JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS

JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS

3D modeling using the finite difference method to determine the effect of geometric and geomechanical parameters of the rock mass on the stability of the final wall slope of the Shadan gold-copper mine

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
In this study, a set of three-dimensional numerical modeling using the finite difference method and FLAC3D software was performed to evaluate the effect of geometric and geomechanical parameters on the stability of the final slope of the eastern wall of the Shadan gold-copper mine. Therefore, based on the resistance reduction method and the calculation of the desired minimum factor of safety (FOS) (1.20), the optimal slope of the final wall of the mine was determined, and then the effect of the horizontal stress coefficient (k), the radius of curvature of the slope, and the pore water pressure on its stability was evaluated. The results showed that reducing or increasing the horizontal stress coefficient in the range of 0.50 to 2.00, while not changing the value of the safety factor, causes deformation, especially horizontal displacement, in the hollow slope wall. So that by reducing the horizontal stress coefficient (k), the values ​​of the maximum shear strain and horizontal and vertical displacements decrease, and vice versa, by increasing the coefficient k, the maximum shear strain and horizontal and vertical displacements in the wall and floor of the hollow mine also increase. By reducing the radius of curvature of the slope, the safety factor increases, which in turn reduces the amount of deformation and displacements in the hollow wall and floor. Also, groundwater drainage, along with the reduction of pore water pressure behind the slope of the hollow wall, increases the safety factor and consequently reduces deformation and displacement.
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