Theoretical Analysis for Stability Evaluation of Rock Mass Engineering Structure under Combined Compression-Shear Loading: A Case Study of Inclined Pillar

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The overall contribution of such a theoretical study is very low. It presents well known equations into a well known case (inclined pillars).

No limitations and scope is explicitly defined at the beginning of the manuscript.

The verification lacks a wider range of rock types, since references 32 and 33 show only pillars in coal mining. The range of UCS seems also limited to mostly rocks under 50 MPa of intact compression strength.

The references to the points in Figure 10 with numbers within circles does not seem appropriate. Please refer to points with "point 1" or a different nomenclature.

Conclusions 1,2 and 3 are qualitative and well known implications of inclined pillars explained many times in the literature. A more quantitative approach with limitations will be valued. 

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Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript is well organised and written. It is well structured with all sections covered enough with details. The only suggestion here is to be more critical in terms of the model applications and the reliability of the parameters which are simple in terms of mechanical behaviour (what on one hand is an advantage, on the other does not give a full picture of the mechanism). In l.105 the authors form the thesis (or aim of the study) "although the dip effect of strength has been widely recognized, so far, the mechanism of dip effect has not been fundamentally investigated...". Please make sure you answer this in the conclusion part, simply refer to the investigation of the mechanism. Another thing is the authors are advised to present the possible limitation. Although the model was verified the weak elements like application conditions or quality of parameters could be an issue of reliability, please comment on that. Please make sure you go through and review the text again since the meaning of some sentences is missing.

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Reviewer 3 Report

1. It is necessary to explain points A, B, C, D, E, F, etc. in Figures 8 and 10 and the corresponding physical state.

2. Line 288 to 290, as mentioned, among the various types of vertical pillar strength formulas, please indicate the case where Equation (19) fits the most with case analysis or numerical values.

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