Applications of fracture system models (FSM) in mining and civil rock engineering design

Engineering design in rock must, implicitly or explicitly, take into consideration the influence of small and large scale geological fractures. The complexity of a jointed rock mass is best captured using 3D fracture system model based on quality field data. In this article, we describe on-going work in developing and implementing fracture system models (FSM) to solve three engineering problems using the developed stochastic fracture modelling tool, Fracture-SG. The first case study uses field data from 53 mine sites to demonstrate the advantages of using FSM, as compared to empirical classification indices to quantify the structural complexity of a rock mass. The second case describes the determination of a structural representative elemental volume (REV) along a rock slope, and the third case study describes the use of FSM as an integral part of the stability analysis of a slope subject to structural failures

Integrated structural stability analysis for preliminary open pit design

A design module has been developed for integrating slope stability analysis into the data management, ore reserve and pit optimisation processes of an open pit mine. The developed slope stability analysis tools were successfully implemented along the full projected pit model of a surface mine in Canada. Undertaken stability analyses included both kinematic and limit equilibrium stability analysis for bench and interramp design. The developed stability analysis modules employed geographical information systems (GIS) techniques to provide visualization tools and establish stability susceptibility zones along the pit. This approach facilitated the selection of acceptable slope design criteria for the pit. A case study was used to illustrate the developed methodology and tools. This approach led to an improved design for the optimised 3D pit configuration and can facilitate communication between the mine planning and geotechnical groups. This can contribute to a better understanding of the economic impact of the different slope and pit design scenarios. Given that open pit design is an iterative process, the opportunity of having design tools that can readily accommodate the use of updated data and explore different options provide tangible economic benefits

Drift reinforcement design based on discontinuity network modelling

The results of structural mapping are used to generate 3-D joint networks. By introducing a virtual excavation in the generated rock mass it is possible to identify all wedges that can potentially be defined at the exposed surfaces of the excavation. The number and size of these wedges are controlled by the geometry and orientation of the excavation, as well as the properties of the generated joint sets and individual random joints. Consequently it is possible to determine the stability of every individual wedge along the span of an excavation. The influence of various reinforcement strategies (type of bolts, reinforcement patterns, mesh, etc.) on the stability of an excavation is quantified. This is a prelude to an economic analysis whereby the costs associated with different stabilization techniques are assessed. This methodology is illustrated by means of three case studies in a polymetallic underground mine in the Canadian Shield

A design methodology for rock slopes susceptible to wedge failure using fracture system modelling

This paper demonstrates how the use of fracture system modelling can be linked to limit equilibrium analysis of rock slopes susceptible to wedge failure. The use of fracture systems highlights some of the limitations inherent in traditional structural data analysis and representation. Consequently it allows for more comprehensive input data that can be used for stability analysis of rock slopes. In particular the developed methodology addresses important issues such as spatial variability and wedge size distributions. The paper introduces a series of guidelines for interpretation of the results of rock slopes. The proposed techniques arguably result in an improved level of confidence in the design of rock slopes susceptible to wedge failur

Open stope stability using 3D joint networks

The most popular exploitation method used in Canadian hard rock mines is open stope mining. Geomechanical design of open stopes relies on a range of analytical, numerical, and empirical tools. This paper presents an engineering approach for the analysis and the design of reinforcement for open stopes in jointed rock. The proposed methodology, illustrated by three case studies, relies on developing 3D joint network models from field data. The 3D joint networks have been successfully linked to a 3D limit equilibrium software package. The models account for the finite length of joints as well as the influence of random joints. The integrated approach facilitates comparative analyse

Rock slope stability analysis using fracture systems

This paper presents a methodology whereby statistically representative fracture patterns can be used for an accurate representation of structural discontinuities in rock. This implies that field data can be used to generate characteristic fracture systems for a rock mass. It is then possible to introduce any range of slope geometry in the generated rock mass. The stability of such excavations can be evaluated using traditional limit equilibrium analysis. The advantage of this approach is that it can consider the influence of both large-scale (major) fractures whose relative location in the rock mass is well defined and minor fractures whose location and orientation is defined by probabilistic algorithms. This is demonstrated in this paper with reference to a rock slope susceptible to wedge-type failures

Capturing the complete stress–strain behaviour of jointed rock using a numerical approach

