A comparison of deep shaft sinking techniques; |a case study using the conventional method

Abstract

Shaft is defined as an undeground cavity of an inclination 45 to 90 degrees to the horizontal line, of a straight course, of a minimum cross section of approximately 10m2, and of an essentially larger length in the vertical than in the horizontal direction. There are many applications of shaft sinking in underground constructions but it has to be recognized that worldwide 90 per cent and more of all shafts are sunk for mining purposes.Most of the shafts required worldwide are constructed by conventional shaft sinking which is understood as breaking rock by blasting, loading and hoisting of the broken rock and installation of the lining. Alternative sinking methods to the conventional method are shaft drilling and boring where in shaft boring muck is removed to a lower level and there should be an existing underground connection, and in shaft drilling with muck removal to the surface or to the next higher level. In this study, all these three sinking methods are examined and compared with each other. Conventional sinking method is examined in detail and a shaft, sunk in Çayeli Rize by a conventional method is taken as a case study. Construction steps are explained and sinking equipment alternatives and progress of the method is discussed.