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Mining Publication: Observations and Evaluation of Floor Benching Effects on Pillar Stability in U.S. Limestone Mines
Keywords: Benching Limestone Pillars Support design and selection
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Original creation date: May 2007
Authors: GS Esterhuizen, DR Dolinar, JL Ellenberger
Conference Paper - May 2007
Download PDF Document (0.20 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20032394
In: Eberhardt E, Stead D, Morrison T, eds. Proceedings of the First Canada - U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, May 27-31, 2007). Taylor & Francis Ltd., 7 pp.
A survey of roof and pillar conditions in underground limestone mines in the United States has revealed that bench mining of the floor between pillars can cause instability in the pillars at the perimeter of the benched area. Increased loading of these pillars was observed at several mines. Large inclined geological structures that are exposed in pillar ribs were observed to contribute to pillar instability. The paper describes a study that was carried out using numerical models to assess the effects of bench mining on pillar load and stability. It was found that the benched pillars shed load onto the surrounding pillars owing to their reduced stiffness. The pillars at the perimeter of the benching area will start shedding load as soon as benching increases the height of one side of the pillar. A case study is described which shows the effects of bench mining on limestone mine pillars.
Image of publication Observations and Evaluation of Floor Benching Effects on Pillar Stability in U.S. Limestone MinesConference Paper - May 2007
Download PDF Document (0.20 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20032394
In: Eberhardt E, Stead D, Morrison T, eds. Proceedings of the First Canada - U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, May 27-31, 2007). Taylor & Francis Ltd., 7 pp.
See Also
Assessment of Stable and Failed Pillars in Underground Limestone Mines
Coal Bumps and Odd Dynamic Phenomena - A Numerical Investigation
Effect of the Dip and Excavation Orientation on Roof Stability in Moderately Dipping Stone Mine Workings
Effects of Weak Bands on Pillar Stability in Stone Mines: Field Observations and Numerical Model Assessment
Evaluation of the Effects of Length on Strength of Slender Pillars in Limestone Mines Using Numerical Modeling
Failure Characteristics of Roof Falls at an Underground Stone Mine in Southwestern Pennsylvania
Investigation of Pillar-Roof Contact Failure in Northern Appalachian Stone Mine Workings
Pillar Stability Issues Based on a Survey of Pillar Performance in Underground Limestone Mines
Sizing of Final Stumps for Safer Pillar Extraction
Stability Analysis of a Backfilled Room-and-Pillar Mine
Page last reviewed: September 21, 2012
Page last updated: September 21, 2012
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
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