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Overview of ground control research for underground coal mines in the United States.

Authors
Mark C
Source
Proceedings of the 17th International Mining Congress and Exhibition of Turkey, IMCET 2001, June 19-22, 2001, Ankara, Turkey. Unal E, Unver B, Tercan E eds. Ankara, Turkey: Chamber of Mining Engineers of Turkey, 2001 Jan; :3-10
Link
NIOSHTIC No.
20021380
Abstract
Underground coal mining continues to evolve in the U.S., and more reserves are being mined under deeper cover, with worse roof, or with interactions from previous workings. At the same time, the mining community is responding to higher safety standards and intense competitive pressures. The need for effective ground control design has never been greater. Ground control safety issues that have been addressed by recent the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) research include: Improving roof support performance; Maintaining safe tailgate escapeways from longwalls; Optimizing pillar design for retreat mining; Controlling multiple seam interactions; Predicting roof conditions during extended cuts, and; Preventing massive pillar collapses. As funding from both government and the private sector has diminished, the emphasis in research has focused on providing the mining community with practical techniques for improved ground control design. Many projects have successfully employed empirical methods that emphasize the statistical analysis of case histories from underground mines. Other projects have employed numerical models and large-scale laboratory testing of roof support elements. Using these data, NIOSH has developed an entire toolbox of computer programs that have been effectively transferred to the mining community.
Keywords
Ground control; Longwall mining; Mine shafts; Mining industry; Structural analysis; Underground mining; Statistical analysis
Publication Date
20010101
Document Type
Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Editors
Unal E; Unver B; Tercan E
Fiscal Year
2001
ISBN No.
9753954174
NIOSH Division
PRL
Source Name
Proceedings of the 17th International Mining Congress and Exhibition of Turkey, Ankara, Turkey, June 19-22, 2001
State
PA
Page last reviewed: July 9, 2021
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division