2/9/2017 MechanicalTopicsShaftSinking

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ShaftSinking

Theconstructionoflargeanddeepshaftsisoperatedbyspecialistfirms,notbythe
miningcompanyitself.Instabledrygroundthe excavation work is done by manual
methods,withtheaidof pneumatic picks and spades, and blasting where hard rock
is encountered. A multiblade grab or other mechanical device may be used for
loadingtheloosenedsoilorrockintoaheavysteelbucket,whichisthenwinchedto
thesurface(Fig.1).

Normally,shaft sinking and shaft lining occurs together, sinking being interrupted at
the intervals in order to line the newly sunk portion. Brick or concrete is used as a
lining material, brickwork being more particularly used for round shafts in Britain
andontheContinent.

Shaftsinking,excavationfromthesurfaceofanopeningintheearth. Shafts, which

are generally vertical, are usually distinguished from tunnels, which are horizontal.
Littledifficultyisexperiencedinshaftsinkingthroughsolidrock,whichcontainslittle
water. When loose, waterbearing strata have to be contended with, careful shoring
andsealingoftheshaftliningbecomenecessary,andpumpingfacilitiesareneeded.
Shafts are usually circular or rectangular and are generally lined with wood,
masonry,concrete,steel,orcastiron.

In waterbearing strata the shaft lining is usually built up from tubing which consist
of caststeel segments (Fig.3). The latter are about 1.3m (4 1/2ft.) high and
providedwithribsandflangesforstrengtheningandinterconnectingthem.They are
bolted together to form rings which are installed one above the other, with lead
gaskets in the joints, so that a closed watertight lining is obtained which is able to
withstandpressureactingonitfromtheoutside.

Thespacebetweentheliningandthewalloftheexcavationisfilledwithconcrete.In
loosewaterbearinggroundashaftboringtechniquemaybeemployed,wherebyitis
possible to construct deep and wide shafts, e.g., up to about 500m (1600ft.) depth
and5m(16ft)diameter.

Boring is carried out with the aid of drilling mud, which helps to withstand the
pressures(fromthegroundandfromtheundergroundwater)whichtendtocollapse
the shaft during construction. The cuttings from the drills are removed from the
shaft bottom by suction through the hollow drill rod by means of special pneumatic
pumps(mammothpumps).Theshaftlining,acylinderfabricatedfromsteelplate,is
loweredintotheshaftasexcavationproceedsandiscementedin.

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2/9/2017 MechanicalTopicsShaftSinking

In the dropshaft method of construction (Fig.2), the brickwork or concrete lining is

built up at the surface and sinks into the shaft under its own weight, assisted by
ballast loading as excavation at the bottom proceeds. The bottom of the lining is
providedwithacuttingedgeofsteeltoassistitspenetration.

Another technique that may be used in waterbearing ground is cementation, which

consistsinsealingthecavitiesandfissureswithgrout(cementslurryafluidmixture
ofcementandwater)whichisinjectedunderpressurethroughholesdrilledintothe
strata concerned. The grout solidifies and stops the inflow of water, so that shaft
sinkingcanbecarriedoutintheordinaryway.

Insoftwaterloggedgroundthefreezingprocessissometimesmaybeinuse.Itisan
expensivemethodbecauseofthefairlyelaborateequipmentitrequiresrefrigerating
platn, cooling tank etc. Pipes spaced about 1yd apart are sunk vertically into the
groundatadistanceof2or3yds,fromtheedgeoftheshafttobeexcavated.Pipes
of smaller diameter are installed concentrically inside these vertical pipes, and a
freezing liquid (brine) is circulated through the inner pipes and flows back to the
surfacethroughtheouterones(Fig.4).Thetemperatureofthebrineisabout20oC.
Ammoniaisusedastherefrigeratingagent.

Asolidcylinderoffrozengroundisgraduallycanfoundaroundeachpipe,andwhen
these frozen cylinders unite to form a solid ring round the ground to be excavated,
shaft sinking can proceed in the usual way within the protection of this encircling
wall of solidified ground. Sometimes the freezing is preceded by cement grouting if
the ground contains wide fissures or cavities. When the shaft has been completed,
freezing is stopped and the ground allowed thawing. The pipes are then withdrawn.
Thefreezingprocesshasbeenusedsuccessfullyforshaftsuptoabout600m(2000
ft.)deep.

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