Research on Catastrophic Pillar Instability in Room and Pillar Gypsum Mining

Yuejin Zhou, Meng Li, Xiaoding Xu, Xiaotong Li, Yongdong Ma and Zhanguo Ma
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Yuejin Zhou: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
Meng Li: School of Mining Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
Xiaoding Xu: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
Xiaotong Li: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
Yongdong Ma: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
Zhanguo Ma: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: Gypsum mines in China are mostly exploited through room and pillar mining. Due to backward mining technology and a long history of mining, a great number of pillars were left in gypsum mines. Many serious work safety accidents occurred as the result of goaf instability in history, which posed severe threats to the security of people’s lives and property. Based on the characteristics of surrounding rock damage, this research improved the constitutive equation of gypsum rock mass damage by establishing a damage evolution model and introducing a shape parameter. Meanwhile, the cusp catastrophe equation was deduced based on the catastrophe theory and the constitutive equation of gypsum rock mass damage, thus summarizing the criteria for pillar instability; the pillar safety factor was obtained by means of the interrelation between pillar load and pillar strength. Based on the criteria for pillar instability and the pillar safety factor obtained, the necessary and sufficient conditions for pillar stability were concluded. These conclusions are of significance in that they provide theoretic reference for the treatment of gypsum goaf, as well as for further mining.

Keywords: room and pillar mining; catastrophic instability; damage; stability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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