In order to assess the capacity of ground support systems when submitted to dynamic loading, simulated rockburst tests utilizing blasting have been performed for many years in different countries with limited success. In general, the blasts need to be carefully designed in order to reach the goal; however, different blast layouts (e.g. blasthole angle, burden) have been used based on researcher’s experience without conducting detailed analyses, the exception being a field test by CSIR. Recently, field trials have been conducted at the LKAB Kiirunavaara underground mine with some unexpected results which show that either the whole tested panel was destroyed or only a few fractures were formed without any ejections being observed. The aim of this paper is to investigate the failure mechanism in the simulated rockburst tests and improve the blast design by back-analyzing the test results using a coupled numerical modeling technique. The blast was simulated by using finite element method (LS-DYNA) and the dynamic interaction between the blasting generated waves and the opening was simulated by using discrete element modeling (UDEC) with the dynamic input from LS-DYNA. The numerical modeling showed that blasting can create both radial fractures radiating from the blasthole and fractures parallel or sub-parallel to the surface of the tested panel caused by reflected tensile stress waves. By comparing the results of the numerical modeling with the measured data, it is shown that the collapse failure was mainly controlled by the creation of a cone-shaped area formed by radial fractures and the burden seems to be a critical factor. In order to obtain fractures caused by reflected tensile stress waves and reduce blasting induced radial fractures, 2 parallel blastholes are suggested with larger burden (> 5 m) for future tests. Furthermore, the limitation of the current numerical modeling has also been discussed. The coupled numerical technique has shown its advantage when simulating blasting as well as interaction between waves and opening and it can thus be used as a tool for extrapolating results from simulated rockburst experiments if detailed geological structure and ground support system can be incorporated in the model and the model can be well calibrated.

A likely result of changes in rock stresses due to progressing mining is an increased number of compressive stress–induced failures. This paper presents the results from numerical analysis and observations of stress-induced fallouts infootwall drifts in the Kiirunavaara underground mine. A brittle-plastic cohesion-softening friction-hardening (CSFH) material model was used for simulating brittle fallouts. To account for mining-induced stress changes, the local model stress boundary conditions were extracted from a global model. The rock mass properties were based on field observations in the footwall drifts as well as on results from laboratory testing. A multi-stage analysis was carried out to gradually change the stresses to simulate mining progress. A parametric study was conducted in which strength properties, location, and shape of the footwall drift were varied. Yielded elements and maximum shear strain were used as damage and fallout indicators. The modelling results were sensitive to the shape of the drift. The location of the predicted fallouts was in good agreement with the location of observed fallouts for the case in which the drift roof was simulated flatter than the theoretical cross section. The results indicate that the true shape of the drift is different from the planned one.

Le minage progressif d’un gisement modifie les contraintes dans la roche et peut ainsi causer une augmentation du nombre de ruptures induites par les contraintes de compression. Cet article présente les résultats d’analyses numériques et d’observations d’éboulements causés par les contraintes de compression dans les galeries aux murs à la mine souterraine de Kiirunavaara. Un modèle de matériau fragile-plastique de type « adoucissement de la cohésion durcissement par friction » (CSFH) a été utilisé pour simuler les ruptures fragiles. Afin de tenir compte des variations de contraintes induites par le minage, les conditions frontières des contraintes locales dans le modèle ont été extraites d’un modèle global. Les propriétés du massif rocheux sont basées sur des observations de terrain dans les galeries aux murs ainsi que sur des résultats d’essais en laboratoire. Une analyse multi-étapes a été réalisée pour varier graduellement les contraintes dans le but de simuler l’avancement du minage. Une étude paramétrique a été effectuée dans laquelle les propriétés en résistance, l’emplacement et la forme de la galerie ont été variés. Les éléments ayant cédé et les déformations maximales en cisaillement ont été considéré comme des indicateurs de dommage et de rupture. Les résultats de la modélisation sont sensibles à la forme de la galerie. L’emplacement des ruptures prédites correspondait bien avec les emplacements des ruptures observées dans le cas où le plafond de la galerie est simulé plus plat que l’aire théorique. Les résultats démontrent que la forme réelle de la galerie est différente de celle planifiée.

Increasing the mining depth at LKABs Kiirunavaara mine located in the northern part of Sweden is leading to higher stress magnitudes, resulting in increased seismic activity and more rockburst damage. The effectiveness of various ground support systems under dynamic loading conditions has therefore become of prime interest to LKAB for successful and safe mining at deep levels. Therefore, a series of rockburst simulations will be conducted, using explosives to generate the dynamic load, on a number of support systems. This paper covers the results from the first trial test called Zero test-1. The test included ground motion measurements with a number of accelerometers, fracture investigation, ground and support motion imaging, as well as the deformation measurements. The methodology used to simulate rockbursts is discussed and the issues met in these tests are also addressed for further improvement.

The shotcrete-rock interaction is very complex and is influenced by a number of factors. The influence of the following factors was investigated by a series of numerical analyses: the surface roughness of the opening, the rock strength and Young's modulus, the discontinuities, the extent and properties of the excavated disturbed zone, the mechanical properties of the interface between shotcrete and rock, and the thickness of the shotcrete lining and the rock bolts. The study was carried out as a sensitivity analysis. The results showed that the rock strength and the surface roughness had significant impact on the number of failures at the rock-shotcrete interface and in the shotcrete lining. Furthermore, the behaviour of the lining is sensitive to small amplitudes of the surface roughness. In all the cases investigated, a high interface strength was favourable. The results indicate that if a thick shotcrete lining is dependent on the bond strength. The benefit of using a thicker lining can be doubtful. The analyses showed that for an uneven surface the extent of the EDZ had a minor effect on the behaviour of the shotcrete lining. Furthermore, if rock bolts were installed at the apex of the protrusion instead of at the depression, the number of failures decreased both at the interface and in the lining