NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

A distinct element parametric study of failure modes around an underground opening in rock masses of varying quality.

MacLaughlin MM; Pakalnis R; Brady TM

Alaska Rocks 2005, Proceedings of the 40th U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium, Anchorage, Alaska, June 25-29, 2005. Alexandria, VA: American Rock Mechanics Association, Paper No. ARMA/USRMS 05-747, 2005 Jun; :1-10

http://www.onepetro.org/mslib/app/Preview.do?paperNumber=ARMA-05-747&societyCode=ARMA

20029166

This project involved modeling rock masses with varying Rock Mass Rating (RMR) values to determine the degree of instability that develops around an underground opening as a function of RMR. The two-dimensional modeling was performed using Itasca's UDEC distinct element software, which allows explicit modeling of blocks of rock and how they interact with each other. The analyses included three different orientations of the joint sets, four different joint spacings, three different values of joint strength and two different values of block comer rounding, which combine for a total of 72 different combinations of model parameters. Two different modes of behavior were observed: local failure of area immediately surrounding the roof and sides of the opening, and deep-seated failure extending a large distance beyond the opening. Quantification of the size of the unstable area that developed provides numerical validation of empirical guidelines used in design of ground support and instrumented monitoring systems.

Underground-mining; Safety-research; Injuries; Mining-industry; Hazards; Longwall-mining; Rock-falls; Coal-miners; Miners; Mine-workers; Underground-miners; Geology; Geophysics; Ground-control

20050625

Conference/Symposia Proceedings

Chen G; Huang S; Zhou W; Tinucci J

2005

9781604234541

SRL

Alaska Rocks 2005, Proceedings of the 40th U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium, Anchorage, Alaska, June 25-29, 2005, Paper No. ARMA/USRMS 05-747

MT; WA; AK