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The influence of constitutive model selection on predicted stresses and yield in deep mine pillars – A case study at the Creighton mine, Sudbury, Canada
Author(s) -
Walton Gabriel,
Diederichs Mark,
Punkkinen Allan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geomechanics and tunnelling
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.317
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 1865-7389
pISSN - 1865-7362
DOI - 10.1002/geot.201500023
Subject(s) - brittleness , pillar , geotechnical engineering , constitutive equation , yield (engineering) , geology , dilatant , engineering , mining engineering , structural engineering , materials science , finite element method , metallurgy , composite material
Based on recent advances in modelling the post‐yield behaviour of brittle rock, the authors have developed a calibrated inelastic model of the 7,910 level (2.4 km depth) at the Creighton Mine in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada using data collected from the monitoring of pillar dilatancy. While this calibrated model represents a state‐of‐the‐art continuum approach for capturing the progressive development of yield and stresses in mine pillars, alternative state‐of‐practice approaches (elastic and perfectly plastic material models, for example) represent potentially acceptable options for practical application. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of constitutive model choice on stress paths throughout the pillar system at the mining level of interest. The strengths and limitations of various material models are compared and contrasted. Elastic models are shown to adequately represent the larger scale pillar system behaviour from a stress transfer perspective, whereas the state‐of‐art brittle modelling approach is shown to be ideal for understanding specific pillar‐scale stresses and yield.