D. Beck
Beck Engineering, Australia

3D Strain softening, dilatant, Finite Element models utilising higher order elements can achieve a realistic simulation of displacement and damage induced by mining. This allows application of rigorous, displacement and velocity based stability criteria for both surface and underground excavations. Using modern computer packages and hardware, rapid simulation times also allow probabilistic estimates of the extent and magnitude of displacement and damage.
Some case studies are presented that describe the application of the displacement realistic models and the Alternate Point Estimate Method (APEM) for the assessment of mine stability problems. The case studies also demonstrate the development and application of displacement, velocity and damage criteria for the assessment of instability potential in a applications for slope and underground excavation stability.