An analytic solution describing the visco-elastic deformation of coal pillars in room and pillar mine

Coal pillar deformation is typically nonlinear and time-dependent. The accurate prediction of this deformation has a vital importance for the successful implementation of mining techniques. These methods have proven very important as a way to excavate coal resources from under buildings, railways, or water bodies. Elastic and visco-elastic theory are employed with a Maxwell model to formulate an analytic solution for displacement of coal pillars in room and pillar mine. These results show that the visco-elastic solution adequately predicts the coal pillar deformation over time. We conclude that the visco-elastic solution can predict the coal pillar and roadway displacement from the measured geological parameters of the conditions in situ. Furthermore, this method would be useful for mine design, coal pillar support optimization, ground subsidence prediction, and coal pillar stability analysis.