CPillar version 4.

Tutorial 3 Voussoir Analysis of Rectangular Roof Plate

• Rectangular roof plate model
• Voussoir Analysis
• Mohr-Coulomb Strength Criterion
• Probabilistic Analysis
• Arch snap-thru (buckling due to gravity) theory
CPillar v. 4.0 Tutorial Manual Tutorial 3: Voussoir Analysis of Rectangular Roof Plate

Introduction
This model represents a rectangular roof plate (30 x 20 m) with a thickness of 2.5 meters.
The Voussoir analysis method will be used. The Voussoir method is applicable for low
confining stresses. A span to depth ratio smaller than 3 is not recommended.
External lateral stress is not an option for a Voussoir analysis. Lateral stress exists, but it is
induced by the ‘arching’ action of the rock, it is not an input parameter.
The Mohr-Coulomb strength criterion will be used. Cohesion is automatically set to zero for
a Voussoir analysis when using the Mohr-Coulomb strength criterion. Only a friction angle is
entered.

Model Setup
If you have not already done so, start the CPillar program by double-clicking on the CPillar icon
in your installation folder. Or from the Start menu, select All Programs > Rocscience > CPillar
4.0 > CPillar 4.0. You will have the 3D pillar displayed on the screen.
Open the Project Settings dialog and in the General tab, ensure the Units are set to “Metric,
stress as MPa.” We will use the default Latin Hypercube sampling method with 5000 samples,
and the default water unit weight of 0.00981 MN/m3. Click OK.
In CPillar, the entirety of the input parameters are entered in the “Pillar Information” side panel.
In this example, we will use the following parameters. Enter the following data into the panel:

Parameter Value Statistical Distribution

Analysis Method Voussoir N/A
Analysis Type Probabilistic N/A
Mean Pillar Length 30 m None
Mean Pillar Width 20 m None
Mean Pillar Height 2.5 m None
Mean Rock Unit Weight 0.03 MN/m3 None
Mean Overburden Unit Weight 0 MN/m3 None
Mean Face Dip 0 degrees None
Mean Overburden Thickness 0m None
Mean Support Pressure 0 MPa None
Strength Type Mohr-Coulomb N/A
Normal
Mean Intact UCS 45 MPa Std. Dev. = 5 MPa
3x std. dev. checkbox
Normal
Mean Rock Mass Friction Angle 30 degrees Std. Dev. = 5 degrees
3x std. dev. checkbox

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CPillar v. 4.0 Tutorial Manual Tutorial 3: Voussoir Analysis of Rectangular Roof Plate

Normal
Mean Rock Mass Modulus 3500 MPa Std. Dev. = 500 MPa
3x std. dev. checkbox
Normal
Mean Poisson Ratio 0.25 Std. Dev. = 0.05
3x std. dev. checkbox

The Pillar Information side panel should look as follows:

Note that when using the Mohr-Coulomb Strength Criterion with a Voussoir analysis, the
cohesion is automatically set to zero, since by definition the roof is supporting itself through
frictional resistance only.
Since we have entered several probabilistic variables (Intact UCS, Friction Angle, Rock Mass
Modulus, Poisson Ratio), this is a Probabilistic Analysis - a Probability of Failure is also
calculated.
Your plate model should look as shown:

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CPillar v. 4.0 Tutorial Manual Tutorial 3: Voussoir Analysis of Rectangular Roof Plate

Results

The Voussoir Analysis Method, considers three modes of failure:

1. Shear (vertical slippage at abutments);
2. Arch snap-thru (buckling due to gravity);
3. Localized crushing failure.
We can see these in the Results table:

The driving force for Arch Snap-Thru buckling is the self-weight of the rock. Note that the
Arch Snap-Thru section displays a Mean Buckling Parameter. This parameter calculated in
a Voussoir analysis represents the percentage of unstable arch configurations for a given
geometry and rock mass modulus. A buckling parameter greater than or equal to 35% indicates
that the roof is unstable. The 35% corresponds to a midspan deflection of 10% of the beam
thickness. This means that arch stability can also be assessed by monitoring the displacement
at midspan, relative to the undeflected state.
Note also the Probability of Failure defined as Low. The failure probabilities correspond to mean
buckling parameter ranges as indicated below:

Failure Probability Mean Buckling Parameter

Low 0 - 10
Medium 10 - 25
High 25 - 50
Very High > 50

Collapse of the Arch

Now let’s gradually collapse our arch by decreasing the plate thickness.

Pillar Height = 1 meter

In the Pillar Information side-panel change the pillar height from 2.5 meters to 1 meter. Your
results should look as follows:

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CPillar v. 4.0 Tutorial Manual Tutorial 3: Voussoir Analysis of Rectangular Roof Plate

Note that the Shear factor of safety increases, while the Snap-Thru and Compression factors
of safety decrease. Note also the increase in the arch Midspan Displacement, from 10.4 mm to
63.5 mm. The Probability of Arch Snap-Thru Failure has increased from Low to Medium.

Pillar Height = 0.8 meters

In the Pillar Information side-panel change the pillar height to 0.8 meters. Your results should
look as follows:

Again, Shear factor of safety increases, while Snap-Thru and Compression stability decreases.
Arch midspan displacement is now 102 mm. Recall that when the midspan displacement
reaches about 10% of the plate or beam height, arch collapse is imminent.

Pillar Height = 0.5 meters

Finally, reduce the pillar height to 0.5 meters.

The arch is completely unstable, and failure probability is 100%.

This concludes Tutorial 3. The finished product of this tutorial can be found in the Tutorial 03
Voussoir Analysis of Rectangular Roof Plate.cpil data file in the Tutorials folder of your CPillar
installation folder.

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CPillar v. 4.0 Tutorial Manual Tutorial 3: Voussoir Analysis of Rectangular Roof Plate

Additional Exercise

It is left to the user to experiment with other variables.

For instance, enter a mean support pressure = .01 MPa, and re-enter the original pillar height
of 2.5 meters. Gradually increase the support pressure in increments of .01 MPa. You will find
that the midspan displacement will decrease towards zero, the Compression safety factor will
increase to 100.0 (an arbitrary number indicating a high value), and the Shear factor of safety
remains virtually unchanged.
This last result may seem unusual, however it is an outcome of the Voussoir analysis
technique, and the fact that the shear strength is based only on the Mohr-Coulomb friction
angle. In fact, it is generally true of a Voussoir analysis, that the Shear factor of safety will
not change as the deadload is increased or decreased, all other parameters being constant,
whether the change in effective deadload is due to a change in rock density, addition of
overburden, specifying a dip angle, or addition of support pressure.
This will not necessarily be true if the user is working with the Hoek-Brown Strength Criterion.

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