Stress Change Monitoring for Pillar Spalling Potential

Pillar spalling, or thin slabs of rock falling off of pillar walls, is common along temporary pillars. This may happen adjacent to more permanent pillars which may then require scaling and supporting to maintain rock stability. Stresses induced in potash pillars can lead to this spalling and predicting this by measuring a stress change is a goal of this research. The ability to predict the need of future scaling and support would be an asset to the mines by improving their design procedures. This research looks at the application of a new method for improving current methods of predicting the likelihood of pillar spalling due to changing stress and the subsequent need for scaling and additional support.

Faculty Supervisor:

Douglas Milne;Christopher Hawkes

Student:

Partner:

Nutrien Vanscoy Potash

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Mining

University:

University of Saskatchewan

Program: