Evaluation of stresses and displacements induced in discretely layered media

An analytical model based on the stress function approach is presented for the evaluation of stresses and displacements induced in discretely layered elastic media as a result of single seam extraction. The method is presented in generalized form for plane strain conditions with an arbitrary number of layers. Appropriate boundary conditions are those for both partial and complete seam extraction. Stresses and displacements may be evaluated throughout the section with the elastic strain distribution being used to predict the extents of potential strata failure. A parametric example is presented to illustrate the utility of the method and to identify generic response to changing extractive geometries. Comparison of the proposed model with results from a well-documented case study for which well-defined material and geometric parameters are available shows favourable agreement.