This paper presents the results of a series of numerical experiments using the synthetic rock mass (SRM) approach to quantify the behaviour of jointed rock masses. Field data from a massive sulphide rock mass, at the Brunswick mine, were used to develop a discrete fracture network (DFN). The constructed DFN model was subsequently subjected to random sampling whereby 40 cubic samples, of height to width ratio of two, and of varying widths (0.05 to 10 m) were isolated. The discrete fracture samples were linked to 3D bonded particle models to generate representative SRM models for each sample size. This approach simulated the jointed rock mass as an assembly of fractures embedded into the rock matrix. The SRM samples were submitted to uniaxial loading, and the complete stress–strain behaviour of each specimen was recorded. This approach provided a way to determine the complex constitutive behaviour of large-scale rock mass samples. This is often difficult or not possible to achieve in the laboratory. The numerical experiments suggested that higher post-peak modulus values were obtained for smaller samples and lower values for larger sample sizes. Furthermore, the observed deviation of the recorded post-peak modulus values decreased with sample size. The ratio of residual strength of rock mass samples per uniaxial compressive strength intact increases moderately with sample size. Consequently, for the investigated massive sulphide rock mass, the pre-peak and post-peak representative elemental volume size was found to be the same (7 × 7 × 14 m)

Estimating geometrical and mechanical REV based on synthetic rock mass models at Brunswick Mine

This paper uses a case study from Brunswick Mine in Canada to determine a representative elementary volume (REV) of a jointed rock mass in the vicinity of important underground infrastructure. The equivalent geometrical and mechanical property REV sizes were determined based on fracture systems modeling and numerical experiments on a synthetic rock mass. Structural data collected in massive sulphides were used to generate a large fracture system model (FSM), 40 m×40 m×40 m. This FSM was validated and subsequently sampled to procure 40 cubic specimens with a height to width ratio of 2 based on sample width from 0.05 to 10 m. The specimens were introduced into a 3D particle flow code (PFC3D) model to create synthetic rock mass (SRM) samples. The geometrical REV of the rock mass was determined based on the number of fractures in each sampled volume (P30) and the volumetric fracture intensity (P32) of the samples. The mechanical REV was estimated based on the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and elastic modulus (E) of the synthetic rock mass samples. The REV size of the rock mass was determined based on a series of statistical tests. The T-test was used to assess whether the means of the samples were statistically different from each other and the F-test to compare the calculated variance. Finally, the coefficient of variation, for the synthetic rock mass geometrical and mechanical properties, was plotted against sample size. For this particular site the estimated geometrical REV size of the rock mass was 3.5 m×3.5 m×7 m, while the mechanical property REV size was 7 m×7 m×14 m. Consequently, for engineering purposes the largest volume (7 m×7 m×14 m) can be considered as the REV size for this rock mass

Stability analysis of vertical excavations in hard rock by integrating a fracture system into a PFC model

This paper presents an implementation of a comprehensive engineering approach to the analysis of the stability of vertical excavations in rock. This approach relies in the generation of discrete fracture systems to better capture the structural complexity of the rock mass. The resulting fracture system is consequently linked into a distinct element stress analysis. The particle flow code was selected as it potentially allows greater flexibility in representing a fracture system. In the first example a 3D fracture system was linked into a 2D PFC model. Although this has allowed for an improved quantification of stress structure interaction it necessitated important simplifications which may not be necessarily appropriate. These have been overcome by providing a complete integration of a 3D fracture system to a 3D PFC model. This will potentially lead into a design tool that adequately account for the stress structure interaction on the stability of vertical or near vertical excavations in hard rock

Practical considerations in establishing the statistical reliability of geomechanical data

In an underground mining operation, the design of safe excavations can be influenced by the quality and quantity of collected geomechanical data. Data collection is the first step in mine design, and a sufficient level of confidence in the input data should be reached depending on the project stage and the design requirements (e.g. temporary and non-entry vs. permanent and entry excavations). This paper compares two statistical analysis methods for quantifying the level of confidence in the intact rock properties obtained through a series of laboratory tests. The laboratory testing database of an underground hard rock mine was used to highlight the variations in the two methods. The impact of the two methods, from an engineering perspective, was illustrated with an example using the Kirsch analytical solution. This investigation demonstrated that the selection of the appropriate analysis method should be guided by the project requirements