Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Strength of Hard-Rock Pillars
The Strength of Hard-Rock Pillars
Abstract
Observations of pillar failures in Canadian hard-rock mines indicate that the dominant mode of failure is progressive slabbing and
spalling. Empirical formulas developed for the stability of hard-rock pillars suggest that the pillar strength is directly related to the
pillar width-to-height ratio and that failure is seldom observed in pillars where the width-to-height ratio is greater than 2. Two-
dimensional finite element analyses using conventional Hoek2Brown parameters for typical hard-rock pillars (Geological Strength
Index of 40, 60 and 80) predicted rib-pillar failure envelopes that did not agree with the empirical pillar-failure envelopes. It is
suggested that the conventional Hoek2Brown failure envelopes over predict the strength of hard-rock pillars because the failure
process is fundamentally controlled by a cohesion-loss process in which the frictional strength component is not mobilized. Two-
dimensional elastic analyses were carried out using the Hoek-Brown brittle parameters which only relies on the cohesive strength of
the rock mass. The predicted pillar strength curves were generally found to be in agreement with the observed empirical failure
envelopes. # 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
1365-1609/00/$ - see front matter # 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S 1 3 6 5 - 1 6 0 9 ( 0 0 ) 0 0 0 3 2 - 0
1240 C.D. Martin, W.G. Maybee / International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences 37 (2000) 1239–1246
Table 1
Summary of empirical strength formula for hard-rock pillars where the pillar width and height is in metres.
pillar strengths in Fig. 2 have been normalized to the ratio of 1. Recently, Maybee [14] showed however, that
laboratory uniaxial compressive strength ðsc Þ. As shown the rate of increase is a function of k, the ratio of the far-
in Fig. 2 the formulas predict very similar strengths, field horizontal stress s1 and s3 (Fig. 3). Fig. 3 shows
particularly for the pillar W=H ratio between 0.5 and that beyond a pillar W=H ratio of 1 the effect of k is
2.5, the range over which all of the pillar failures occur significant but for pillar W=H ratios less than 1 the
(see Fig. 1). effect of k can be ignored.
The stress magnitudes used to establish the pillar The strength of a rock mass is usually described in
strengths formulas in Table 1, which were determined terms of a constant cohesive component and a normal-
using either the tributary area method, or two and three stress or confinement-dependent component. Hence
dimensional elastic analyses, represent either the average for pillars with W=H ratios greater than 1, the strength
maximum pillar stress or the maximum stress at the should increase as the confining stress increases. In
center of the pillar. In all cases, except the formula the next section the Hoek2Brown failure criterion is
presented by Lunder and Pakalnis [8], the pillar-strength used to investigate the effect of confinement on pillar
formulas ignore the effect of s3 and rely on a simple strength.
stress to strength ratio based on the maximum pillar
stress and the uniaxial compressive strength. While
Lunder and Pakalnis [8] attempt to include the effect of 3. Pillar and rock mass strength
s3 through their parameter k (see Table 1) their formula
predicts similar strengths to the other formulas in One of the most widely used empirical failure criteria
Table 1 (Fig. 2). Hence the effect of s3 is essentially is the Hoek2Brown criterion [13]. Since its introduction
ignored by the empirical formulas to match the observed in 1980 the criterion has been modified several times,
failures. This is similar to tunnel stability observations in most recently in 1997 [15]. The generalized form of the
South African mines where the stability is expressed as a criterion for jointed rock masses is defined by
simple stress to strength (s1 =sc ) ratio [13]. a
s3
The elastic stress distribution in pillars is a function of s1 ¼ s3 þ sci mb þ s ; ð4Þ
sci
the pillar geometry. These distributions can readily be
determined through numerical computer programs. where s1 and s3 are the maximum and minimum
Lunder and Pakalnis [8] examined the stress distribution effective stresses at failure, respectively, mb is the value
in hard-rock pillars in Canadian mines and proposed of the Hoek2Brown constant m for the rock mass, and s
