersection spans can be determined from the mine design for input to the calculation. All this detailed area input information for ARBS is handled by the latest version of the Stability Mapping (StabMap) program, which now outputs an area ARBS suggested support density given the required input parameters. This final ARBS grid can be plotted, analyzed and overlaid on the mine map for optimum use in support design and for presentation to production personnel.INTRODUCTIONSince the inception of roof bolts in the 1940s, there has been a lack of a universally accepted roof bolting design method (Mark, 2002; Mark and Pappas, 2012). To address this situation, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Hazard (NIOSH) developed roof support design guidelines, which were incorporated into a computer program called the Analysis of Roof Bolting Systems (ARBS). These guidelines were based on the effects of roof quality, stress, and mine geometry (Mark, Molinda and Dolinar, 2001). The roof rock quality in ARBS is represented by the Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR), the depth is used as a surrogate for the stress, and the intersection span serves to represent the mine geometry (Mark, Molinda and Dolinar, 2001). These three input parameters are used in the fundamental, empirically derived equation of ARBS to calculate a required support density factor, called ARBS, (Mark, Molinda and Dolinar, 2001):"

Jan 1, 2018

By Weijia Guo

With the exploitation of coal resources, a large area of land had been affected by surface subsidence, causing conflicts between man and land to become more conspicuous by the day, affecting the life of general public, and constraining further development of the land. This paper predicts the subsidence areas according to the 10-year mining plan of the Jibei mining district as an example. A plan of environmental management was developed based on sciences and practical economics.

Jan 1, 2006

By Michael Karmis

During the last 25 years, technological advancement and subsidence research have resulted in more accurate and diverse prediction capabilities. The work presented in this paper focuses on the development of integrated prediction capabilities for dynamic deformation indices and for strains over sloping terrain. In order to assist subsidence engineers with accurate prediction methodologies, the research also addresses the development and validation of techniques that can enable model calibration using alternative measured subsidence parameters such as horizontal or ground strain instead of the traditional vertical subsidence values. This paper presents the basic concepts and validation of the above mentioned enhanced prediction and control methodologies, which are necessary for effective assessment and control of mining-induced subsidence, using examples and case studies. In addition, a risk assessment approach for evaluating landscape stability over mined areas is presented. The enhanced prediction methodologies have been incorporated into the Surface Deformation Prediction Software (SDPS) package.

Jan 1, 2008

By Gheorghe Oncioiu

The phenomena developed on the influence of thick coal seam no.3 mining, by horizontal slices and rocks caving roof control, in the Jiu Valley coal basin, are very complex. By analyzing the influence volume of underground faces and defining the stress and strain zones, around the faces, it is possible to evaluate the suitable powered support performances. Also, Jiu Valley thick coal seams involve about 50% of reserve balance in the main safety pillars of social, industrial and natural objectives, situated on the mining surface perimeters. For a correct design and drawing of main safety pillars complex research was done with the aim of establishing the subsidence parameters. Upper face rocks medium could be assimilated as a granular medium, which is in a permanent movement. For describing the rocks movement, respectively the ground surface displacement, was taken into account the stochastic mechanics principles. The theoretical solutions are in accordance within situ measurements.

Jan 1, 1999

By Kevin Jinrong Ma

Underground mines often experience roof falls in entries, crosscuts, and intersections of active mining sections, main travel ways, and belt entries. Roof fall heights greater than 20 ft (6 m) make re-bolting of the newly exposed roof dangerous and impractical. To protect mine personnel, belts, moving vehicles, and other facilities, mine operators typically install steel structures such as square or arch sets in the roof fall areas. Wood lagging is usually installed between the steel-sets to enclose the area and protect the entry from recurring falls. Usually the void space above the steel-sets and laggings is backfilled. However, backfilling high roof fall voids is costly, which causes some operators to leave the voids open. In this case, durability of wood over time and the capability of the steel-set and wood lagging to resist falling rocks are unknown. During the last few years, Keystone Mining Services, LLC (Jennmar Corporation affiliate engineering company) designed, tested, and developed an impact-resistant lagging system to protect steel-sets1. Various steel-sets protected with the impact-resistant lagging were approved by MSHA and installed in different underground roof fall rehabilitation projects. This paper presents (1) design, development, and laboratory testing of the patent-pending impact-resistant lagging panel, (2) steel-set design methodology according to the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) national standard, and (3) impact-resistant steel-set design method based on Law of Conservation of Energy. Two underground cases are reviewed to demonstrate the successful application of the impact-resistant lagging system.

