Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stability of boundary pillars in transition from open pit to underground mining

  • Published:
Journal of Central South University Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on the height of back-filled materials, thickness of ore body, height of boundary pillar and dipping angle of ore body and water pressure, the safety factors of all the pillars are calculated with the limit equilibrium method. The calculation results present that the safety factors of pillars in Sections 19, 20, 24, 28 are less than 1.3, and those of unstable sections are identified preliminarily. Further, a numerical investigation in Sections 18, 20, 22, 24, 25 and 28 implemented with numerical code RFPA2D is employed to further validate the pillar performance and the stability of stopes. The numerical results show the pillars in Sections 18, 22 and 24 are stable and the designed pillar size is suitable. The width of the ore body near Section 28 averages 20 m, failure occurs in the left stope, but the boundary pillars near Section 28 maintain good performance. The pillars in Sections 20 and 25 are unstable which are mainly affected by the Faults F8 and F18. The existence of faults alters the stress distribution, failure mode and water inrush pathway. This work provides a meaningful standard for boundary pillar and stope design in a mine as it transitions from an open pit to underground.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. XU C Y. Mining from open pit to underground [M]. Wuhan: Wuhan University of Industry Press, 1989: 2–10. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Compilation Group of Mining Design Manual. Mining design manual (deposit exploitation volume) [M]. Beijing: China Architecture and Building Press, 1987: 112–135. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  3. HOEK E, BROWN E T. Underground excavations in rock. Revised 1st ed [M]. New York, USA: Chapman & Hall, 1997: 27–35.

    Google Scholar 

  4. HOEK E, BROWN E T. Empirical strength criterion of rock masses [J]. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 1980, 10(6): 1013–1035.

    Google Scholar 

  5. MARTIN C D, READ R S, MARTINO J B. Observations of brittle failure around a circular test tunnel [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 1997, 34 (7): 1065–1073.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. GERMANOVICH L N, DYSKIN A V. Fracture mechanisms and instability of opening in compression [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Science, 2000, 37: 263–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. MOHAN G M, SHEOREY P R, KUSHWAHA A. Numerical estimation of pillar strength in coal mines [J]. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci, 2001, 38: 1185–1192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. HAJIABDOLMAJID V, KAISER P K. Brittleness of rock and stability assessment in hard rock tunneling [J]. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2003, 18: 35–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. DENG J, YUE Z Q, THAM L G. ZHU H H. Pillar design by combining finite element methods, neural networks and reliability: A case study of the Feng Huangshan copper mine, China [J]. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci, 2003, 40(4): 585–599.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. LI C. Disturbance of mining operations to a deep underground workshop [J]. Tunneling and Underground Space Technology, 2006, 21: 1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. WANG S Y, SLOAN S W, SHENG D C, TANG C A. Numerical analysis of the failure process around a circular opening in rock [J]. Computers and Geotechnics, 2012, 39: 8–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. WANG S Y, SLOAN S W, HUANG M L, TANG C A. Numerical study of failure mechanism of serial and parallel rock pillar [J]. Rock Mech Rock Eng, 2011, 44(2): 179–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Qinhuangdao Engineering & Research Institute for Metallurgical Industry. Engineering design of the mine transition from open-pit to underground mining in Shirengou iron mine [R]. Qinhuangdao Engineering & Research Institute for Metallurgical Industry, Qinhuangdao, China, 2001. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  14. MA Tian-hui, YANG Tian-hong, ZHAO Xing-dong, ZHANG Yong-bin, TANG Chun-an, LIN Peng. Three dimensional finite element analysis of parameters of boundary crown pillar in transition from open-pit to underground mining [J]. Metal Mine, 2006, 355: 61–64. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  15. ZHAO Xing-dong. Stability analysis of insulating pillar of excavation of Chambishi copper mine in depth [J]. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 2010, 29 (S1): 2616–2622. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  16. LI Yuan-hui, NAN Shi-qing, ZHAO Xing-dong, YANG Tian-hong, TANG Chun-an. Stability of boundary pillars for transition from open pit to underground mining [J]. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 2005, 24(2): 278–283. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  17. SAN KC, LESHCHINSKY D, MATSUI T. Geosynthetic reinforced slopes: limit equilibrium and finite element analyses [J]. Soils and Foundations, 1994, 34(2): 79–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. WANG S Y, LAM K C, AU S K, TANG C A. Analytical and numerical study on the pillar rockburst mechanism [J]. Rock Mech Rock Eng, 2006, 39: 445–467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. MELCHERS R E. Structural reliability analysis and predictions. 2nd ed [M]. New York: Wiley, 1999: 79–86.

    Google Scholar 

  20. TANG Chun-an, XU Xiao-he, KOU SQ, LINDQVIST PA, LIU HY. Numerical investigation of partical breakage as applied to mechanical crushing, Part I: single-partical breakage [J]. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci, 2001, 38: 1147–1162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. TANG C A. Numerical simulation on progressive failure leading to collapse and associated seismicity [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Science, 1997, 34 (2): 249–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. TANG C A, KAISER P K. Numerical simulation of cumulative damage and seismic energy release during brittle rock failure-Part I: Fundamentals [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Science, 1998, 35: 113–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. TANG C A, THAM L G., LEE K K, YANG T H, LI L C. Coupled analysis of flow, stress and damage (FSD) in rock failure [J]. Int J Rock Mech & Min Sci, 2002, 39: 477–489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. LI L C, TANG C A, LI C W, ZHU W C. Slope stability analysis by SRM-based rock failure process analysis (RFPA) [J]. Geomechanics and Geoengineering-An International Journal, 2006, 1(1): 51–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. DIGHT P M, SNYMAN L A. Stress measurement for St Barbara mines gwalia deeps project-One of the world’s deepest underground haulage mines [J]. Mining Technology, 2010, 119(4): 246–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. KAISER P K, TANG C A. Numerical simulation of damage accumulation and seismic energy release during brittle rock failure. Part II: Rib pillar collapse [J]. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci, 1998, 35(2): 123–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. SZWEDZICKI T. Pre- and post-failure ground behavior: case studies of surface crown pillar collapse [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 1999, 36: 351–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. SAINSBURY D P, SAINSBURY B L, LORIG L J. Investigation of caving induced subsidence at the abandoned Grace Mine [J]. Mining Technology, 2010, 119(3): 151–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resources & Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110004, China

    Xing-dong Zhao  (赵兴东) & Hong-xun Zhang  (张洪训)

  2. State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering (Chinese University of Mining and Technology), Beijing, 100083, China

    Xing-dong Zhao  (赵兴东)

  3. School of Civil Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China

    Lian-chong Li  (李连崇) & Chun-an Tang  (唐春安)

Authors
  1. Xing-dong Zhao  (赵兴东)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lian-chong Li  (李连崇)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chun-an Tang  (唐春安)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hong-xun Zhang  (张洪训)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xing-dong Zhao  (赵兴东).

Additional information

Foundation item: Projects(1004025, 51174044, 50934006) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation; Project(2011AA060400) supported by the National High Technique Research and Development Program of China, Project(Sklgduek1113) supported by Funds of the State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, Chinese University of Mining and Technology, China

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhao, Xd., Li, Lc., Tang, Ca. et al. Stability of boundary pillars in transition from open pit to underground mining. J. Cent. South Univ. 19, 3256–3265 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-012-1402-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-012-1402-x

Key words

Search

Navigation