that the average confinement in a pillar could be and a are constants which depend upon the character-
expressed in terms of the ratio of s3 =s1 . They then istics of the rock mass, and sci is the uniaxial
expressed this ratio in terms of the pillar width and pillar compressive strength of the intact rock pieces. For
height as hard-rock masses, Hoek and Brown [15] recommend a
value of 0.5 for a. In order to use the Hoek2Brown
1:4 criterion for estimating the strength and deformability
s3 W ðW =HÞ
ð3Þ
¼ 0:46 log þ 0:75 : of jointed rock masses, ‘‘three properties’’ of the rock
s1 H
mass have to be estimated. These are: (1) the uniaxial
Fig. 3 illustrates Eq. (3) and shows that the confinement compressive strength sci of the intact rock pieces in the
in pillars increases significantly beyond a pillar W=H rock mass; (2) the Hoek2Brown constant mi for these
intact rock pieces; and (3) the Geological Strength Index
(GSI ) for the rock mass. The GSI was introduced
by Hoek and Brown [15] to provide a system for
estimating the reduction in the rock mass strength for
different geological conditions. The GSI can be related
to either of the commonly used rock-mass classification
systems, e.g., the modified rock-mass quality index Q0
defined as
RQD Jr
Q0 ¼ ; ð5Þ
Jn Ja
where RQD is the rock quality designation, Jn is the
joint set number, Jr is the joint roughness number, Ja is
the joint alteration number or the rock mass rating
Fig. 3. The increase in confinement at the center of the pillar as a RMR. Hoek and Brown [15] suggested that GSI can be
function of k, the ratio of the far-field maximum horizontal stress and related to Q0 by
vertical stress. The predicted effect of confinement using Eq. (3) is also
shown. GSI ¼ 9 ln Q0 þ 44 ð6Þ
1242 C.D. Martin, W.G. Maybee / International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences 37 (2000) 1239–1246
where RMR89 has the Groundwater rating set to 15 and Parameter Description/value
the Adjustment for Joint Orientation set to zero. The Rock-type Quartzite, Conglomerate
parameters mb and s can be derived from GSI by the Insitu stress s1 ¼ 2s3 ands2 ¼ 1:66s3
following: s3 ¼ 0:028 MPa/m
Intact rock strength sci ¼ 230 MPa
GSI ÿ 100 Geological Strength Index GSI= 80
mb ¼ mi exp ; ð8Þ
28 Hoek2Brown constants mi ¼ 22
mb ¼ 10.7
GSI ÿ 100 s ¼ 0.108
s ¼ exp : ð9Þ mr ¼ 1
9 sr ¼ 0.001
6. Conclusions References
Observations [8] of 178 pillar case studies in hard-rock [1] Salamon M. Strength of coal pillars from back-calculation. In:
mines indicate that the nearly all failures occur when the Amadei B, Kranz RL, Scott GA, Smeallie PH, editors.
Proceedings of 37th US Rock Mechanics Symposium, Vail,
pillar W=H ratio is less than 2.5 and that the dominant volume 1. Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema, 1999. p. 29236.
mode of failure is progressive slabbing and spalling [2] Sakurai S. Back analysis in rock engineering. In: Hudson JA,
which eventually leads to an hour-glass shape. The editor. Comprehensive rock engineering2excavation, support and
Lunder and Pakalnis pillar stability graph documents monitoring, vol. 4. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1993. p. 543269.
over 98 rib-pillar observations in Canadian hard-rock [3] Hedley DGF, Grant F. Stope-and-pillar design for the Elliot
Lake Uranium Mines. Bull Can Inst Min Metall 1972;65:37244.
mines and is based on the calculated average maximum [4] Von Kimmelmann MR, Hyde B, Madgwick RJ. The use of
stress in the pillar, the uniaxial strength of the intact computer applications at BCL Limited in planning pillar
rock and the pillar W=H ratio. Their findings are in extraction and design of mining layouts. In: Brown ET, Hudson
keeping with other pillar formulas developed for hard- JA, editors. Proceedings of ISRM Symposium: Design and
Performance of Underground Excavations. London: British
rock pillars and suggest that for slender pillars
Geotechnical Society, 1984. p. 53263.
(W=H51Þ failure initiates at approximately 13 of the [5] Krauland N, Soder PE. Determining pillar strength from pillar
laboratory uniaxial compressive strength. For squat failure observations. Eng Min J. 1987;8:34240.
pillars ðW=H > 1:5Þ these empirical formulas only [6] Potvin Y, Hudyma MR, Miller HDS. Design guidelines for open
predict an increase in pillar strength to approximately stope support. Bull Can Min Metall 1989;82:53262.
