Open AccessAn investigation of longwall failure using 3D numerical modelling – A case study at a copper mine
Author(s) -
Phu Minh Vuong Nguyen,
Tomasz Olczak,
S. Rajwa
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
studia geotechnica et mechanica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.277
H-Index - 9
eISSN - 2083-831X
pISSN - 0137-6365
DOI - 10.2478/sgem-2021-0019
Subject(s) - longwall mining , mining engineering , copper mine , roof , copper , coal mining , copper ore , geology , failure mechanism , computer simulation , petroleum engineering , geotechnical engineering , coal , engineering , civil engineering , waste management , materials science , metallurgy , structural engineering , simulation
It is well-known that the longwall mining method (with roof caving) is widely used in underground mining extraction for bedded deposits (e.g. coal) due to its numerous advantages. Generally, this method is not commonly applied for ore deposits such as copper deposit. In Poland, the longwall mining method has been tested for thin copper deposits at the Polkowice-Sieroszowice copper mine (KGHM). Various failure modes were observed during longwall operation in the 5A/1 panel. This paper aims to examine these occurred failures. To do so, an analysis has been conducted using 3D numerical modelling to investigate the failure mode and mechanism. Based on the 3D numerical modelling results with extensive in situ measurements, causes of failure are determined and practical recommendations for further copper longwall operations are presented.