Recent developments in the application of the influence function method for ground movement predictions in the U.S.

The influence function method has been applied to calculate ground deformations caused by underground mining. A bell-shaped Gaussian function was utilized to develop two formulations one for regular and one for irregular excavation parcels, which can calculate various deformation indices including subsidence, horizontal displacements, horizontal strains, slope and curvature. Empirical subsidence parameters have been developed to facilitate the application of the method to various mining and geological conditions, although site-specific parameters can also be utilized. Comparisons between measured and predicted subsidence and strain values are presented for different case studies, and demonstrate the applicability of the influence function formulation for predicting surface deformations in U.S. coalfields.