A study of longwall subsidence in the Appalachian coalfield

Surface subsidence is an inevitable consequence of most underground coal mining. The United States Bureau of Mines has estimated that over 3,000 square miles of land in this country have been affected by subsidence, and it is currently estimated that an additional 2,400 to 3,800 square miles will be affected over the next twenty years. Surface subsidence is a complex phenomenon which is influenced by many variables related to both mining and site conditions. Although it cannot be prevented, foreigh experience has shown that it, nevertheless, can be controlled. In order to achieve this goal, however, methods of subsidence prediction and control must be developed for the United States mining conditions and justified with empirical data. The objective of this research is to develop characteristic relationships of longwall subsidence and its related parameters from case studies gathered from the Appalachian coalfields. Furthermore, based on this information, an empirical, predictive capability will be developed which can be used to provide accurate and reliable predictions of subsidence in this region.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mining Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Mining Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1982

Author dc:creator

• Webb, Boneva

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/82880

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/82880