Severin, J, Eberhardt, E & Fortin, S 2013, 'Open pit numerical model calibration using a pseudo three-dimensional radar monitoring technique', in PM Dight (ed.), Slope Stability 2013: Proceedings of the 2013 International Symposium on Slope Stability in Open Pit Mining and Civil Engineering, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 639-652, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1308_42_Severin
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1308_42_Severin/)
Abstract: Slope monitoring plays an important role in the calibration of numerical models created to investigate the mechanics of large open pit slopes. Geodetic prisms are often relied upon to delineate the boundaries of potential slope hazards; however the data can be limited by its point-measurement nature. Localised displacements at each prism may be misinterpreted when extended to the behaviour of the entire slope, and important displacements between prisms may be overlooked. A novel experiment was conducted in which two ground-based synthetic aperture radar systems were simultaneously deployed to record continuous, line-of-sight displacement of an open pit slope in ‘stereo’. The displacement vectors were combined to create a pseudo 3D displacement map of the pit slope consisting of over 25,000 monitoring points. The data collected demonstrated that an improved understanding of the 3D kinematics of a large rock slope can be achieved using advanced state-of-the-art monitoring techniques to aid mine design. The displacement data as well as the understanding of the slope kinematics were then used to calibrate a numerical model of the current pit slope created using 3DEC, a 3D distinct element modelling code. Rock mass and fault properties were modified until the response observed in the model was more representative to that of the monitoring data throughout the slope face. Rock mass response to mining-induced stress was shown to vary over several different parts of slope, including the areas adjacent to the main faults within the slope.