Crush pillars

They provide a system support that crushes at the face

More than 2.5 metres

Crown pillars
-

Act as device between between surface and underground mine operations

Their purpose is directed at re

Sill pillars
-

Separate different work levels in underground mining

Pillar run is when a key pillar fails, and it triggers a series of pillar failure from
surface right down to bottom, the last level, or from one end of shat to another
Mine pillar design
Design of mine pillars is the center of mine operations
The methods that may be used for designing are quiet varying
Dimension of pillars must be the same for equal stress distribution and they to
be regulary spared
Benefits of more reliable design results in increased ore recovery and improved
circuit through better pillar design
Improved knowledge of pillar loading and failure mechanism is such that
modification to mining plans can be quantified
Function of pillars in mining is to maintain the stability of adjacent strata
For the design life of pillars;
-

FS = strength/stress
FS = factor of safety (against pillar failure)
S = strength of pillar
Applied/ Induced stress

The equation is the primary form of pillar strength of

The pillar design methodology is based on the criteria that when pillar stress
exceeds pillar strain, a pillar fails
Method requires determination of work and strength with associated variability of
Rule of thumb, factor of safety, shld be greater than or equal to 1.5
However you should note that the assessment of pillar strength is or irregular
deposits can be a complex task
The intact strength of a sample of rock is determined using laboratory methods
Pillar designing follows the premice that in most cases it is desirable to design
pillars that will maintain their loading capacity throughout their design life
Two primary factors to be considered are pillar strength and pillar stress

Determination of pillar strength is depend on following factors that affect the

strength of rock mass;
-

strength of pillar material

pillar geometry
structural features of within the pillar
material properties of pillars such as deformational characteristics
effects of blasting on the pillar

actual pillar stress depend on;

-

insitu stress conditions

the mining induced stress changes
effects of stress on geological features such as faults and joint
shape and orientation of pillars
the spatial relationship between pillars and mine openings
effects of ground water

In 1985 a scientist by the name of Potvin presented pillar design as being divided
into 4 groups, empirical, theoretical, computer, heuristic methods. Used for pillar
design in the past.
1. Heuristic method based on the principle, what worked before could work
again.
2. Empirical method method that relies on experiment or experience
3. Theoretical method attempt to utilise mathematical concepts and input
parameters to based upon rigorous
4. Computer methods based on computer programming approach,
numerical formulation/methods
Basically there are two methods of calculating pillar stress; tributary area
method
Tributary assumes that a pillar will support its share of applied load
Is applicable in situations where similar size pillars are in large regular array
Not applicable to irregular and dipping deposits, inconsistency or irregular mining
patterns
Complex tri-axial stress fields
Numerical modelling method solve problems that involve
utilises computers
It is common to assume that the vertical insitu component
Horizontally bedded deposits or in horizontal seams, the component wl be
adequate to determine normal stresses acting on pillars, however in irregular
non-tabular deposits, the induced stress is a function of 3 principle stresses
All the pillar stress determination technics are dependent upon values of insitu
stress
Room and pillar mining method with rectangular
Discussion on pillar stress determination ;

All methods required that the pre-mining insitu state of stress around
excavations be known
In mountainous areas the overburden stress values is less reliable, because this
value is a product of density of overburden material and depth below surface
In inclined ore bodies, the values of insitu stresses become more difficult to
determine without resorting to insitu stress measuring programmes
Pillar strength determination
Is divided in three groups, theoretical, empirical and heuristic methods
Of the three groups, we going to look at empirical method which relies on
experience, experiments
For empirical method, the various following methods,
1.
2.
3.
4.

The linear shape effect formulae

Power shape effect formulae
Size effect formulae
The hook and braham empirical rock mass failure criteria