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Veltin, Kody

University of British Columbia

An understanding of the fragmentation of rock blocks is an important parameter in the planning and development of a block cave mine. Traditional methods for block fragmentation analysis use empirical relationships and rule-based approaches that heavily rely on the block geometry, rather than block-to-block interactions. This thesis presents a study of fragmentation processes using a hybrid finite-element/discrete-element method (FEM/DEM). The approach is capable to account for the numerical instability generally associated with the simulation of high-velocity surface interactions and subsequent fracturing. The analysis has focused on the simulation of free-falling blocks onto a fixed surface. The initial and final block breakage has been compared against parameters including the roughness and curvature of the impacted surface, and the rock block orientation in space during free fall. The fractal relationship between resulting fragments was also explored to observe if a size invariable relationship exists and could be used for block breakage prediction. The results show that the curvature of the impacted surface reduces the fragmentation of the rock block regardless of whether the surface is concave or convex. In addition, the angle at which the rock block contacts the impacted surface is critical with more eccentric angles resulting in less final fragmentation. Little to no correlation with the numeric JRC characterisation of surface roughness is seen. The fractal relationships show promising results for size invariability of fragmentation with some variability noticed possibly due to the mechanism of fracturing. These results could provide an increased understanding of the complexities of secondary fragmentation estimates and the range of fragmentation that could be expected in block caving.

Text

2021-11-23

Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/80243

Mining Engineering

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/