Explosion Effects on Mine Ventilation Stoppings

NIOSH and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) conducted joint research to evaluate explosion blast effects on typical U.S. mine ventilation stoppings in NIOSH's Lake Lynn Experimental Mine. An innovative Australian-designed brattice stopping was also evaluated. After mine explosion accidents, MSHA conducts investigations to determine the cause(s) as a means to prevent future occurrences. As part of these postexplosion investigations, the condition of underground stoppings, including the debris from damaged stoppings, is documented as evidence of the approximate strength and the direction of the explosion forces. These results will help investigators determine the approximate explosion forces that destroy or damage stoppings during actual coal mine explosions.