A New Approach for Determination of Tunnel Supporting System Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)

Citation

Oraee K, Hosseini N & Gholinejad M (2009) A New Approach for Determination of Tunnel Supporting System Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). In: Aziz N (ed.) Coal 2009: Coal Operators' Conference, University of Wollongong & the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2009. Coal Operators' Conference. 9th Underground Coal Operators' Conference (Coal 2009: Coal Operators' Conference), Wollongong, Australia, 12.02.2009-13.02.2009. Wollongong, Australia: University of Wollongong / Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, pp. 78-89. http://ro.uow.edu.au/coal/82/

Abstract
In underground mining, the selection of support system for mine tunnel development plays a significant role in safety and economics of operations. Traditionally, such selection is on the basis of the experience of the design engineer. Nevertheless, the validity of such selection is questionable. A new approach for selecting the optimum tunnel support system based on Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is proposed. In this new approach, the selection of the tunnel support system is considered as a multi criteria decision-making problem. Firstly, by using the numerical Finite Difference Method (FDM), based on technical and stability parameters of the tunnel, different support systems are specified. Then, by considering the economics and performance indices of each support system, a decision tree based on AHP model is generated and the optimum support system is selected. As a field study, the method is applied to Tabas collieries in Iran. It is concluded that the proposed support system determination is advantageous compared to other alternatives. Therefore, the proposed approach can assist the engineer in selection of optimum tunnel support system in different underground mining situations.

Keywords
Analytical Hierarchy Process; Supporting System; Tunnel; Decision making