Stability of undercut space in fragment orebody based on key block theory
(1. School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China;
2. Hunan Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources Exploitation and Hazard Control for Deep Metal Mines,
Changsha 410083, China)
2. Hunan Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources Exploitation and Hazard Control for Deep Metal Mines,
Changsha 410083, China)
Abstract: Undercut is one kind of important spaces to place the mining blocks in the mass underground mining. This structure is also used as a compensation space during blasting. In the process of underground mining in the fragment orebody, it is important and critical to analyze the stability and blockage of the three-dimensional wedges created around the undercut space. The wedge stability is mainly controlled by factors including geometry (i.e., the size, shape and spatial location of the wedge and undercut), the strength (shear and tensile) of the discontinuities that created the wedge, and the stress distribution within the rock mass. The Unwedge software was used to conduct the orthogonal simulation tests (three factors and five levels) that considered different cross sections, trends, and plunges of the undercut space. The results demonstrate that the control value of the safety factor of wedge is set to be 1.2. The optimal parameters are determined in the undercut space, such as the blasting fragmentation, orientation of the fluid flow, and the equipment gradeability; the wedge stability can be evaluated in the light of the block images and continuous falling; the stability of the key block meets the needs of the undercut space, the parameters gained are reasonable and optimal. Cross section is 27°, trend is from 315° to 325° (it is 320° at in-suit test) and plunge is 5°.
Key words: wedge stability; fragment orebody; undercut; Unwedge software; optimization