Influence of a Type of Rock Mass on the Stability of Headings in Polish Underground Copper Mines Based on Boundary Element Method

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a numerical analysis of the impact of rock mass geomechanical parameters on the stability of preparatory headings located within the Legnica-Glogow Copper District. The paper shows the results of numerical calculations prepared for headings driven in two rock mass types with different strength and deformation parameters, which allow illustrating their influence on the safety of mining performed in underground copper ore mines. Numerical modeling was performed using the Examine2D 7.0 software, in the plane strain state. Numerical simulations were performed for an isotropic and for a homogenous medium. The rock medium was described with an elastic model. The parameters of the rock mass for numerical modeling were calculated using the Hoek–Brown classification. The Coulomb–Mohr strength criterion was adopted as a measure for assessing the rock mass effort. Numerical simulations confirmed the dependance between the stability of the analyzed excavations and rock mass geomechanical parameters.

Keywords

• rock mass stability
• copper ore mining
• numerical modeling