WVU Professor Publishes Fourth Book on Mining (Oct 2007)
West Virginia University (WVU) Professor Syd Peng, a renowned mining engineering expert and National Academy of Engineering (NAE) member, has published his fourth book. The book, “Ground Control Failures-A Pictorial View of Case Studies,” is a 330-page hardcover that includes more than 1,000 full-color photos of ground control failures in underground mines, along with explanations of the cases.
Peng is the Charles Lawall Chair in WVU’s Department of Mining Engineering in the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. Earlier this year, he became the first faculty member from WVU to be elected to the NAE, a prestigious organization of the nation’s most elite engineers. Peng is only the fourth person from West Virginia to receive the honor, which is considered the highest that an engineer can achieve in the United States.
Ground control failure refers to any failure of the underground rock strata affected by mining. It also refers to any failure of the supports, hardware or other technology designed to control the rock strata during mining operations. Peng spent more than 33 years working on ground control problems in underground mining. In the book, readers can see for themselves what an underground coal mine looks like and some of the different types of problems that can occur, including pillar failures, roof falls, roof-bolting failures, failures due to multiple-seam mining and others.
The book will contribute to the body of knowledge about these issues, filling a gap in mining literature. “From reactions to the case studies I have published, it has become clear to me that some mining researchers and practitioners have not actually seen all of the different types of ground control failures that can occur and therefore do not have a clear understanding of them,” Peng said. “It is my hope that my photographs of many different types of failure situations, along with written explanations accompanying the photos, will contribute to a better understanding of the wide range of failures that can occur.”
Ground control is a passion for Peng, who founded the International Conference on Ground Control in Mining in 1981. The conference is held each year in Morgantown and attended by coal industry professionals and researchers from around the world. Through his efforts, ground control is now standard terminology in mining operations.
The book is an ideal reference for mining students, researchers, and professionals. For more information or to order a copy of the book, visit www.mine.cemr.wvu.edu.