Mining Applications - Rocscience

RocNews Summer 2017

Slide

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3D Limit Equilibrium Slope Stability

Mining Applications We’ve created a new tool that allows mining engineers

Geometry Import

to calculate the Factor of Safety (FS) of complex

Geometry modeling in Slide3 is fully 3-dimensional and is

geometries (i.e. bullnoses, large open pit excavations,

based on our 3D finite element program RS3 (version 2). If

effects of buttressing, etc.) that 2D models cannot fully

you are familiar with RS3 (version 2) then you will be able

simulate. Slide3 packages the features of Rocscience’s

to create Slide3 models using the same modeling features.

industry-leading Slide software such that the FS can

3D mine geometry can be created entirely within Slide3 or

be calculated rapidly, without the need for additional

imported. Since mine or slope geometry is usually saved in

material input parameters.

pre-existing file formats, Slide3 can import geometry from many common formats, including those shown below, with the Geometry > Import option.

3D open pit model with complex geology

File import options for model geometry

Slide3 for Mining Applications

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RocNews Summer 2017

The RS Geometry Object format allows import of

The Generalized Anisotropic Strength option allows you

geometry from RS (3D finite element program available

to create virtually any customized anisotropic material

from Rocscience).

model incorporating multiple failure criteria applied over

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user-defined 3D orientations.

Open pit mine slope

After importing geometry into Slide3, many modeling

Generalized anisotropic failure criterion in Material Properties dialog

options are available to create a Slide3 model from the imported data, including: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Add Polylines Create External Volume Add 3D Primitive Geometry, such as boxes, cylinders or cones Create Surfaces From Selected geometry Reconstruct Surface from Table values entered by the user Extract Bounding Curve from surfaces 2D Section Export for Slide to create a Slide file from a plane section of your Slide3 model Planar Section Tool to extract polylines from geometry using a cutting plane Extrude/Sweep/Loft operations to add depth dimensions Transform operations such as translate and rotate 3D Boolean operations to combine, remove or divide geometry Boundary surfaces can be interpolated from borehole

Generalized anisotropic strength function dialog

Anisotropy can be defined along one or more planes using the Dip/DipDirection option shown in the above figure. For anisotropic bedding layers which are folded (see figure below) you can define an Anisotropic Surface which follows the bedding layer. The anisotropic strength calculation will then use this surface to determine the local bedding plane orientation which determines the strength parameters to be used at any given location.

data using the Borehole Manager

Material Models Slide3 offers a wide variety of strength models for soil and rock. Of particular interest for rock strength modeling are Mohr-Coulomb, Shear-Normal Function, Generalized Hoek-Brown, Anisotropic, and Generalized Anisotropic Strength options. For a list of all material models options, click here.

Generalized Anisotropic Strength Bedding layers in rock often have anisotropic (directional)

Anisotropy defined by user-defined surface

strength properties, which can be modeled using the

For more information about anisotropic strength click

Anisotropic or Generalized Anisotropic Strength options.

here; also see the Slide3 tutorials page. Slide3 for Mining Applications

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RocNews Summer 2017

Wedge Type Failure

This option is also adapted for exporting 2D sections of

Wedge type failures caused by the intersection of joint

Slide3 models to Slide for quick 2D analysis of any cross-

planes or other discontinuities can be modeled using the

section of your 3D model.

Weak Layer option. The weak planes can be assigned a

Search Methods

lower strength, and Slide3 will generate a multi-planar wedge failure surface and calculate the safety factor.

Search methods for critical slip surfaces in Slide3 are highly automated, and require minimal user input. Initial trial surfaces can be generated using Spheres or Ellipsoids; then Surface Altering optimization continues to search for a general failure surface with a lower safety factor. The 3D failure direction is automatically determined during the analysis; it is not necessary for the user to specify a failure direction.

Wedge failure surface generated by intersecting weak planes

Assign Materials using Cutting Plane The Assign Materials using Cutting Plane option is very useful for assigning materials to complex 3D models with many different material regions. The cutting plane can be moved or rotated to any position, and materials can be assigned using the 2D section view. This greatly simplifies 3D material assignments.

3D critical slip surface for two plane anisotropic model

Slip surface and search methods dialog Slide3 for Mining Applications

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RocNews Summer 2017

Slip surfaces can conform to the shape of bedrock using

Data Interpretation

an Infinite Strength material region, as shown in the

Data interpretation options include:

following figure.

• • • • •

View 3D global minimum slip surface View all slip surfaces View contour plots of analysis data on slip surface (e.g. stress, strength, pore pressure) View safety maps on the surface of the model or on cutting plane through your model Column data viewer

2D view of slip surface sliding on bedrock (infinite strength material)

Slope Limits The Slope Limits option allows you to narrow the search area to any region of the slope by defining one or more 3D bounding boxes. This is particularly useful for large slope or open pit models, and allows you to analyze individual portions of slopes, rather than searching the entire model.

Contours of normal stress on 3D slip surface

Slope limits (green box) restricts search to one side of open pit

Column data viewer

License and pricing information for Slide3 is found here!

Click here to try Slide3 for free for two weeks and let us know what you think! Critical surface for pit slope within slope limits Slide3 for Mining Applications

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