Evaluating Force Distributions within Virtual Uncemented Mine Backfill Using Discrete Element Method
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 17, Issue 7
Abstract
This paper investigates the distribution of intergranular forces within uncemented mine backfills using the discrete element method (DEM) and compares it with the existing analytical method. The virtual backfilling is modeled via the DEM to simulate the underground mining stopes backfilling with uncemented granular materials. Normal and shear forces of all particle contacts within the model backfill are tracked and analyzed with particular attention to the effect of sidewall friction. The DEM evaluates normal force chains and reveals a concentration of high forces within the model backfill. The DEM shows profiles of forces that are distinctly different from those obtained from analytical solutions. Quantitative analyses of the spatial distribution of forces, number of contact points, and changes in the orientation of forces are presented. The DEM demonstrates its capacity as a good tool for looking closely into the backfill on a particle scale. It highlights potential force distribution and concentration within a backfill and shows the limitations of analytical solutions, which helps engineers in the mining industry to better understand the possible mechanisms within backfill.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge funding from an ECM research development grant provided by the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics at the University of Western Australia as well as the facility provided by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia.
References
Aubertin, M., et al. (2003). “Interaction between backfill and rock mass in narrow stopes.” Proc., Soil and Rock America 2003, Vol. 1, P. J. Culligan, H. H. Einstein, and A. J. Whittle, eds., Verlag Glückauf Essen (VGE), Essen, Germany, 1157–1164.
Cui, L., and O’Sullivan, C. (2006). “Exploring the macro- and micro-scale response of an idealised granular material in the direct shear apparatus.” Géotechnique, 56(7), 455–468.
Cundall, P. A., and Strack, O. D. L. (1979). “A discrete numerical model for granular assemblies.” Géotechnique, 29(1), 47–65.
“Eagle Nickel-Copper Mine, Michigan, United States of America.” (2015). ⟨http://www.mining-technology.com/projects/eagle-nickel-copper-mine-michigan-us/⟩ (Nov. 11, 2015).
Ebrahimi, F., Azizpour, T., and Maleki, H. (2010). “Janssen effect and the stability of quasi-two-dimensional sandpiles.” Phys. Rev. E. Stat. Nonlinear Soft Matter Phys., 82(3 Pt 1), 031302.
Fenner, R. (1938). “Untersuchungen zur Erkenntnis des Gebirgsdrucks.” Glückauf, 74(32), 681–695.
FLAC [Computer software]. Itasca Consulting Group, Inc., Minneapolis.
Hustrulid, W. A., and Bullock, R. L. (2001). Underground mining methods: Engineering fundamentals and international case studies, Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Englewood, CO.
Indraratna, B., Ngo, N., Rujikiatkamjorn, C., and Vinod, J. (2014). “Behavior of fresh and fouled railway ballast subjected to direct shear testing: Discrete element simulation.” Int. J. Geomech., 34–44.
Jaky, J. (1944). “The coefficient of earth pressure at rest (in Hungarian: A nyugalmi nyomas tenyezoje).” J. Soc. Hung. Eng. Arch., 355–358.
Janssen, H. (1895). “Versuche uber Getreidedruck in Silozellen.” Zeitschrift des Vereines deutscher Ingenieure, 39, 1045–1049. Trans. M. Sperl, Granular Matter (2006), 8, 59–65.
Knutsson, S. (1981). “Stress in hydraulic backfill from analytical calculations and in-situ measurements.” Proc., Application of Rock Mechanics to Cut and Fill Mining, Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, London, 261–268.
Li, L. (2014). “Generalized solution for mining backfill design.” Int. J. Geomech., 04014006.
Marston, A. (1930). The theory of external loads on closed conduits in the light of latest experiments, Iowa Engineering Experiment Station Bulletin, Ames, IA, 14–28.
Nedderman, R. (1992). Statics and kinematics of granular materials, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.
Ovarlez, G., Fond, C., and Clément, E. (2003). “Overshoot effect in the Janssen granular column: A crucial test for granular mechanics.” Phys. Rev. E Stat. Nonlinear Soft Matter Phys., 67(6 Pt 1), 060302(R).
Pirapakaran, K. (2008). “Load-deformation characteristics of minefills with particular reference to arching and stress developments.” Ph.D. thesis, James Cook Univ., Townsville, QLD, Australia.
Pirapakaran, K., and Sivakugan, N. (2007). “Arching within hydraulic fill stopes.” Geotech. Geol. Eng., 25(1), 25–35.
Potyondy, D. O., and Cundall, P. A. (2004). “A bonded-particle model for rock.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 41(8), 1329–1364.
Sitharam, T. G., and Vinod, J. S. (2010). “Evaluation of shear modulus and damping ratio of granular materials using discrete element approach.” Geotech. Geol. Eng., 28(5), 591–601.
Sivakugan, N., Rankine, K., and Rankine, R. (2005). “Geotechnical aspects of hydraulic filling of underground mine stopes in Australia.” Ground improvement: Case histories, Vol. 3, B. Indraratna, J. Chu, and J. A. Hudson, eds., Elsevier, Oxford, U.K., 513–537.
Sivakugan, N., Widisinghe, S., and Wang, V. (2014). “Vertical stress determination within backfilled mine stopes.” Int. J. Geomech., 06014011.
Šmilauer, V., et al. (2010). YADE documentation, 1st Ed., The YADE Project, Grenoble, France.
Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Tran, V., Meguid, M., and Chouinard, L. (2014). “Discrete element and experimental investigations of the earth pressure distribution on cylindrical shafts.” Int. J. Geomech., 80–91.
Vanel, L., Claudin, P., Bouchaud, J., Cates, M., Clément, E., and Wittmer, J. (2000). “Stresses in silos: Comparison between theoretical models and new experiments.” Phys. Rev. Lett., 84, 1439.
Vanel, L., and Clément, E. (1999). “Pressure screening and fluctuations at the bottom of a granular column.” Eur. Phys. J. B, 11(3), 525.
Widisinghe, S., and Sivakugan, N. (2014a). “Vertical stress isobars for silos and square backfilled mine stopes.” Int. J. Geomech., 06015003.
Widisinghe, S., and Sivakugan, N. (2014b). “Vertical stress isobars for trenches and mine stopes containing granular backfills.” Int. J. Geomech., 313–318.
YADE [Computer software]. The YADE Project, Grenoble, France.
Yan, Y., and Ji, S. (2010). “Discrete element modelling of direct shear tests for a granular material.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech., 34(9), 978–990.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 17 • Issue 7 • July 2017
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 9, 2016
Accepted: Sep 21, 2016
Published online: Nov 23, 2016
Discussion open until: Apr 23, 2017
Published in print: Jul 1, 2017
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.