History of the structural engineering standards for underground mining structures

摘要

In the late 1970s many engineers within the mining industry, as well as structural engineering consultants and contractors serving the mining industry, recognised the need for improved structural engineering design methodologies for those structures typically associated with underground mines. Arising out of this need, important research efforts and surveys were completed to build a good understanding of how these structures behaved and what provision should be made for possible extreme events. This was followed, in the later 1980s, by the drafting and publication of a set of South African standards (SANS 10208), providing consistent guidelines for the structural design of headgears, shaft sinking structures, conveyances and permanent shaft structures. These standards were widely recognised internationally, leading to their adoption and publication by ISO in 2018 (as ISO 19426). For understanding by a wider audience this article describes the historical development of the SANS 10208 and ISO 19426 sets of standards.