Numerical Modeling of Pillar Stress Redistribution During the Retreat Mining Process

Details

• Personal Author:
  Dean-Pelikan RA ; Walton G
• Description:
  Retreat mining creates unstable ground conditions that increase stresses on remaining un-mined pillars. These increasing stresses can in turn lead to unsafe mine conditions. Current understanding of pillar stresses is primarily based on tributary area theory (TAT) and simplified numerical models. To better understand a pillar's strength and stress load during retreat mining, a finite difference software (FLAC3D) was used to model a coal room and pillar mine. The numerical approach can be used to model the actual geometry of retreat mining operations. Also, more complex geomechanical behaviors can be modeled. Variable width to height ratios, material properties, and mining methods/sequences were tested. Of particular interest is how the consideration of inelastic pillar material behavior leads to differences in stress concentration trends from those predicted using a conventional elastic approach. Ultimately, this understanding of how stresses re-distribute during the retreat mining process can help improve the safety of the mining method. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Mining Occupational Health Safety Software
• Keywords:
  Computer Software Geotechnical Engineering Pillar Mechanics Retreat Mining Rock Mechanics Underground Mines
• Publisher:
  American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068165
• Citation:
  54th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 28 - July 1, 2020, Golden, Colorado. Alexandria, VA: American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA), 2020 Jun; :ARMA-2020-1215
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  Colorado School of Mines, Golden
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20160915
• Source Full Name:
  54th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 28 - July 1, 2020, Golden, Colorado
• End Date:
  20210914
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:19d9469e77054e54cfc804ed8bfc0f513f1589e11c63771f980e4ec45f8e1e94465fd95f36c1e26bf3b88124555c441804b0abdb8d3f3e70c298c43933eea845
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230377/cdc_230377_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.38 MB ]