National Institute of Technology Rourkela
Department of Mining Engineering
Mid-Semester Examination (Spring Semester 2022-2023)
Design of Underground Structures (MN 6124)
Max. Marks: 30 Exam Duration: 2 Hours
Instructions:
The question paper contains two groups of questions namely A) Short type and B) Long descriptive
type. Read the instructions of each group carefully.
Group A: Short type question
Instructions: a) Answer any four questions. b) Each question carries 2½ Marks.
1. Explain first weighting of immediate roof and periodic weighting during longwall mining.
2. How to estimate caveability index of overlying strata? Classify the overlying strata
according to the caveability index and its impact on caving mechanism.
3. Explain skew mechanism with suitable diagram when the chain pillar is surrounded by
solid in only one quadrant (90º) in longwall mining.
4. How to estimate effective width of rectangular pillar? Estimate safety factor of rectangular
and square pillars having same area. Assume your own conditions.
5. What are the different factors influencing strength of pillar? Explain the effect of width-to-
height ratio on the stress-strain characteristics of a coal pillar with a suitable graph.
6. Explain the process of installation of resin grouted rock bolts using quad bolter/twin bolter.
Group B: Long descriptive type questions
Instructions: a) Answer any two questions. b) Each question carries 10 marks.
1. What are the different types of natural support? Write down the function and typical life
expectancy of the pillars. As per indigenous coal pillar’s design formula, strength of pillar
increases with depth; however, according to a recent developed indigenous strength
formula for a rib/snook, it decreases. Provide your comments for the same.
2. What is Chain Pillar? Explain the chain pillar loading cycles during different stages (a,b,
c, d and e) of longwall working as shown in Figure 1. Evaluate factor of safety including
load over chain pillar and strength considering goaf from one side (stage c) and caveable
overlying strata.
Assume following geo-mining conditions:
Depth of cover= 550m, Compressive strength of coal= 30 MPa, Unit weight of rock = 0.025
MPa/m, Height of working= 3.6 m, Width of roadway=5.5 m, Width of panels (2 and 3),
L2=L3=250 m, Width of Chain Pillar=64 m, Length of Chain pillar = 100 m, Goaf
treatment factor= 0.3 for caving.
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Solid Coal or Barrier
Tail Gate 1
Chain Pillars Goaf of longwall panel 1
Main Gate 1
e d
Tail Gate 2
LW 2
Goaf of longwall panel 2 Retreat
Direction
Main Gate 2
c b
Tail Gate 3
Strength to be estimated
Unmined longwall panel 3
Main Gate 3
a
Tail Gate 4
Fig. 1. Loading stages in the life cycle of a chain pillar.
3. Write down the functions of rib/snook during mechanised depillaring. Draw schematic
diagram of roof-rib pillar interactions with competent and incompetent design of breaker
line support. Designed area of the snook is 102 m2. Estimate strength including required
area and effective width-to-height ratio of snook using empirical formulations considering
following geo-mining conditions (Fig. 2).
Snook
12 m
Strength to be estimated
Depth of cover=291 m, Rock Mass Rating= 55.18, Height of working=6 m
All dimensions are in meter
Fig. 2. Sequence of pillar extraction.
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