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Mining Publication: Investigation of Pillar-Roof Contact Failure in Northern Appalachian Stone Mine Workings
Keywords: Horizontal stress Numerical modeling Pillars Roof falls Stone mining 
 Support design and selection
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Original creation date: August 2004
Authors: GS Esterhuizen, AT Iannacchione
Conference Paper - August 2004
Download PDF Document (0.36 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20025350
In: Peng SS, Mark C, Finfinger GL, Tadolini SC, Heasley KA, Khair AW, eds. Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Ground Control in Mining. Morgantown, WV: West Virginia University, 2004 Aug; :320-326
The roof rock in underground limestone mines in northern Appalachia can be subject to high horizontal stresses despite the shallow depth of the workings. The high stresses can cause roof stability problems. NIOSH researchers have observed a distinctive, asymmetrical mode of failure at the pillar-roof contact in two underground stone mines, which is different from the typical failure mode observed in response to excessive levels of horizontal stress. A dip of greater than 5 deg was identified as a possible cause of this mode of failure. Numerical model experiments showed that an increase in the dip of the workings can cause an increase in the stress at the up-dip corner of the roof beam. A case study is presented in which failure at the pillar-roof contact was observed where the dip of the workings was 7 deg in a high horizontal stress field. Numerical modeling showed that the relatively small dip of the workings could have induced stress changes in the immediate roof that would explain the failures. The model results also showed that this mode of failure is less likely to occur if the limestone pillars contain weak bedding planes that provide stress relief. In addition, the results showed that for the conditions at the case study site, the stress in the roof beam was not sensitive to the thickness of the roof beam or the excavation span. The high horizontal stresses at this site are an important contributing factor to the observed failures.
Image of publication Investigation of Pillar-Roof Contact Failure in Northern Appalachian Stone Mine WorkingsConference Paper - August 2004
Download PDF Document (0.36 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20025350
In: Peng SS, Mark C, Finfinger GL, Tadolini SC, Heasley KA, Khair AW, eds. Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Ground Control in Mining. Morgantown, WV: West Virginia University, 2004 Aug; :320-326
See Also
Advance and Relieve Mining: A Method to Mitigate the Effects of High Horizontal Stress on the Mine Roof
Analysis of Pillar Design Practices and Techniques for U.S. Limestone Mines
Coal Bumps and Odd Dynamic Phenomena - A Numerical Investigation
Controlling Roof Beam Failures From High Horizontal Stresses in Underground Stone Mines
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
Field Observations and Numerical Studies of Horizontal Stress Effects on Roof Stability in U.S. Limestone Mines
In Situ Stress Measurements Near the Ross Shaft Pillar, Homestake Mine, South Dakota
Preventing Injuries Caused by Unrecognized Stone Mine Roof Beam Failures With a Pro-Active Roof Control Plan
Proceedings: New Technology for Ground Control in Multiple-seam Mining
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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