NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Demonstration of a subsidence prediction technique for the Illinois coal basin.

Triplett TL; Yurchak DW

Abstract Book, U.S. Department of the Interior Conference on the Environment and Safety, April 24-28, 1995. Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1995 Apr; :49

20024928

This paper presents Bureau of Mines research on modifying the influence function method to predict subsidence, as well as techniques to predict the resultant damages. According to theory, the influence function technique must incorporate an intensity function to represent the relative significance of the causes of subsidence. This paper shows that the inclusion of a reasonable intensity function increases the accuracy of the technique, then presents the required functions for case studies of longwall coal mining subsidence in Illinois, and subsidence produced by ground water withdrawal in California. Then the paper discusses a method to predict the resultant strain from a simply measured site constant and calculated ground curvatures. Finally, the paper presents a technique to predict the damages caused by subsidence, particularly structural damage to residential foundations. This technique relates the values of bending and twist in the footing to the formation of cracks. The use of a Mohr's circle of curvature to predict damage then is introduced. Finally, the use of the influence function subsidence prediction technique to calculate the curvature values for the Mohr's circle is demonstrated, and hazard maps above typical longwall panels are created.

Coal-mining; Case-studies; Ground-control; Environmental-factors; Environmental-hazards; Geology; Ground-stability

19950424

Conference/Symposia Proceedings; Abstract

1995

TCRC

U.S. Bureau of Mines

DC; MN