Numerical back-analysis of simulated rockburst field tests by using coupled numerical technique

Authors: Zhang, P; Yi, CP; Nordlund, E; Shirzadegan, S; Nyberg, U; Malmgren, L; Nordqvist, A Download Paper

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1304_39_Zhang

Cite As:
Zhang, P, Yi, CP, Nordlund, E, Shirzadegan, S, Nyberg, U, Malmgren, L & Nordqvist, A 2013, 'Numerical back-analysis of simulated rockburst field tests by using coupled numerical technique', in Y Potvin & B Brady (eds), Ground Support 2013: Proceedings of the Seventh International Symposium on Ground Support in Mining and Underground Construction, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 565-581, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1304_39_Zhang



Abstract:
In order to assess the capacity of ground support systems when submitted to dynamic loading, simulated rockburst tests utilising blasting have been performed for many years in different countries with limited success. In general, the blasts need to be carefully designed in order to reach the goal; however, different blast layouts, e.g. blasthole angle, burden, have been used based on researcher’s experience without conducting detailed analyses, the exception being a field test by CSIR. Recently, field trials have been conducted at the LKAB Kiirunavaara underground mine with some unexpected results which show that either the whole tested panel was destroyed or only a few fractures were formed without any ejections being observed. The aim of this paper is to investigate the failure mechanism in the simulated rockburst tests and improve the blast design by back-analysing the test results using a coupled numerical modelling technique. The blast was simulated by using finite element method (LS-DYNA) and the dynamic interaction between the blasting generated waves and the opening was simulated by using discrete element modelling (UDEC) with the dynamic input from LS-DYNA. The numerical modelling showed that blasting can create both radial fractures radiating from the blasthole and fractures parallel or subparallel to the surface of the tested panel caused by reflected tensile stress waves. By comparing the results of the numerical modelling with the measured data, it is shown that the collapse failure was mainly controlled by the creation of a cone-shaped area formed by radial fractures and the burden seems to be a critical factor. In order to obtain fractures caused by reflected tensile stress waves and reduce blasting induced radial fractures, two parallel blastholes are suggested with larger burden (> 5 m) for future tests. Furthermore, the limitation of the current numerical modelling has also been discussed. The coupled numerical technique has shown its advantage when simulating blasting as well as interaction between waves and opening and it can thus be used as a tool for extrapolating results from simulated rockburst experiments if detailed geological structure and ground support systems can be incorporated in the model and the model can be well calibrated.

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