Jan 1, 2011

By Thomas M. Barczak

A survey of the longwall industry was conducted to examine the performance of modern shield technology. The results of this survey indicate that state-of-the-art shields perform better and last longer than ever before, but premature failures do still occur. In addition, longwalI operators are now using shields longer than ever before and a greater number of fatigue related failures on aging shields are now occurring. A generic assessment of these shield failures is provided, describing the nature of the failures and how widespread they are throughout the industry. An engineering assessment of shield design and factors that cause shield failures is made using both strength of materials and fracture mechanics principles. From this analysis, design practices to improve structural margins of safety and extend the life of the shield are proposed. The existence of unexpected shield failures indicate that current shield performance testing is at times inadequate. Recommendations are made relative to improved shield performance testing protocols including the benefits of testing in an active load frame such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Mine Roof Simulator. Even the most rigorous shield testing procedures, which strive to simulate in-service loading conditions, fail to consider key environmental issues, such as corrosion which is often the cause of structural fatigue failures in modern shields. The survey also indicated that hydraulic failures occur much sooner in the life cycle of a shield than structural failures, and although they can significantly degrade support capability, often go undetected for long periods of time. Methods to detect the hydraulic failures are also provided. The paper concludes with key points to maximizing shield design and life expectancy and ideas for future generation shield designs.

Jan 1, 1999

By Kewal K. Kohli, Stefanie Self

"Three cases of surface subsidence investigated over abandoned coal mines after flooding in one case and dcwatering in two cases are presented in this paper. Mining was conducted by the room and- pillar method at all the mines leaving stable pillars. This paper will discuss the background chain of events and the likely causes of the pillar failure resulting in surface subsidence.CASE NO.1BackgroundThe Pittsburgh scam was mined in 1960 by the room-and- pillar method, leaving pillars (Figure I) through Mine A. located in Monongalia County. West Virginia.The mining height in U1is area was 1.83 m (6 ft) with an average mining depth of 140 m (460 ft). The mining recovery was 62% and the safety factor of the pillars was calculated at 1.15 using the Bieniawski ( 1984) fom1ula. For stable pillar design. a 1.5 safety factor is recommended. A 1.15 safety factor is considered marginal. Pumping continued after the mine was shut down in 1960 to prevent water seeping into an adjoining mine owned by the same company. The pumping ceased on December 12. 2003, and the mine was allowed to flood. The water level rose about 17 m (55 ft) by August 3 1, 2004, based on observations in a nearby borehole. On September 3, 2004 surface subsidence occurred above this area causing damage 10 a residence (Figure 2).Summary of InvestigationThe floor of the Pittsburgh coal scam played a strong role in the pillar failure. In this area, the immediate floor of the Pittsburgh seam consists of about two feet of fireclay. Extensive damage to the surface house was an indication that a major collapse below the surface had occurred. The pillars supporting the overlying strata were evaluated to find the cause of their failure. The pillars in the Pittsburgh seam (sec Figure I) had a marginal safety factor of 1.15 before flooding and were stable for 26 years. Once the mine was flooded the water level in the Pittsburgh seam rose by 17 m (55 ft). Shortly thereafter the fireclay in the floor weakened, resulting in several pillars punching into the floor unevenly making the immediate roof unstable. The overburden strata supported by these pillars also subsided do"" n into the mine, causing damage to several house on the surface."

Jan 1, 2010

By Abdolreza (Reza) Osouli

Determining the roof stability condition of underground coal mines in the Illinois Basin is sometimes very challenging. The roof stability of Illinois mines are mostly affected by two types of shales: Anna Shale and Energy Shale. These layers are sometimes weak in parallel bedding when subjected to horizontal stresses. The roof rocks in the Illinois Basin are are typically more moisture sensitive than the other coal fields. In this study the geotechnical properties of some of the shale units as well as limestone layers will be presented. The geotechnical properties of roof rocks consist of moisture content, unconfined compressive strength, slake durability, indirect tensile strength, and point load tests (Axial and Diametral). The correlation of indirect tensile strength versus diametral point load strength as well as unconfined compressive strength versus axial point load test are explored and discussed. These correlations will help in identifying the roof mass index and planning appropriate roof control measures. This study also evaluates the application of CMRR rock mass index for an Illinois coal mine.

Jan 1, 2014

By Cosmo P. Fazio

Remote control roof bolting is approaching reality with the continued improvement of a number of components and subsystems being developed by The Bendix Corporation under sponsorship of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the U.S. Department of Energy. The era of remote control research in roof bolting was initiated by the USBM in June of 1973 with the award of a contract to Bendix Corporation to design and build a roof bolt bender/inserter device. One year later in June of 1974, the Bureau awarded five parallel R&D contracts to develop a longer-than-seam-height flexible roof drill. The Bendix flexible drill design has been the most successful of the five, has been thoroughly tested in both laboratory and underground situations, and has been incorporated into a number of machine applications along with the roof bolt inserter. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the advantages of remote control bolting from both a safety and productivity standpoint. Applications of the flexible drill and roof bolt inserter on a number of government and industry supported programs are used to illustrate the advances being made toward the goal of remote control.

Jan 1, 1982