Numerical Modelling for the Recovery of Safety Pillars

In coal mines, a portion of the coal is left in pillars to support the great weight of the overburden and to provide stability to the immediate roof and floor of the openings for ingress and egress. The main drift and the shaft are generally the main access for men and materials to the mine, and the main conduit for coal transport from the mine; therefore, protection of the main drift and shaft is crucial through the mine life. It will give a additional benefit to extract the safety pillars those are used to provide stability for main drift and shaft as far as economy and production is concerned. For this reason, it is important to mine these safety pillars. For this purpose above mentioned, the stress and deformations due to mining operations on safety pillar, their effects and results are the subject of this study.