Module 5

Lecture
Module Topics to be Covered Learning Outcome
Hours
Bord and Pillar (B&P) method of mining: Layout of
B&P mining, Formation and extraction of pillars using
LHDs/SDLs and Continuous Miner based mass
production technology, Statutory provisions
regarding formation and extraction of pillars. Support
Students will develop an
system during development and depillaring.
understanding of the different
methods of pillar extraction
5 Longwall method of mining: Factors affecting 11
challenges, causes and remedial
longwall mining; Layout of advancing and retreating
measures involved at different
longwall faces, Gate road development using road
stages of underground workings
headers, continuous miner/bolter miner, single entry
and multiple entry, Extraction of coal by longwall
method, Longwall face equipment, Support system of
longwall face and gate roads, and Statutory
provisions..
 Principle of pillar extraction
1. Generally extracted by splitting and slicing
2. Exposure Area
 Caving System:60-90m2
 Stowing System:90-100m2
3. To be extracted in panel system within incubation period
4. Suitable line of extraction/goaf line should be adopted.
5. Seam thickness up to 4.8 m can be extracted in single pass.
6. Suitable applied support system should be adopted up to Active Mining Zone.
7. Suitable design of remnants of Pillar (Rib/snook).
8. Strata monitoring
9. Goaf management
 Caving
 Stowing
 Problem of Pillar extraction
1. Huge strata movement
 Induced stress development
 Convergence/roof sag/bed separation
 Abutment load along line of extraction
2. Reduction in stiffness of natural supports
3. Softening of host strata.
4. Air blast in case of delay in caving
5. Goaf encroachment
6. Roof/side falls
7. Difficult to extract at higher depth of cover/high stress regime
8. Spontaneous heating
 Strata Control issues
Straight line of extraction

2 RBBLS
Spalling
1 4 Goaf

B1 B2
Snook

Adverse goaf edge Split gallery

Significant strata break line
movement
Competency of A1 A2
Deflection overlying strata above
Hanging roof working face reduced

Goaf
Pillar
Fender A

Original Gallery
Ribs
Rib Slice Fender under
excessive load
4
Extraction of fender below destressed
roof

5
Extraction of fender with vertical stress
roof

6
 Conventional breaker line
support

Used in semi-MD panel

Breaker props

4.8

1.2
4 16.5
LEGEND

GOAF
Steel cog
2.4
Timber cog
Roof bolt
4.8m
Pit prop
GOAF Timber prop
Cog support
PLAN (Breaker line) 7
 Mobile breaker line support/
Self Advancing Goaf Edge Supports

Used in Australia, South Africa, USA SAGES, India

8
 Breaker line support/Goaf edge
support
Goaf encroachment during pillar
extraction can be controlled by suitable
design of goaf edge support, which RBBLS
includes:
1. natural supports and
2. applied supports.
Roof
Fallen stone slice
Role of effective goaf edge supports during caving: Pillar
Floor
1. Provides pivot between working and goaf areas.
Goaf Working area
2. This pivot is to facilitate controlled caving of the hanging roof and
Pivot point
is known as roof bolt-based breaker line (RBBLS).
3. Reduces abutment load in working area. Goaf breaker line

4. Improves safety for men and machinery. Rib + Applied Support

5. Improves production and productivity of a depillaring panel. 9
Conceptual model goaf influence under different roof strata

Pillar

Strong roof/massive roof

(RMR above 55)

Moderate roof
Goaf (RMR values 45 to 55)
Fender B

Weak roof/laminated roof

(RMR values 35 to 45)

Fender A

Spalling 10
 Factor affecting Choice of Pillar extraction techniques
1. Thickness of the seam
2. Depth of cover
3. Roof strata of the seam
4. Incubation period of the seam
5. Gradient of the seam
6. Availability of level of mechanization

Statutory provisions regarding formation and extraction of pillars

 Assessment of fender stability

where, 5

Fender 2

Fender 1
3
where, S= pillar strength (MPa), c= uniaxial compressive strength of coal (MPa), h= working height (m), H= depth of
1
cover (m) and we= effective width of the pillar (m)= 4A/P c, where A is area and Pc is perimeter of pillar. B= width of the

gallery (m), W1= length of pillar (m), W2= width of pillar (m), = unit rock pressure (0.025 MPa/m).

Load over fender can be estimated through numerical modelling

Safety factor (FOS) Width-to-height ratio

Fender: 0.9-1.2 Fender: w/h = 3-5 12
 Design of rib/snook

Ribs
Other remnants
of smaller size

Different sizes of snook

Different sizes of snook

10.5m

9m

7.5m
4.5m
3.5m
2.5m

6m
1.5m

4.5m
4m Pillar after depillaring
12m
5m Pillar after depillaring
6m
7m

(a) Different sizes of snook for Fish-bone method (b) Different sizes of snook for split and fender method

13
 Design of rib/snook
Development of empirical
Approaches
Ssnook = 15.25 w0.58 h-1.14 H-0.17

A = 0.16 H0.89 R0.14 h0.31

where, = strength of rib/snook (MPa), w= equivalent

We/h (m),
width = 0.18
H=Hdepth
0.15
R0.10
of hcover A0.60 and h= height of
-1.03 (m)

extraction (m), A= Area, R= nature of roof in terms of

RMR, Equivalent width (m).

Safety factor (FOS) Width-to-height ratio Area-wise

W = 0.18
Rib/Snook:
e H 0.15
R
0.3-0.5
0.10
h-0.03
A0.60
Rib/Snook: w/h <2 Approximately 5% to 10% of the original pillar size
14
Line of extraction

Diagonal line Step Diagonal line

Steep Diagonal line

Straight line
Depillaring
 Preparation of a depillaring panel
• Installation of applied supports in
Barrier
 Original galleries and 15L
 Junctions
 Goaf edge support
16L
• Stopping
 Preparatory stopping
17L
 Isolation stopping
• Ventilation
18L
• Coal transport system

10R

16R
12R

14R

15R
 Chain conveyor

11R

13R
9R
 Belt conveyor 19L

• Instrumentation Isolation stopping Barrier Preparatory stopping

• Communication system
• Strata control station
Manner of pillar extraction
GOAF

RIB 2.5m RIB

Slice I 5m
Slice II

GOAF
RIB 2.5m RIB

5m Slice III
Slice II

RIB 2.5m RIB

4.5m
 Support Design
Available empirical approaches for rock load
(i) Split gallery:

(ii) Slice gallery:

(iii) Slice/split junction:

(iv) Original junction:

(v) Goaf edge

(conventional):

K = ratio of horizontal to vertical in-situ stresses, H = Depth of cover, W=

width of gallery, R= Rock mass rating (adjusted) and y = unit weight of the
immediate roof rock strata
 Support Design
Support Resistance

Bearing capacity of the quick setting cement grouted roof bolt and chock support is
considered to be 10t and 30t respectively.

Safety Factor
Applied Support System in Top Section
 Applied Support System in Bottom Section

Cog support