Jooste, YolandeMalan, D.F. (Daniel Francois)2020-11-162020-11-162020-01Jooste, Y and Malan, D.F. The need for improved layout design criteria for deep tabular stopes. The Southern African Insitute of Mining and Metallurgy DOI ID: http://dx.DOI.org/10.17159/2411-9717/849/2020.0038-223X (print)2225-6253 (online)10.17159/2411- 9717/849/2020http://hdl.handle.net/2263/77008This paper was first presented at the Deep Mining 2019 Conference, 24–25 June 2019 Misty Hills Conference Centre, Muldersdrift, Johannesburg, South Africa.This work forms part of a PhD study by Yolande Jooste at the University of Pretoria.This paper was compiled to highlight the need for additional research in the area of layout design criteria for deep gold mines. It describes aspects related to two popular design criteria used in the deep gold mines of South Africa, namely average pillar stress (APS) and energy release rate (ERR). The early layout designs in the gold mines were based on trial and error and most of the recommendations of the 1924 Witwatersrand Rock Burst Committee are still valid in modern times. The introduction of APS and ERR assisted greatly to reduce areas of high stress concentrations. Both criteria are of limited use, however, as it is not clear what the maximum value of APS for remnants should be and ERR has a significant drawback as no dissipative mechanisms are incorporated to allow for non-violent failure of the rock mass. A numerical modelling study is described that illustrates the effect of total closure on the simulated APS and ERR values of remnants. It is recommended that stress measurements be conducted below remnant areas to better calibrate the numerical models. The need for additional rock mass monitoring to supplement the design criteria is also discussed.en© The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2020Stope layoutPillar stressEnergy release rateNumerical modelRemnantsLayout design criteriaDeep gold minesSouth Africa (SA)Average pillar stress (APS)Energy release rate (ERR)Engineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-03SDG-03: Good health and well-beingEngineering, 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 productionEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-16SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutionsArticle