Practical solutions to offset the deficiencies and increasing price of mine timber

The engineering of a support system is driven largely by economics. The goal is to provide effective support at minimal cost. Historically, wood has been used for supplemental roof support construction because of its availability at low cost. The escalating cost of mine timber requires it to be used more efficiently. In addition, the growth of longwall mining provides an unprecedented dependence on timber cribs to provide essential ground control. The purpose of this paper is to provide practical solutions pertaining to the design and employment of timber supports that will provide the most efficient use of mine timber to ensure that safety is maintained while support costs are minimized. Practical examples of support design to improve support efficiency and reduce costs are provided. Alternative materials and support concepts to replace conventional wood cribbing are also evaluated.