A hybrid FEM/DEM approach to model the interaction between open-pit and underground block-caving mining

Elmo, Davide; Vyazmensky, Alexander; Stead, Doug; Rance, J.R.

doi:10.1201/noe0415444019-c160

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…However, challenges arise in determining input data that are highly variable, often requiring stochastic treatments or sensitivity studies (Brown, 2012). Modelling studies by Brummer et al (2006), Beck et al (2006), Elmo et al (2007), Vyazmensky et al (2010) and Woo et al (2012) have demonstrated the use of continuum and discontinuum numerical techniques to model block cave/open pit interactions. In this study, a discontinuum approach is adopted using the commercial 2-D distinct-element code UDEC (Itasca, 2004).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interaction between block caving and rock slope deformation kinematics as a function of cave position and orientation of discontinuities

2014

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Several operations are considering the transition from surface mining to underground block caving to access deeper resources. Depending on the geometry of the orebody, the undercut may be positioned beneath the foot of a large open pit slope, or behind its crest. The latter scenario also arises where a natural rock slope is present. Results are reported here from a numerical modelling study investigating the mechanics of deep-seated slope displacements in response to caving. Different failure models are investigated as a function of the orientation of the jointing pattern relative to the location and progressive development of the block cave. A 2-D discontinuum modelling approach is utilised based on the distinct-element method. The results show that the cave location and the resultant strain field, plays a significant role in the rock mass interactions that develop and the subsequent kinematic response of the slope with respect to translational, rotational and toppling behaviour.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interaction between block caving and rock slope deformation kinematics as a function of cave position and orientation of discontinuities

2014

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“…In particular, the extension of DFN to construct synthetic rock mass (SRM) models offers several opportunities in design. Recent applications include the work of Cundall et al (2008), Esmaieli et al (2010), Elmo et al (2011), Mas Ivars et al (2011) and Beck et al (2009). The potential of this powerful technique is, however, limited if there is no similar effort in collecting the necessary structural data at the engineering scale of a project, for example, drift or stope size.…”

Section: Analysis and Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hadjigeorgiou

2012

Mining Technology

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Deep and high stress mining poses a significant number of geotechnical challenges. Despite considerable improvements in almost every technological aspect of the design and operation of mines at depth and under high stress, the weakest link remains the quality and quantity of data. This paper addresses certain inconvenient facts on how data are collected and managed. The case is made for a disciplined approach to data collection, analysis and interpretation. Unless this is implemented in a systematic way, it will not be possible to capitalise in gains made from improved engineering tools. A further concern is that for mines operating at depth, the margin of error due to inadequate or inappropriate data is much smaller, and the repercussions more severe, compared to shallow mines.

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“…When meshes undergo a large deformation, mesh-dependent numerical simulation methods experience problems, such as a distorted mesh, making the calculation impossible [9]. To address this problem, Elmo et al [10] and Vyazmensky et al [11] used a hybrid FEM-DEM approach to analyze and evaluate the stability of a slope in open-pit and underground mining. Mohammadi and Taiebat [2] used the h-adaptive mesh refinement technique to simulate the deformation and damage of a slope by frequently updating the slope geometry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Investigation of Progressive Slope Failure Induced by Sublevel Caving Mining Using the Finite Difference Method and Adaptive Local Remeshing

Zhang

Mei

et al. 2021

Applied Sciences

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Slope failure induced by sublevel caving mining is a progressive process, resulting in the large deformation and displacement of rock masses in the slope. Numerical methods are widely used to investigate the above phenomenon. However, conventional numerical methods have difficulties when simulating the process of progressive slope failure. For example, the discrete element method (DEM) for block systems is computationally expensive and possibly fails for large-scale and complex slope models, while the finite difference method (FDM) has a mesh distortion problem when simulating progressive slope failure. To address the above problems, this paper presents a finite difference modeling method using the adaptive local remeshing technique (LREM) to investigate the progressive slope failure induced by sublevel caving mining. In the proposed LREM, (1) the zone of the distorted mesh is adaptively identified, and the landslide body is removed; (2) the updated mesh is regenerated by the local remeshing, and the physical field variables of the original computational model are transferred to the regenerated computational model. The novelty of the proposed method is that (1) compared with the DEM for block systems, the proposed LREM is capable of modeling the progressive slope failure in large-scale rock slopes; (2) the proposed method is able to address the problem of mesh distortion in conventional FDM modeling; and (3) compared with the errors induced by the frequent updating of the mesh of the entire model, the adaptive local remeshing technique effectively reduces calculation errors. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed LREM, it is first used to investigate the failure of a simplified slope induced by sublevel caving mining. Moreover, the proposed LREM is applied in a real case, i.e., to investigate the progressive slope failure induced by sublevel caving mining in Yanqianshan Iron Mine.

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A hybrid FEM/DEM approach to model the interaction between open-pit and underground block-caving mining

Cited by 11 publications

References 0 publications

Interaction between block caving and rock slope deformation kinematics as a function of cave position and orientation of discontinuities

Interaction between block caving and rock slope deformation kinematics as a function of cave position and orientation of discontinuities

Where do the data come from?

Numerical Investigation of Progressive Slope Failure Induced by Sublevel Caving Mining Using the Finite Difference Method and Adaptive Local Remeshing

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