Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Analysis of Mine Roof Support (AMRS) for US Coal Mines

  • Published:
Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

During the past 15 years, roof fall rates have fallen dramatically in US coal mines, particularly in regions where the roof is weakest. The remarkable reduction in the number of roof falls has been accomplished with more effective roof support systems. The purpose of this paper is to present a design methodology that builds on and quantifies the basic roof support concepts that have been successful in the USA. The methodology starts by defining three modes of roof support, based on the roof strength relative to the stress level: (1) suspension, where roof bolts mainly provide skin control for strong roof; (2) beam building, where moderate strength roof can be supported by roof bolts alone; and (3) supplemental support for weak roof. Next, a large database of roof fall histories at a number of mines is used to define the approximate boundaries of these three regimes based on the coal mine roof rating and the depth of cover. Finally, guidelines are presented for site-specific design of support systems within each regime. The new computer package, analysis of mine roof support (AMRS), implements the design methodology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mark C (2000) Design of roof bolt systems. Proceedings of the NIOSH Open Industry Briefing, New Technology for Coal Mine Roof Support, NIOSH IC 9453, pp. 111-132

  2. Mark C (2016) The science of empirical design in mining rock mechanics. Int J Min Sci Technol 26:461–470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Mark C, Barczak TM (2000) Fundamentals of coal mine roof support. Proceedings of the NIOSH Open Industry Briefing, New Technology for Coal Mine Roof Support, NIOSH IC 9453, pp. 23-42

  4. Mark C, Gadde M (2008) Global trends in coal mine horizontal stress measurements. Proceedings, 27th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, Morgantown, WV, pp. 319–331

  5. Mark C, Molinda GM (2005) The coal mine roof rating (CMRR)—a decade of experience. Int J Coal Geol 64/1–2:85–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Mark C, Stephan R (2019) Preventing roof falls in weak ground. Proceedings, 38th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, Morgantown, WV, pp. 296–300

  7. Mark C, Molinda GM, Dolinar DR (2001) Analysis of roof bolt systems. Proceedings 20th International Conference on Ground Control in Mines, Morgantown, WV, pp 218–225

  8. Mark C, Compton C, Oyler D (2002) Anchorage pull testing for fully-grouted roof bolts. Proceedings, 21st International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, Morgantown, WV, pp. 105–113

  9. Mark C, Molinda G, Burke L (2004) Preventing falls of ground in mines with exceptionally low-strength roof: two case studies. Proceedings, 23rd International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, Morgantown, WV, pp 220–227

  10. Molinda GM, Mark C, Dolinar DR (2000) Assessing coal mine roof stability through roof fall analysis. Proceedings of the NIOSH Open Industry Briefing, New Technology for Coal Mine Roof Support, NIOSH IC 9453, pp. 53-72

  11. Molinda GM, Mark C, Pappas D, Klemetti T (2008) Overview of ground control issues in the Illinois Basin. SME Trans 324:41–48

    Google Scholar 

  12. Oyler DC, Mark C, Dolinar DR, Frith R (2001) Experience with longwall mining into pre-driven rooms. Geotech Geol Eng 19(2):137–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Tadolini SC, Koch RL (1994) Resin-grouted cables for longwall tailgate support stability. Proceedings, 13th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, Morgantown, WV, Aug. 2–4, pp 175–184

  14. Tadolini SC, Mazzoni RA (2006) Twenty-four conferences; more than one-hundred and seventy papers; understanding roof bolt selection and design still remains priceless. Proceedings 25th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, Morgantown, WV, pp 382–389

  15. Thomas R (2010) The design and management of wide roadways in Australian coal mines. Proceedings, 29th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, Morgantown, WV, pp 283–293

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technical Support, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Pittsburgh, PA, 15236, USA

    Christopher Mark & Ryan C. Stephan

  2. Department of Mining Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA

    Zach Agioutantis

Authors
  1. Christopher Mark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ryan C. Stephan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zach Agioutantis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zach Agioutantis.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mark, C., Stephan, R.C. & Agioutantis, Z. Analysis of Mine Roof Support (AMRS) for US Coal Mines. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 37, 1899–1910 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00301-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00301-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation