• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.503-510
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• 2007

Rock classification schemes such as RMR, Q-system were applied to investigate the stability of large-scale gangways mined in a limestone mine. 22 areas for engineering geological surveys were selected and rock classifications at each survey point had been carried out. Considering the fact that the observed gangways have not experienced some severe failure and have been stably maintained till now, it is found that Q-system is more reasonable than RMR in evaluating the stability of unsupported span. Also, extended Mathews stability graph method which is a kind of revised Q-system was used to assess the stability of gangways and the results represent that all gangways except for one area are under stable condition. Based on above the mentioned results, the empirical equations to design the maximum unsupported span and critical height of a large-scale gangway are suggested.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.297-309
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• 2012

The stability assessment of abandoned gangway for the purpose of services was performed. Among the many factors that affect the stability of openings, the span of the opening in a given rock mass condition provides an important element of design. In this paper, the stability of gangway was assessed by the critical span curves proposed by Lang, the modified Mathews'stability graph method and using support measures of the Q system. In the evaluation of stability as a whole the gangway is considered as stable. But the rockfalls of wedge-shaped blocks were expected in the area in which the horizontal joints of low angle appear. The support measures such as local rock bolts are required to use for commercial purposes of the abandoned gangway. And entrance section may require the particular attention as unstable section. Since there are so many spalling due to bad blasting in the roof and sidewall of gangway, the scaling operations should be followed primarily.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2011

Mine closure does often accompany the flooding of mine galleries due to ceasing a pumping operation. When a mine gallery is flooded, rocks around the gallery are fully saturated and the gallery is subject to a water pressure. The uniaxial unconfined compressive strength of a rock depends on its water content and decreases as the water content increases. A water pressure may originate the crack growth of a rock or the discontinuity growth of rock mass. Although the water in a gallery will give some support pressure inside the gallery, the degradation of rock mass properties caused by a water pressure will reduce the stability of the gallery. In this study, 2-dimensional discontinuous and 3-dimensional continuous numerical analyses have been conducted to evaluate an effect that a reduction of rock mass properties around the gallery induced by a water pressure has on the stability of mine gallery. The numerical analyses show that a reduction of rock mass properties caused by a water pressure increases displacements of rock mass around mine gallery. 2-dimensional model is found to give larger values of displacement than 3-dimensional model.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.15 no.6 s.59
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• pp.425-431
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• 2005

A series of geotechnical surveys and in-situ tests were carried out to evaluate the stability of underground mine cave in an abandoned coal mine. After the closure of the mine, the underground mine drifts have been utilized for a tourist route since 1999. The dimension of the main cave is 5m width, 3m height and 230m length. The surrounding rock mass of the cave is consist of black shale, coal and limestone. Also, the main cave is intersected by two fault zone. Detailed field investigations including Rock Mass Rating(RMR), Geological Strength Index(GSI) and Q classification were performed to evaluate the stability of the main cave and to examine the necessity of reinforcement. Based on the results of rock mass classification and numerical analysis, suitable support design was recommended for the main cave. RMR and Q values of the rock masses were classified in the range of fair to good. According to the support categories proposed by Grimstad & Barton(1993), these classes fall in the reinforcement category of the Type 3 to Type 1. A Type 3 reinforcement category signifies systematic bolting and no support is necessary for the Type 1 case. From the result of numerical analysis, it was inferred that additional support on the several unstable blocks is required to ensure stability of the cave.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.123-133
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• 2002

In the construction of the road tunnel in mine area, old mine gangways can cause the instability of the tunnel. In this case study, the field investigation is carried out to figure out the location of old gangways adjacent to the tunnel, and their influence on the tunnel stability is estimated according to the location pattern and rock condition by FLAC analysis. The grouting reinforcement of tunnel crown region and old gangway is suggested and its role on assurance of the tunnel stability is also verified. It can be said from this study that the effect of the old gangway on the stability of tunnel varies with the dimension of gangway, distance from the tunnel, rock condition and groundwater, and therefore these paramerter should be compositively considered in the assessment of the tunnel stability.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.212-223
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• 2014

In this study, the stability analyses for metal mine roadways at a great depth were performed. In-situ stress measurements using hydrofracturing, numerous laboratory tests for rock cores and GSI & RMR classifications were conducted in order to find the physical properties of both intact rock and in-situ rock mass distributed in the studied metal mine. Through the scenario analysis and probabilistic assessment on the results of rock mass classification, the in-situ ground conditions of mine roadways were divided into the best, the average and the worst cases, respectively. The roadway stabilities corresponding to the respective conditions were assessed by way of the elasto-plastic analysis. In addition, the appropriate roadway shapes and the support patterns were examined through the numerical analyses considering the blast damaged zone around roadway. It was finally shown to be necessary to reduce the radius of roadway roof curvature and/or to install the crown reinforcement in order to enhance the stability of studied mine roadways.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2019

Some leading countries in mining have a very quantitative guideline for underground mine opening design which is useful to minimize mine hazards such as rockfall and collapse. Those hazards sometimes can cause a huge damage on human life and property in the mines. Construction guidelines of underground mines in Korea consist of qualitative and general expressions although the workers' safety rules and guides are well provided. Recently, mining operations in Korea are going underground due to the environmental regulations and resource depletion at shallow depth, and therefore there is a growing demand on a specialized and systematic guideline for mine opening design securing the underground stability. In this paper, current status of mining industry, research trends, and mining guidelines in Korea and overseas have been reviewed to give an insight into developing a new Korean guideline for underground mine design.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.358-371
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• 2018

The stability of openings in the underground mine is major concern in the operation of mines that must ensure productivity and safety. Among many rock conditions affecting cavities stability, the width and height of the opening is an important design factor. In this paper, we consider to determine the maximum unsupported span of a opening in a limestone mine by using the Q system among several rock classification schemes. In order to determine the span of the unsupported opening in the limestone mine, rock mass classifications were carried out at over 200 sites in the underground limestone mines. The relationships by using the Q system and the stability graph proposed by Mathews to determine the maximum span of the unsupported opening were derived and compared. We propose a new classification method that combines GSI and RMR rock classification systems to make it easy to use in a field.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2010

Explosive welding was planed in a closed drift of a mine for its reuse. In this study, we analyzed the stabilization of roof and pillar which were expected to be affected by overpressure experienced during the continual explosive welding. Three equations, normal equation, CONWEP and DDESB, were used for the estimation of overpressure. The investigation shows that the continual use of the explosive welding in a drift may result in considerable damage on the drift.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.145-152
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• 2010

In this study, a survey of structural geology and discontinuities were carried out on the space in a limestone mine where the construction of crushing facilities is in planning. The stability of the site was analyzed by rock mass classifications and numerical analysis. Through these analyses, it could be known that removal of pillars could make the stability problems in the mine and the supports for pillars must be considered.