Development of a method to estimate coal pillar loading

Abstract

The primary goal of this project was to determine the accuracy and validity of the Tributary Area Theory (TAT) and to provide better estimates of pillar load using numerical modelling and other tools. Literature review highlighted that previous work concentrated on coal pillar strength formulae, and little effort went into investigation of loading environment. The few that focused on coal pillar loads mostly applied the tributary area method. Other methods that have been proposed for the determination of pillar loads included the application of beam theory, analytical methods and photo-elastic modelling. These methods have not found much application in coal pillar design. The literature review also highlighted that despite its limitations, the tributary area theory is the most widely used for determining coal pillar loads.