Rock Pillar Design Using a Masonry Equivalent Numerical Model

In underground mining, the design of rock pillars is crucial importance as these are structures that allow safe mining by maintaining stability surrounding excavations. Pillar often a complex task, it involves estimating loads at depths and strength mass fabric, which depend on intact shape pillar in terms aspect ratio (width/height). The also depends number, persistence, orientation, discontinuities with respect to orientation magnitude stresses present. Solutions this engineering problem based one or more following approaches: empirical methods, practical experience, and/or numerical modeling. Based similarities between masonry characteristics, an equivalent approach proposed commonly used but applied design. Numerical models using different geometric configurations state carried out finite difference adapted model rocks. results show capability replicate common types failure modes thresholds those observed practice.