Open Stope Stability Using 3D Joint Networks

Summary The most popular exploitation method used in Canadian hard rock mines is open stope mining. Geomechanical design of open stopes relies on a range of analytical, numerical and empirical tools. This paper presents an engineering approach for the analysis and the design of reinforcement for open stopes in jointed rock. The proposed methodology, illustrated by three case studies, relies on developing 3D joint network models from field data. The 3D joint networks have been successfully linked to a 3D limit equilibrium software package. The models account for the finite length of joints as well as the influence of random joints. The integrated approach facilitates comparative analyses of different reinforcement strategies under different degrees of jointing in the hard rock environment. Received February 23, 2001; accepted October 11, 2002; Published online January 21, 2003 Acknowledgments The financial support of the National Science and Engineering Council of Canada and the Institut de Recherche en Santé et Sécurité au Travail of Quebec and Noranda Inc. is greatly appreciated. Authors' address: Prof. John Hadjigeorgiou, Université Laval, Department of Mining, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, G1K 7P4 Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; e-mail: john.hadjigeorgiou@gmn.ulaval.ca     

A Methodology for Reliability-Based Design of Rock Slopes

Summary A reliability-based methodology for the design of rock slopes, that can easily be implemented by the practicing engineers is proposed. The advanced first-order second-moment (AFOSM) method is adopted as the reliability assessment model and its application is illustrated for the case of plane failure. A model is developed within the framework of first-order second-moment approach to analyze the uncertainties underlying the in situ shear strength properties of rock discontinuities. Here, particular emphasis is given on the assessment of uncertainties related to the shear characteristics of clean, unfilled rock discontinuities under low normal stress levels. An extensive literature survey on the shear characteristics of discontinuities is carried out in order to collect data for the quantification of uncertainties. The data extracted from this literature survey are classified and reprocessed so that they can be utilized in the uncertainty analysis model. A user friendly software called ROCKREL is developed to carry out the numerical computations and to make the proposed design format more practical. Received April 16, 2001; accepted June 10, 2002; Published online November 19, 2002 Authors' address: Prof. Celal Karpuz, Middle East Technical University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mining Engineering, 06531 Ankara, Turkey; e-mail: karpuz @metu.edu.tr     

金川矿区地下巷道围岩应力场特征及演化机制

金川矿区位于高地应力区，岩性坚硬但岩体较为破碎，其地下巷道围岩压力在时间上和空间上的分布具有矛盾统一的双重性特征，这种双重性特征在国内外许多同类型地下工程中均存在。从应场演化角度，对该类围岩的应力场特征及其演化机制进行了探讨，人为围岩应力的特殊时间和空间分布特征的根本原因是结构面在围岩动态演化过程中发生一系列复杂的时间相关性力学行为和力学响应。据此提出围岩结构性流变的观点，并给出其理论解，它较好地反映了该类围岩变形破坏过程中应力场的演化特征。     

北盘江大桥岩体工程地质评价

针对峡谷地区公路大桥勘察的主要工程地质问题，如桥塔边坡稳定性问题，桥基、持力层的选择问题等，以贵州省关岭－兴义公路北盘江特大桥为例，根据岩体力学非线性变形理论，结合岩体结构面模拟及Hock-Brown强度曲线，确定了桥位区边坡的潜在滑动面。对该桥梁勘察中的高边坡稳定性、岩溶地质、桥位持力层的选择以及桥基承载力等问题作了进一步探讨，为实际工程的设计奠定了基础。     

伊豆-小笠原下方660km间断面的区域性差异

利用南、北加州地震台网、华盛顿州西北太平洋地震台网单分量短周期地震仪和德国、瑞士地震台网／台阵的三分量宽频带地震仪记录的1981～2000年伊豆——小笠原地区下方地震的波形资料，使用N次根倾斜叠加方法提取近源一侧来自间断面SdP转换震相，以研究660km间断面区域性差异．研究发现，自35Ｎ 到26Ｎ 的各剖面依次体现了和达 本尼奥夫带（Wadati-Benioff zone）倾角逐渐加大，且地震分布的最大深度也逐步增大，俯冲板块对660km间断面存在的影响也因此产生了差异性:没有俯冲板块影响的情况下，该间断面出现在CM）660km深度处，而受到俯冲板块明显作用的地区，则该间断面普遍出现下陷．转换点分布的一定程度分散性可能是间断面本身复杂结构、震相误判或一维球对称地球模型假定等因素造成的．这一转换点分布的分散性是一个亟需解决的问题．      

