Reusch, F & Beck, D 2007, 'Simulating Shaft and Crusher Damage in Deep Mines', in Y Potvin (ed.), Deep Mining 2007: Proceedings of the Fourth International Seminar on Deep and High Stress Mining, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 65-79, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/711_5
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/711_5_Reusch/)
Abstract: Useful numerical simulation of shafts, crushers and other infrastructure excavations is amongst the most 
challenging of rock mechanics problems. The mechanical installations and concrete forms are usually 
designed with tolerances to deformation that are very low by mining standards and the effects of out of 
specification ground movements can be very costly. The high costs of problems in these excavation sets a 
very high standard of analysis for the rock mechanics engineer, yet modelling of these items is often treated 
as an after thought. 
In this paper, fitness-for-purpose requirements for analysis of critical infrastructure excavations are 
discussed in terms of the capabilities of modern, commercially available analysis packages and 
computational capacities. Probabilistic assessments of excavation performance and direct simulation of 
excavation deformation is discussed in detail.  
It is concluded that contemporary advances in simulation capabilities have led to a new minimum standard 
of analysis for critical infrastructure excavations.