Du Plessis, M.Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois)2015-08-282015-08-282015-06Du Plessis, M & Malan, DF 2015, 'Crush pillar support - designing for controlled pillar failure', Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, vol. 115, pp. 481-488.0038-223X (print)2225-6253 (online)http://hdl.handle.net/2263/49627This paper was first presented at the, Platinum Conference 2014, 20–24 October 2014, Sun City South Africa.The work described in this paper forms part of the PhD study of Michael du Plessis at the University of Pretoria.The aim of any mine design is to ensure that the excavations remain stable for the period they will be in use. Various pillar systems are used to ensure that underground stopes remain stable and that mining activities do not affect the surface infrastructure through either surface subsidence or seismicity. Intermediate-depth platinum mines make use of in-stope pillars designed to fail while the pillars are being cut at the mining face. The pillar stress exceeds the loading capacity and the pillars crush as a result. The aim of the paper is to provide an overview of in-stope crush pillars. This will include the application, behaviour, function, mechanism, impact, and design of a crush pillar system.en© The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2015Crush pillarsControlled failureLimit equilibrium modelPillar layoutEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-04SDG-04: Quality educationEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-08SDG-08: Decent work and economic growthEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-09SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructureEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-11SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communitiesEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-12SDG-12: Responsible consumption and productionArticle