Towards the development of an empirical method to assist in the selection of ground support systems in rockburst-prone conditions

Authors: Mathieu, A; Potvin, Y; Grenon, M

Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2465_24

Cite As:
Mathieu, A, Potvin, Y & Grenon, M 2024, 'Towards the development of an empirical method to assist in the selection of ground support systems in rockburst-prone conditions', in P Andrieux & D Cumming-Potvin (eds), Deep Mining 2024: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Deep and High Stress Mining, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 447-456, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2465_24

Download citation as:   ris   bibtex   endnote   text   Zotero


Abstract:
Rockburst is one of the major risks in deep underground mines. It affects mining personnel safety and the operations and profitability of the mine. Although it is impossible to eliminate the probability of occurrence of a major seismic event, some measures need to be implemented to reduce the probability of seismically induced rockfalls (rockbursts). This is generally achieved with the installation of enhanced ground support systems, often referred to as dynamic ground support systems. The design of (dynamic) ground support systems in mines with rockburst-prone conditions is often based on the experience and knowledge acquired at each mine. This is used to create site-specific dynamic support designs. Stacey (2012) concluded that since the dynamic capacity of ground support systems and the demand from seismically induced dynamic loading cannot be reliably quantified, then ‘…a clear case of design indeterminacy’ results, making it ‘…impossible to determine the required support using the classical engineering design approach.’ This paper looks at the influence of combinations of ground motion factors  (GMFs) and various geotechnical conditions on the reliability of numerous ground support strategies subjected to dynamic loading conditions. The performance of seven ground support systems strategies have been investigated for a range of GMFs expressed as a function of the seismic event magnitude and distance between the seismic source and damage. The performance criterion is the survivability of the ground support system (i.e. no fall of ground, although rehabilitation may be required). A reliability index was developed to classify the reliability of the performance. Results are shown as a preliminary version of a ‘survivability matrix’ which can provide insight into the selection of ground support systems in underground mines with rockburst-prone conditions.

Keywords: ground support, rockburst, seismicity empirical design

References:
Cumming-Potvin, D, Potvin, Y, Wesseloo, J, Harris, P, Ho, C & Heinsen Egan, M 2019, ‘Development of a single-pass detailed damage mapping application’, in J Hadjigeorgiou & M Hudyma (eds), Ground Support 2019: Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on Ground Support in Mining and Underground Construction, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth,
pp. 85–100, 
Counter, DB 2017, ‘Ground support survivability under seismic loading - observations from Kidd Creek’, presentation, Managing Seismic Risk in Canadian Mines, Laurentian University.
Duan, W, Wesseloo, J & Potvin, Y 2015, ‘Evaluation of the adjusted rockburst damage potential method for dynamic ground support selection in extreme rockburst conditions’, in Y Potvin (ed.), Design Methods 2015: Proceedings of the International Seminar on Design Methods in Underground Mining, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 399–418,
Heal, DP 2010, Observations and Analysis of Incidences of Rockburst Damage in Underground Mines, PhD thesis, The University of Western Australia, Perth.
Kaiser, P, Tannant, DD, McCreath, D & Jesenak, P 1992, ‘Rockburst damage assessment procedure’, in P.Kaiser & D McCreath (eds), Rock Support in Mining and Underground Construction, CRC Press, Boca Raton.
Mathieu, A 2023, Development of an Empirical Method to Assist in the Selection of Ground Support Systems in Rockburst-Prone Conditions, MSc thesis, Université Laval, Quebec.
Mercier-Langevin, F & Hadjigeorgiou, J 2011, ‘Towards a better understanding of squeezing potential in hard rock mines’, Mining Technology, vol. 120, no. 1, pp. 36–44.
Mikula, PA 2012, ‘Progress with empirical performance charting for confident selection of ground support in seismic conditions’, in Y Potvin (ed.), Deep Mining 2012: Proceedings of the Sixth International Seminar on Deep and High Stress Mining, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 71–89,
Mikula, P & Gebremedhin, B 2017, ‘Empirical selection of ground support for dynamic conditions using charting of support performance at Hamlet mine’, in J Wesseloo (ed.), Deep Mining 2017: Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Deep and High Stress Mining, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 625–636,
Morissette, P & Hadjigeorgiou, J 2019, ‘Ground support design for dynamic loading conditions: A quantitative data-driven approach based on rockburst case studies’, Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, vol. 11, no. 5, pp. 909–919,
Potvin, Y, Wesseloo, J & Heal, D 2010, ‘An interpretation of ground support capacity submitted to dynamic loading’, in M Van Sint Jan & Y Potvin (eds), Deep Mining 2010: Proceedings of the Fifth International Seminar on Deep and High Stress Mining, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 251–272,
Stacey, TR 2012, ‘Philosophical view on the testing of rock support for rockburst conditions’, Proceedings of the Second Southern Hemisphere International Rock Mechanics Symposium, The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Johannesburg, pp. 227–247.
Villaescusa, E, Player, JR & Thompson, AG 2014, ‘A Reinforcement Design Methodology for Highly Stressed Rock Masses’, Proceedings of the 8th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium, Sapporo,




© 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