The importance of geological and material model detail in modelling progressive failure: Andes deep open pit

Authors: Puerta-Mejía, AF; Deisman, N; Macciotta, R

Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2335_18

Cite As:
Puerta-Mejía, AF, Deisman, N & Macciotta, R 2023, 'The importance of geological and material model detail in modelling progressive failure: Andes deep open pit', in PM Dight (ed.), SSIM 2023: Third International Slope Stability in Mining Conference, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 315-332, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2335_18

Download citation as:   ris   bibtex   endnote   text   Zotero


Abstract:
This study investigates the effects of geological modelling detail and material model complexity on the numerical modelling of progressive failure in deep open pit mining operations. The inter-ramp failure case is a common failure mechanism in open pit mine slopes. The research aims to identify the individual and combined effects of these factors on the precision of predicting progressive failure behaviour by systematically varying the level of detail included in the geological model and the complexity of the selected material model. The investigation aims to deepen our understanding of material model complexity and geological model detail in capturing progressive failure mechanisms. The case study demonstrates how a thorough geological model and efficient back-analysis techniques can successfully replicate observed progressive failure mechanisms, providing valuable information for infrastructure and mining industries. The findings will offer practitioners advice on the appropriate level of complexity needed for different levels of a numerical simulation study of progressive failure. This research contributes to a better understanding of progressive failure in deep open pit mining slopes by examining the combined effects of geological model detail and material model complexity. It improves numerical modelling techniques, ultimately aiding open pit mining operations in making better safety and decision-making choices.

Keywords: inter-ramp failure, progressive failure, rock slopes, geological modelling, material modelling, numerical modelling

References:
Alejano, LR, Arzúa, J, Bozorgzadeh, N & Harrison, JP 2017, ‘Triaxial strength and deformability of intact and increasingly jointed Ggranite samples’, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, vol. 95, pp. 87–103,
/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2017.03.009
Álvarez Avendaño, IJ 2018, Propuesta de Túneles de Drenaje en el Rajo Escondida y su Caracterización Geológica - Geotécnica, PhD thesis, Universidad de Chile, Santiago.
Cai, M, Kaiser, PK, Tasaka, Y & Minami, M 2007, ‘Determination of residual strength parameters of jointed rock masses using the GSI system’, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 247–265,
/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2006.07.005
Galarce Castro, TF 2014, Modelo de Esfuerzos in-situ para Chile y su Incidencia en el Diseño Minero Subterráneo, bachelor’s thesis, Universidad de Chile, Santiago.
Hervé, M, Sillitoe, RH, Wong, C, Fernández, P, Crignola, F, Ipinza, M & Urzúa, F 2012, ‘Geologic overview of the Escondida porphyry copper district, northern Chile’, in JW Hedenquist, M Harris & F Camus (eds), Geology and Genesis of Major Copper Deposits and Districts of the World: A Tribute to Richard H. Sillitoe, Society of Economic Geologists, pp. 55–78.
Hoek, E & Brown, ET 1997, ‘Practical estimates of rock mass strength’, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, vol. 34, no. 8, pp. 1165–1186,
Itasca Consulting Group, Inc 2019a, FLAC3D: Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in 3 Dimensions, computer software, Itasca Consulting Group, Inc, Minneapolis.
Itasca Consulting Group, Inc 2019b, FLAC3D User Manual: Version 7.0, Itasca Consulting Group, Inc, Minneapolis.
Itasca Consulting Group, Inc. 2020, Griddle, computer software, Itasca Consulting Group, Inc, Minneapolis.
Lees, A 2016, ‘How is a geotechnical finite element analysis set up?’, Geotechnical Finite Element Analysis: A Practical Guide, ICE Publishing, London, pp. 24–25.
Lorig, LJ & Varona, P 2013, ‘Guidelines for numerical modelling of rock support for mines’, 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. 81–105,
Martin, CD & Chandler, NA 1994, ‘The progressive fracture of Lac Du Bonnet granite’, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics, vol. 31, no. 6, pp. 643–659,
Padilla Garza, RA, Spencer, RT & Pimentel, F 2001, ‘Geology of the Escondida porphyry copper deposit, Antofagasta Region, Chile’, Economic Geology, vol. 96, no. 2, pp. 307–324,
Rapiman, M & Sepulveda, R 2006, ‘Slope optimisation at Escondida Norte open pit’, International Symposium on Stability of Rock Slopes, The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Cape Town, pp. 265–278,
/Conferences/RockSlopes/265-278_Sepulveda.pdf
Read, J 2009, ‘Structural model’, in J Read & P Stacey (eds), Guidelines for Open Pit Slope Design, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, pp. 73–74.
Rimmelin, R & Vallejos, J 2020, ‘Rock mass behaviour of deep mining slopes: a conceptual model and implications’, in PM Dight (ed.), Slope Stability 2020: Proceedings of the 2020 International Symposium on Slope Stability in Open Pit Mining and Civil Engineering, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 591–608,
Riveros, K, Veloso, E, Campos, E, Menzies, A & Véliz, W 2014, ‘Magnetic properties related to hydrothermal alteration processes at the Escondida porphyry copper deposit, northern Chile’, Mineralium Deposita, vol. 49, no. 6, pp. 693–707,
/10.1007/s00126-014-0514-7
Robert McNeel & Associates 2020, Rhinoceros 3D, computer software, Robert McNeel & Associates, Seattle.
Sjöberg, J 2009, ‘Failure mechanisms for high slopes in hard rock’, in WA Hustrulid, MK McCarter & DJA Van Zyl (eds), Slope stability in Surface Mining, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc, Littleton, pp. 71–80.
Trivedi, A 2010, ‘Strength and dilatancy of jointed rocks with granular fill’, Acta Geotechnica, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 15–31,
/10.1007/s11440-009-0095-2
Valdivia, C & Lorig, L 2009, ‘Slope stability at Escondida mine’, in WA Hustrulid, MK McCarter & DJA Van Zyl (eds), Slope Stability in Surface Mining, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc, Littleton, pp. 153–162.
Wyllie, DC & Mah, C 2017, ‘Rock strength properties and their measurement’, Rock Slope Engineering, 4th edn, CRC Press, London, pp. 92–93.
Zavodni, ZM 2009, ‘Time-dependent movements of open-pit slopes’, in WA Hustrulid, MK McCarter & DJA Van Zyl (eds), Slope Stability in Surface Mining, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc, Littleton, pp. 81–87.




© Copyright 2024, Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG), The University of Western Australia. All rights reserved.
View copyright/legal information
Please direct any queries or error reports to repository-acg@uwa.edu.au