Infrared thermography of loose hangingwalls

Abstract

This project is the continuation of GAP706 “Pre-feasibility investigation of infrared thermography for the identification of loose hangingwall and impending falls of ground”. The main concept behind the infrared thermography method is that with an exposed hangingwall surface area, loose sections of ventilated rock should have a lower temperature than solid sections of ventilated rock because the former acts like cooling fins. The temperature gradient between loose and solid rock depends on the thermal conductivity of the rock, the ventilation conditions, the looseness of the rock and, to a lesser extent, the type of rock and age of mining. Such a gradient could be anything from a tenth of a degree to a few degrees Centigrade.