STABILITY OF SPOIL BANKS AND HOLLOW FILLS CREATED BY SURFACE MINING

A review of the current mining practices in Eastern Kentucky pertaining to the design and regulation of spoil banks and hollow fills was conducted. From the review it was determined that the widely used empirical method is not adequate. A more rational method, which takes into consideration all relevant factors, is presented. Using simplified cross sections, equations and charts were developed to determine the factor of safety of spoil banks and hollow fills. The equations are applicable to plane failure surfaces (which coincide with the surface of the natural ground at the bottom of a fill), and the charts are applicable to cylindrical failure surfaces (which lie entirely within a fill bench). Both modes of failure must be investigated because the one with a lower factor of safety will control the design. Examples are given to illustrate the application of these equations and charts. The shear strength of mine spoils taken from various parts of Eastern Kentucky were investigated and incorporated into the design procedure. Two computer programs, one based on cylindrical failure surfaces and the other on plane failure surfaces, were developed for use with more complex cross sections. /Author/

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Kentucky, Lexington

  Institute for Mining and Minerals Research
  Lexington, KY  United States  40511
• Authors:
  • Huang, Y H
• Publication Date: 1978-3

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 97 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer programs; Cross sections; Failure; Fills; Mathematical models; Mining; Safety; Shear strength; Spoil; Surfaces
• Old TRIS Terms: Failure surfaces
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00179741
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: IMMR34-RRR1-78
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1978 12:00AM