1 2 [7] Sjöberg J. Failure modes and pillar behaviour in the Zinkgruvan
223 of the laboratory uniaxial compressive strength, mine. In: Tillerson JA, Wawersik WR, editors. Proceedings of
despite asignificant increase in confinement at the core 33rd U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium, Sante Fe. Rotterdam:
of the pillar. A.A. Balkema, 1992. p. 4912500.
The conventional Hoek2Brown failure envelope is [8] Lunder PJ, Pakalnis R. Determination of the strength of hard-
based on a cohesive strength component and a confining rock mine pillars. Bull Can Inst Min Metall 1997;90:5125.
stress-dependent frictional component. In a confined [9] Salamon MDG, Munro AH. A study of the strength of coal
pillars. J S Afr Inst Min Metall 1967;68:55267.
state, such as pillar W=H ratios greater than 1, the [10] Hudson JA, Brown ET, Fairhurst C. Shape of the complete
frictional strength component increases significantly. stress-strain curve for rock. In: Cording E, editor. Proceedings of
Two-dimensional finite element analyses using conven- 13th US Symposium on Rock Mechanics, Urbana. New York:
tional Hoek2Brown parameters for typical hard-rock American Society of Civil Engineers, 1972. p. 773295.
[11] Madden BJ. A re-assement of coal-pillar design. J S Afr Inst Min
rib-pillars (GSI of 40, 60 and 80) predicted pillar-failure
Metall 1991;91:27236.
envelopes that did not agree with the observed empirical [12] Hedley DGF, Roxburgh JW, Muppalaneni SN. A case history of
failure envelopes. It is suggested that the conventional rockbursts at Elliot Lake. In: Proceedings of 2nd International
Hoek2Brown failure envelopes over predict the Conference on Stability in Underground Mining, Lexington.
strength of the hard-rock pillars because the failure New York: American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and
process is fundamentally controlled by a cohesion-loss Petroleum Engineers, Inc., 1984. p. 210234.
[13] Hoek E, Brown ET. Underground excavations in rock. London:
process and for practical proposes the frictional strength The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, 1980.
component can be ignored at pillar width-to-height [14] Maybee WG. Pillar design in hard brittle rocks. Master’s thesis,
ratios less than 1.5. School of Engineering, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON,
Two-dimensional elastic analyses were carried out Canada, 1999.
[15] Hoek E, Brown ET. Practical estimates of rock mass strength.
using the Hoek2Brown brittle parameters
Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. 1997;34:1165286.
(mb ¼ 0; s ¼ 0:11). The predicted rib-pillar strength [16] Coates DF, Gyenge M. Incremental design in rock mechanics.
curves were generally found to be in agreement with Monograph, vol. 880. Ottawa: Canadian Government Publish-
the observed empirical failure envelopes. It should be ing Centre, 1981.
noted however, that the Hoek2Brown brittle para- [17] Barton N, Grimstad E. The Q-System following twenty years of
meters are not applicable to conditions where the application in NWT support selection. Felsbau, 1994;12:428236.
[18] Pritchard CJ, Hedley DGF. Progressive pillar failure and
frictional component of the rock-mass strength can be rockbursting at Denison Mine. In: Young RP, editor. Proceed-
mobilized and dominates the behavior of the rock ings of 3rd International Symposium on Rockbursts and
mass. Seismicity in Mines, Kingston. Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema,
1993. p. 11126.
[19] Martin CD, Chandler NA. The progressive fracture of Lac du
Bonnet granite. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr
Acknowledgements 1994;31:643259.
[20] Martin CD. Seventeenth Canadian Geotechnical Colloquium:
the effect of cohesion loss and stress path on brittle rock
This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and
strength. Can Geotech J 1997;34:6982725.
Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and [21] Martin CD, Kaiser PK, McCreath DR. Hoek-Brown parameters
through collaboration with the hard-rock mining for predicting the depth of brittle failure around tunnels. Can
industry in Northern Ontario. Geotech J 1999;36:136251.