Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xv, 121 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-81) and index.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 1998. / Title from document title page. "December 1998." Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 110 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 65).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 86 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 66-67).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2005. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xli, 402 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 332-333).

To date, research has not focused on the behavior of concrete block stoppings subjected to excessive vertical loading due to roof to floor convergence. For this reason, the failure mechanism of stoppings under vertical loading has not been fully understood. Numerical models were used in combination with physical testing to study the failure mechanisms of concrete block stoppings. Initially, the behavior of a single standard CMU block was observed and simulated using FLAC. Full-scale stoppings were then tested in the Mine Roof Simulator and modeled using UDEC. Through a combination of physical testing and numerical modeling a failure mechanism for concrete block stoppings was established. This failure mechanism consists of development of stress concentrations where a height difference as small as 1/32â exists between adjacent blocks. These stress concentrations lead to tensile cracking and, ultimately, premature failure of the wall. / Master of Science

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