Pressure on walls of granite shaft

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of hydrostatic pressure and its application in a mine setting. The density of granite and the depth of a 1,000 foot mine shaft are used to calculate the hydrostatic pressure, which is found to be 8,315,685 pascals or 1,206 psi. The conversation also touches on the importance of ground control in mines to prevent rocks from falling and causing harm. The concept of treating solid rock as a fluid in cases of high pressure is also mentioned, and the use of tensile stress instead of compressive stress is explained.
  • #1
peri
7
0
[SOLVED] Pressure on walls of granite shaft

Homework Statement


A friend said "In the deeper mines rock can literally explode if struck or impacted b/c of the pressure of the rock above it." This brought to mind the formula for hydrostatic pressure and nothing else. The density of granite is given as 2.75 g/cm^3. I want to find the pressure the rock is under at the bottom of a 1,000 foot mine shaft.

Homework Equations


P = rho * g * h + Pa

The Attempt at a Solution


Google can verify:
(2750 kg/m^3)*(9.8 m/s^2)*(1000 feet) + (101,325 Pa) is 1,206 psi.

I know bed rock has sizable voids because there are aquifers, caves and caverns; further assuming there are voids on smaller scales the density of granite could be seen as an upper bound -- I would expect granite chunks to just float in a liquid with a density of 2.75 g/cm^3. Given this insight I decided that hydrostatic pressure probably sanely gives an upper bound. Was I right?
 
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  • #2
Check your units. The hydrostatic formula is in metric (i.e. meters), not feet.
 
  • #3
konthelion said:
Check your units. The hydrostatic formula is in metric (i.e. meters), not feet.

It also yields pascals and not psi. Was it wrong to assume converting feet to meters and pascals to psi goes without saying? If so here is a version you should like better:

2.75 g/cm^3 is 2750 kg/m^3
1,000 feet is 304.8 m
(2750 kg/m^3)*(9.8 m/s^2)*(304.8 m) + (101,325 Pa) is 8,315,685 pascals (1,206 psi)
8,315,685 pascals is 1,206 psi
 
  • #4
Hydrostatic pressure in a mine is very real. You normally use screening (strong wire mesh) held in place with long steel bolts drilled into the rock together with sprayed on concrete, it's called 'ground control'

You also have to be careful to back-fill with rock and concrete any mined out spaces before mining new regions near them.
 
  • #5
peri said:
It also yields pascals and not psi. Was it wrong to assume converting feet to meters and pascals to psi goes without saying? If so here is a version you should like better:

2.75 g/cm^3 is 2750 kg/m^3
1,000 feet is 304.8 m
(2750 kg/m^3)*(9.8 m/s^2)*(304.8 m) + (101,325 Pa) is 8,315,685 pascals (1,206 psi)
8,315,685 pascals is 1,206 psi
Oh sorry, you're correct. I didn't know google automatically converts units.
 
  • #6
mgb_phys said:
Hydrostatic pressure in a mine is very real.

Thanks for the reply mgb_phys! I don't doubt the pressure is very real. I am just worried about whether I made a serious blunder in assuming the formula for hydrostatic pressure would be very useful for predicting the pressures involved in solids; so I thought I would post the question here. It sounds like you agree that treating solid rock as if it were a fluid is useful in this case?

mgb_phys said:
You normally use screening (strong wire mesh) held in place with long steel bolts drilled into the rock together with sprayed on concrete, it's called 'ground control'

Hehe 'ground control.' Is that from personal experience in a mine? If so how deep was it and what sort of bed rock was the mine situated in?
 
  • #7
konthelion said:
Oh sorry, you're correct. I didn't know google automatically converts units.

I thought you made a valid point. I was intending to include a Google link but I cannot link to anything until I have made 15 posts. In lieu of the link I should probably have shown the conversions explicitly to avoid confusion.
 
  • #8
Yes I think treating it as a fluid is probably reasonable. Basically whenever the applied pressure is much greater than the maximum tensile stress of the material it is a fluid.
It's the same modeling shell impacts or implosions, at those pressures steel behaves like a liquid and so the subject is called hydrodynamics.

It's a bit nervous when small bits of rock ping off a face and you have to be especially carefull under any deep shafts because even a small rock fragment falling a few 100m can be dangerous. Most of the ground control is to prevent larger lumps falling off the ceiling. A few square meters of granite falling off the roof of a tunnel could really ruin your day.
 
  • #9
mgb_phys said:
Yes I think treating it as a fluid is probably reasonable. Basically whenever the applied pressure is much greater than the maximum tensile stress of the material it is a fluid.

Thanks for your followup!

It took me awhile to figure out why you use the tensile strength instead of the compressive strength. Provided granite blocks vertically under compression which then deform laterally are thus subject to tension because of the deformation, then I think I understand why you use tensile stress.

Please let me know if I missed something!
 

1. What causes pressure on walls of granite shaft?

The pressure on walls of granite shaft is caused by the weight of the overlying rock and soil layers. As these layers accumulate over time, the weight increases and puts pressure on the walls of the shaft.

2. How does pressure affect the stability of the granite shaft?

Excessive pressure on the walls of a granite shaft can cause instability and potential collapse. This is because the pressure can cause cracks and fractures in the granite, weakening its overall structure.

3. Can the pressure on walls of granite shaft be measured?

Yes, the pressure on walls of granite shaft can be measured using specialized instruments such as strain gauges or pressure cells. These instruments can provide accurate readings of the pressure exerted on the walls of the shaft.

4. What are the potential risks of high pressure on walls of granite shaft?

High pressure on walls of granite shaft can lead to structural damage and collapse, which can pose a serious safety risk to workers and the surrounding environment. It can also affect the stability of nearby structures and cause disruptions to construction projects.

5. How can the pressure on walls of granite shaft be managed or reduced?

To manage or reduce the pressure on walls of granite shaft, engineers may use techniques such as grouting or rock bolting to reinforce the walls. Reducing the weight of overlying layers can also help alleviate pressure. It is important to conduct regular inspections and monitoring to detect any changes in pressure and take necessary measures to prevent instability.

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