Mining Product: ALPS - Analysis of Longwall Pillar Stability
Original creation date: January 1990
ALPS (Analysis of Longwall Pillar Stability) is software for designing pillars for longwall mines.
The ALPS method, which is embodied in the program, consists of three basic steps:
- Estimating the loading that will be applied to the pillars during all the phases of longwall mining
- Estimating the load-bearing capacity of the longwall pillar system, and
- Calculating "stability factors" (SF) by comparing the load to the load-bearing capacity
Since its development, the ALPS method has been verified by back-analysis of more than 100 actual mining case histories. This version of the software includes the Mark-Bieniawski pillar strength formula, which more accurately represent the strength of rectangular pillars, and more flexibility in longwall layout by allowing angled crosscuts and varied crosscut spacing.
Release notes for version 5.4.02 (August 2013):
- Minor bug fixes
- Fixed operating system compatibility issues
- User interface improvements
Release notes for version 5.4.01 (October 2012):
- Recompiled with new libraries
- 16/32 bit controls have been replaced with 32/64 bit controls
- User interface improvements
- Program installer has been updated with more options and better checks for older installations
- Various bug fixes
- Tested for better functioning under Windows 7.
Authors: C Mark
Audience: Mine operators
Software (Windows) - August 2013
Version: 5.4.02
Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2013 Aug
See Also
- AMSS - Analysis of Multiple Seam Stability - 2.1.02
- Coal Mine Bumps: Five Case Studies in the Eastern United States
- Design Methods to Control Violent Pillar Failures in Room-and-Pillar Mines
- Ground Control Overview
- Ground Control Research: Considering Local Geology to Improve Longwall Pillar Stability
- Ground Control Software Toolbar - 1.1.02
- Pillar Design
- Pillar Design Issues for Underground Stone Mines
- Proceedings: New Technology for Ground Control in Retreat Mining
- The State-of-the-Art in Coal Pillar Design
- Technology News 445 - Updated Analysis of Longwall Pillar Stability (ALPS) Computer Program Incorporates New Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR)
- Technology News 516 - ARMPS-HWM: New Software for Sizing Pillars for Highwall Mining
- Toward Pillar Design To Prevent Collapse of Room-and-Pillar Mines
- Using the Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR) to Assess Roof Stability in U.S. Coal Mines
- Page last reviewed: 10/22/2016
- Page last updated: 10/30/2013
- Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program