The 2018 International Conference on Ground Control in Mining is proud to present technical sessions hosted by some of the leading innovators and technology from around the world. To learn more about available technical sessions, please view the complete list below.
Please check back often for updates on technical sessions.
Pillar Design and Evaluation – Session 1 (20 Minute Presentation+ 3 min Q & A)
Session Chairs:Steve Tadolini, Minova USA Inc.
Zach Agioutantis, University of Kentucky
Analysis of Coal Pillar Stability (ACPS): A New Generation of Pillar Design Software -Christopher Mark, MSHA, Pittsburgh Safety and Health Technology Center, Pittsburgh, PA, Zach Agioutantis, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
The Limitations and Potential Design Risks When Applying Empirically-Derived Coal Pillar Strength Equations to Real-Life Mine Stability Problems - Russell Frith, Guy Reed; Mine Advice Pty Ltd., Australia
An Areal Calculation of the ARBS Support Intensity - Keith Heasley, Annand Nandula, Ihsan B. Tulu, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
Numerical Model Simulation of a Development Pillar at a Steeply Dipping Underground Limestone Mine - Morgan M. Sears, Brent Slaker, Gamal Rashed, NIOSH-Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Case Studies Part 1– Session 2
Session Chairs: Christopher Mark, Mine Safety and Health Administration
Ihsan Berk Tulu, West Virginia University
Mining Effects on Gas and Oil Wells the Pad NV-35 Field Experiment - Vincent Scovazzo, John T. Boyd Company, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Experience of Using the ANZI Strain Cell for Three Dimensional in-situ Stress Determinations in Deep Exploration Boreholes - Ken Mills, Jesse Puller, SCT Operations Pty Ltd., Australia
Challenges of Mining the First Right-Handed longwall in Pittsburgh Seam - Jun Lu, Greg Hasenfus, CONSOL Energy, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Effect of Longwall-induced Subsurface Deformations on Shale Gas Well Casing Stability under Deep Cover - Daniel W.H. Su, Peter Zhang, Mark Vann Dyke, Todd Minoski, NIOSH-Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Ground Movement – Session 3
Session Chairs: Mark K Larson, SMRD-National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
Jessica Michelle Wempen, University of Utah
Overburden Strata Movement Monitoring Program during Longwall Mining – Xinzhi (Thomas) Du, Murray Energy Corporation, St. Clairsville, OH, USA
The role of gas pressure in coal bursts - Gale, Winton, SCT Operations Pty Ltd., Australia
Considerations for Effective Ground Support in Evaporites - Jay Nopola, C.A. Vining, RESPEC, Rapid City, SD, USA
Development of a Fault-Rupture Environment in 3D Numerical tool for examining the Mechanical Impact of Fault on Underground Excavations - Bo-Hyun Kim, Mark K. Larson, NIOSH-Spokane Mining Research Division, Spokane, WA, USA
Roof Control and Floor Heave – Session 4
Session Chairs: Russell Frith, Mine Advice Pty Ltd
Daniel Su, PMRD-National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
What factors over and above those included in the existing Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR) could also be predictive of roof instability in underground coal mines? – Meriel Young, Gabriel Walton, Elizabeth Holley, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
Comparison of closure measurements with finite element model results in an underground coal mine in central Utah – William G. Pariseau, Michael K. McCarter, Jessica M. Wempen, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
An investigation into contributing factors to floor heaves in Australian coal mines – Soongsun Mo, Kudret Tutuk (Glencore), Serkan Saydam, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Ground Response to High Horizontal Stresses and Soft Floor during Longwall Retreating and its Implication on Longwall Gate Entry Support - Peter Zhang, Dave Gearhart, Mark Van Dyke, Daniel W.H. Su, Gabriel S. Esterhuizen NIOSH-Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, Pittsburgh, PA, Ihsan B. Tulu, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
Case Studies Part 2 – Session 5 (15 min presentation + 3min Q&A)
Session Chairs: David Bartsch, American Energy Corporation
Khaled M. Mohamed, PMRD-National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
Evaluation of gateroad support performance based on field monitoring results from two longwall mines – Gabriel S. Esterhuizen, David F. Gearhart, Ted M. Klemetti, Heather Dougherty, Mark Van Dyke, NIOSH-Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Management of Initial Convergence Events at Broadmeadow Mine - Robert J. Coutts, K.W. Mills, D.G Lynch, M.R Martin, BHP-BMA, Queensland, Australia
Field and laboratory studies for mechanized depillaring under easily caveable roof strata - Arun Kumar Singh, Ashok Kumar, Rajendra Singh, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad, India
Performance Characteristics for Large Sections of Welded Wire Screen with Multiple Pull Patterns - Timothy Batchler, Ted M. Klemetti, Timothy J. Matthews, NIOSH-Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
36 Years of Surface Subsidence Engineering Reporting at the ICGCM – Anthony Iannacchione, University of Pittsburgh, Nicole E. Evanek, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Subsidence and Rock Mass Characterization – Session 6
Session Chair: Vincent A. Scovazzo, John T. Boyd Company
Peter Zhang, PMRD-National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
Application of Laser Scanning for Rock Mass Characterization and Discrete Fracture Network Generation in an Underground Limestone Mine - Juan J. Monsalve, Jon Baggett, Richard Bishop, Nino Ripepi, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
Numerical modelling based investigation of coal pillar stability for room and pillar development at depth of 900 m - Ashok- Kumar, Petr Waclawik, Rajendra Singh, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad, India, Institute of Geonics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Ostrava Czech Republic
Cemented coal gangue-fly ash backfill technique – Jie Yang, Anthony Iannacchione, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA Baogui Yang, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, China
Subsidence on room and pillar retreat in low coal seams – Andre Zingano, Anderson Weiss, University of Federal of Rio Grande do Sul, Carb, Do Cambui Inc. Brazil
Revolution Characteristics of Pressure-Arch in Disturbed Overburden during Shallow Horizontal Coal Mining – Yanhai Zhao, Shuren Wang. Henan Polytechnic University, China, Paul C. Hagan, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, Wenbing Gao, Henan Polytechnic University, China
Loading and Subsidence – Session 7 (15 min presentation + 3min Q&A)
Session Chair: Keith Heasley, West Virginia University
Gabriel Esterhuizen, PMRD-National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
Challenges in German subsidence research - retrospectives and perspectives – Axel Preusse, Denise Müller, Daniel Beckers, Institute for Mine Surveying, Mining Subsidence and Geophysics in Mining; RWTH Aachen, Germany
Understanding the Connection between Blasting and Highwall Stability - Robert Eades, Kyle Perry, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, USA
Research on abutment pressure distribution for longwall face passing the abandoned gateroads - Yang Li, Jimin Su, Peng Cao, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, China
Laboratory Investigation on Confinement-Dependent Mechanical Behavior of a Utah Coal - Bo-Hyun Kim, Mark K. Larson, NIOSH-Spokane Mining Research Division, Spokane, WA, Steve Berry, Montana Tech, Butte, MT, USA
Investigation of stress environment of entry driven along gob-side through numerical simulation incorporating angle of break – Pengfei Wang, Guorui Feng, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Zhiqiang Wang, Jingli Zhao, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, China
Fundamental Ground Control Studies – Session 8
Session Chair: Anthony Iannacchione, University of Pittsburgh
Eric Westman, Virginia Tech
Mechanics of Rib Deformation - Observations and Monitoring in Australian Coal Mines – Yvette Heritage, SCT Operations Pty Ltd. Australia
Review of Evaluation and Design of Secondary Support Performance in Longwall Ventilation Entries - Benjamin Mirabile, Jennmar Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, Erik Westman, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VT, USA
Indirect methods for the coal strength calculations to develop the Coal Pillar Rib Rating (CPRR) - Gamal Rashed, Timothy Barton, Morgan Sears, Mark Van Dyke, Khaled Mohamed, NIOSH-Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
The Development of a Numerical Model for the Approximation of Stress Distribution for a Single Vertical Backfilled Stope - Christopher Newman, Zacharias Agioutantis, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
Study on the Height of Fractured Zone inside Overlying strata under High Intensity mining in China – Wenbing Guo, Gaobo Zhao, Gaozhong Lou, Shuren Wang, Henan Polytechnic University, Henan, China
Support and Hazard – Session 9
Session Chairs: Morgan M. Sears, PMRD-National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
Thomas Du, Murray Energy Corporation
Merging Coal Mine Geologic Hazard Mapping with Mine Production Rates – Industry Experience – Kevin Andrews, Scott Nelson, Marshall Miller & Associates, Bluefield, VA, Terry Hamrick, United Coal Company, LLC Metinvest Group, USA.
BORE Bolt - No Milled Notch - No Hot Notch – No Problem – Anand Bhagwat, Steve Tadolini, Minova USA Inc. Georgetown, KY, USA
A Practical and Efficient Steel King Beam Structure Design Methodology at Slope Bottom Intersections - Xiaotin Li, John C. Stankus, Jennmar Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Systematic principles of surrounding rock control in longwall mining within thick coal seams - Jiachen Wang, Zhaolui Wang, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing China
Fundamental Studies – Session 10
Session Chairs: Brent Slaker, PMRD-National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
Investigation of Acoustic Emission Sensor for Underground Mine Ground Control Hazard Recognition - Gary Buchan, NIOSH-Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Analysis of the Effects of a Passing Longwall Face on the roadway, pillars and standing supports - David Gearhart, Gabriel Esterhuizen, Peter Zhang, NIOSH-Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
The support strategy for tailgate below the gob edge using split-level longwall layout for deep inclined coal seams – Pengfei Wang, Guoroi Feng, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Zhiqiang Wang, Jingli Zhao, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, China
Assessment of rockburst hazard by quantifying its consequence with plastic strain work and released energy in numerical models - Fei Wang, R Kaunda, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA.