Abstract
Stability of underground excavations depends on mining geometry defined by extraction ratio and pillar shape. Laboratory studies were carried out to determine the relationship between mining geometry and the behaviour of rock samples in high stress conditions. It was observed that for slender pillars and high extraction ratio (total extraction of a deposit), rock instability was local, manifested as pillar rupture and spalling. Stability was controlled by pre-failure brittle behaviour of rock. For squat pillars and low extraction ratio (selective extraction of a deposit), instability of the rock mass was on a global scale, manifested as shear movement or large scale collapse. Stability was controlled by post-failure ductile behaviour. For standard pillars and typical extraction ratio (partial extraction of a deposit), instability was manifested as pillar punching into the hangingwall and footwall accompanied by shear fracturing of the rock mass. Instability developed progressively and rock behaviour exhibited some post-failure strength.
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