A practical tool for the stability estimation of underground quarries in North France
ISSN: 1708-5284
Article publication date: 12 September 2019
Issue publication date: 20 September 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The presence of underground quarries in North France in close proximity to urbanized areas, imposes serious problems in terms of security of both people and constructions at one hand, and induces a strong constraint against planning and urban development on the other hand. The purpose of this paper is to provide a practical tool for the preliminary estimation of the stability of underground quarries.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, a numerical stability study of quarries, excavated in chalk of North France with or without joints, by the method of rooms and pillars, is presented. This integrates the data provided from site: mechanical properties of the chalk and geometric characteristics of the quarries (width of the pillar W, height of the pillar H and span between pillars L), as well as the orientation of the joints (α). Numerical parametric analysis is conducted using FLAC 3D. Factors of safety are computed from the numerical models. Then, a second-order regression technique is applied on these numerically obtained factors, to correlate new formulae.
Findings
As a result, user-friendly formulae for the calculation of factors of safety Fs (ex) are extrapolated. Besides, abacuses to determine the minimum permissible effective width of safe pillars are proposed.
Originality/value
By this, it becomes possible, knowing only few parameters about geometry and properties, to give a fast estimation of the stability state of any quarry in the region.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the city of Lille, department of health and urban risks, particularly Mr G. Cheppe. Gratification is also dedicated to Miss G. Berrehouc and Mr G.M. Gallet de Saint Aurin from Semofi for all the support throughout this work.
Citation
Rafeh, F., Mroueh, H., Hitti, K. and Burlon, S. (2019), "A practical tool for the stability estimation of underground quarries in North France", World Journal of Engineering, Vol. 16 No. 5, pp. 604-613. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJE-10-2018-0341
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited