Numerical Analyses of the Stress State in Two Neighboring Stopes Excavated and Backfilled in Sequence
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 15, Issue 6
Abstract
Backfilling of underground stopes is commonly used in the mining industry. The stress state in these stopes has to be evaluated to ensure safe application of the backfill. In recent years, much work has been conducted to assess the stresses in single backfilled stopes. The stress distribution in stopes may also be affected by the excavation of multiple openings. This paper presents key results obtained from numerical simulations of two adjacent vertical stopes created in sequence. The results illustrate the influence of stope geometry (size and spacing), natural stress state, backfill properties, and excavation (and filling) sequence on the stress distribution in both stopes. The simulations indicate that the stress distribution in the first backfilled opening, following the creation of the second one, largely depends on the fill properties. These results also show the ways in which these factors may affect the stress magnitude and distribution pattern in the case of two adjacent stopes, when the creation of a second opening influences the response of the first one. It is also demonstrated that the second backfilled stope tends to behave in a manner similar to that of a single (isolated) stope, where a classical arching effect often dominates the stress distribution.
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Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the financial support from Natural Sciences Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and from the partners of the Industrial NSERC Polytechnique-UQAT Chair on Environment and Mine Wastes Management (2006–2012) and of the Research Institute on Mines and the Environment (RIME UQAT-Polytechnique; http://rime-irme.ca/en/).
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Information & Authors
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 15 • Issue 6 • December 2015
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 5, 2013
Accepted: Nov 10, 2014
Published online: Apr 8, 2015
Discussion open until: Sep 8, 2015
Published in print: Dec 1, 2015
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