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Discontinuum Modelling Approach for Stress Analysis at a Seismic Source: Case Study

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Abstract

Rockbursts in underground mines can cause devastating damage to mine workings; hence, it is important to be able to assess the potential for their occurrence. The present study focuses on a large seismic event that took place at an underground base metal mine in Canada. The event took place in a dyke near the 100/900 orebodies on 3880 Level (1180 m below surface) of the Copper Cliff Mine in Sudbury, Canada. A 3D continuum stress analysis of the orebodies, i.e., 100 and 900, using an orebody-wide model encompassing the major geological structures and in situ stress heterogeneity in the mine shows low potential for rockburst at the seismic source location—a result which contradicts the fact that a large seismic event actually took place. A postulation is thus made that there had been highly stressed regions caused by geological disturbances at the source location before mining activities took place. In order to verify the postulation, a further study is undertaken with the discrete element modelling technique, whereby a cube-shaped model containing a fracture network is subjected to a stress state similar to that at the source location. A model parametrical study is conducted with respect to the distribution of the fracture (joint) network and its mechanical properties. The results reveal that when joints are densely distributed at the source location, the stress state becomes significantly burst prone. It is observed that the length, density, stiffness, and orientation of joints have a large influence on the stress state along the joints, while the friction angle, cohesion, and tensile strength do not influence the stress state. A cube-shaped model is constructed with joint sets actually mapped at the mine and a stress analysis is performed. The results demonstrate the generation of highly stressed regions due to the interaction of the joints with the applied in situ stress fields, thus leading to burst-prone conditions. The present study numerically confirms that a preexisting fracture network found within a stiff rockmass could lead to burst-prone stress state at relatively moderate mining depths.

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Acknowledgments

This work is financially supported by a grant by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in partnership with Vale Canada Ltd—Ontario Operations under the Collaborative Research and Development Program. The authors are grateful for their support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    Atsushi Sainoki & Hani S. Mitri

  2. Vale Base Metals, Vale Canada Ltd, Sudbury, Canada

    Mike Yao

  3. Vale Ontario Operations, Vale Canada Ltd, Sudbury, Canada

    Damodara Chinnasane

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  1. Atsushi Sainoki
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  2. Hani S. Mitri
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  3. Mike Yao
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  4. Damodara Chinnasane
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Correspondence to Atsushi Sainoki.

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Sainoki, A., Mitri, H.S., Yao, M. et al. Discontinuum Modelling Approach for Stress Analysis at a Seismic Source: Case Study. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49, 4749–4765 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1089-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1089-7

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