Numerical modelling of rock-burst loading for use in rock support design at Codelco’s New Mine Level Project

AbstractThe New Mine Level Project is a 130 000 tonnes per day (tpd) panel caving project set to start in 2017. The high stresses, complex structural setting and high mining rates present major challenges in terms of seismicity management and rockburst hazard reduction. This paper is a case study of the calculation of the energy requirements needed to design a dynamic support system for this operation. This analysis starts with the estimation of the seismic source, forecast through the use of numerical modelling and verified with observed past data; later peak particle velocity (PPV) is calculated at the drifts using a PPV attenuation model and an amplification factor is used near the excavations. The amount of fractured rock around the drifts that could be ejected by a seismic event is calculated through numerical modelling. With the ejection velocity estimated from PPVs, energy demand is obtained. All the values resulting from numerical analysis were compared to historical data of similar mine sectors. ...