Numerical Modelling and Assessment of Excavation Damaged Zone around the Underground Excavations: A Case Study

Abstract

This paper presents a study on the quantification of the degree of damage from the microseismic event data, for assessment of excavation damaged zone of anisotropic rock in Jinchuan mine and presents numerical simulation and prediction on the deformation and failure of the rock masses surrounding laneway under rock mass properties and excavating conditions. Following an introduction to the engineering geology and mechanical properties of the rock mass in the Jinchuan mine areas, this paper reveals the features of the measured in situ stresses and puts emphasis on an analysis of the mechanism of underground opening and damage induced by the underground mining. Stress and AE redistribution induced by excavation of underground engineering results in the unloading zone in parts of surrounding rock masses. A micromechanics-based model has been proposed for brittle rock material undergoing irreversible changes of their microscopic structures due to microcrack growth. A systematical numerical modeling analysis method was completed. Based on numerical modelling, a series of predicting curves for rock mass response and deformation are obtained, which provides the basis of guiding the design and construction of anisotropic rock cave in Jinchuan mine. The use of the in situ stress field results in enhanced modeling of the stress concentrations and potential failures at the mines has also been reviewed. Knowledge of the prevailing rock stress field at the mines is a critical component for such modeling which has led to improved rock mechanics understanding and operations at Jinchuan mines.