Interaction between stress, mine geometry and rock mass behaviour at a Canadian shield mine

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 90, No. 1014, 1997

M.W. Grabinsky and J.H. Curran, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, and W.F. Bawden, Mining Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario

Characterizing the spatial distribution of rock stresses is a challenge, especially in the geologically complex environments typically found at most metalliferous mines. Therefore, instead of focusing, specifically, on the task of making stress measurements, the engineer should instead attempt to develop a better understanding of the interaction between stress, mining geometry and rock mass behaviour. This paper demonstrates such an approach using a Canadian Shield hardrock mine case study, in which geomechanical models are used to relate stress, mining geometry, and rock mass properties to observed excavation response, and numerical modelling is used to better quantify this interaction.

Keywords: Rock mechanics, Rock stresses, Stress, Rock mass behaviour, Hardrock mining.