Scaling of geological discontinuity normal load–deformation response using fractal geometry

The mechanical behaviour of discontinuities in rock, such as joints, is known to be size‐dependent. It is also suspected that the behaviour of larger size features, such as faults, is also size‐dependent. This size dependence has serious implications for performing numerical response simulations of geological media. In this paper, we develop a new mathematical theory for scaling of one particular discontinuity property, namely the interface normal stiffness. To accomplish this, we idealize an interface to have fractal geometry, and we develop analytical relations which show that the interface normal stiffness, which is commonly thought to be a size‐independent property, is in fact a size‐dependent property and has fractal characteristics that may be exploited to develop a fundamental theory for scaling. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crustal root beneath the highlands of southern Norway resolved by teleseismic receiver functions

Teleseismic data have been collected with temporary seismograph stations on two profiles in southern Norway. Including the permanent arrays NORSAR and Hagfors the profiles are 400 and 500 km long and extend from the Atlantic coast across regions of high topography and the Oslo Rift. A total of 1071 teleseismic waveforms recorded by 24 temporary and 8 permanent stations are analysed. The depth-migrated receiver functions show a well-resolved Moho for both profiles with Moho depths that are generally accurate within ±2 km.
For the northern profile across Jotunheimen we obtain Moho depths between 32 and 43 km (below sea level). On the southern profile across Hardangervidda, the Moho depths range from 29 km at the Atlantic coast to 41 km below the highland plateau. Generally the depth of Moho is close to or above 40 km beneath areas of high mean topography (>1 km), whereas in the Oslo Rift the crust locally thins down to 32 km. At the east end of the profiles we observe a deepening Moho beneath low topography. Beneath the highlands the obtained Moho depths are 4–5 km deeper than previous estimates. Our results are supported by the fact that west of the Oslo Rift a deep Moho correlates very well with low Bouguer gravity which also correlates well with high mean topography.
The presented results reveal a ca . 10–12 km thick Airy-type crustal root beneath the highlands of southern Norway, which leaves little room for additional buoyancy-effects below Moho. These observations do not seem consistent with the mechanisms of substantial buoyancy presently suggested to explain a significant Cenozoic uplift widely believed to be the cause of the high topography in present-day southern Norway.     

Constraining velocity and density contrasts across the crust–mantle boundary with receiver function amplitudes

This paper investigates the ability of P -wave receiver functions to constrain both the velocity and density contrasts across the Moho. Expressions for receiver function amplitudes corresponding to a layer over a half-space are extended to media with depth-dependent properties by explicitly accounting for free-surface reflection coefficients. Forward numerical computations show that receiver function amplitudes become frequency-dependent for depth-dependent structures and that, for a given frequency, wavelengths associated to Ps converted phases are larger than wavelengths associated to multiply reverberated phases. When consistent measurements of the amplitudes of Ps phase and multiples can be obtained, the extended expressions suffice to account for the observed amplitudes. Receiver function amplitudes are sensitive to both velocity and density contrasts across the Moho, and a two-step grid-search procedure is proposed to recover the contrasts from their measurement. The near-surface velocity is recovered in the first step from the amplitude of the direct P wave and then used in the second step to work out the relative density and S -wave velocity contrast from the amplitude of the secondary phases. Examples from central Spain (PAB) and the Indian Shield (HYB) are discussed and demonstrate that receiver function amplitudes can constrain contrasts across the Moho accurately enough to be utilized in geological interpretation.     

ANALYSIS ON SPATIAL FEATURES OF LUCC BASED ON REMOTE SENSING AND GIS IN CHINA

In view of the large quantities of areas,complex landform and dynamic change of resources and environ-ment in China,China has already funded abundantly a series of macro remote sensing investigation projects in land use cover change(LUCC) since 1990.Supported by the achievements of such projects,Chinese resources,environmental and remote sensing database(CRERS) was created.In this paper,we standardized the LUCC dataset of CRERS at scale of 1km,which facilitated the study of spatial features of LUCC in China.The analysis on the spatial features of LUCC and their causes of formation in China are based on the CRERS supported by the technologies of Geographic Information System(GIS) .The whole research was based on the grade index of land use,ecological environmental index and index of population density.Based on the correlation analysis,we found that the special features of LUCC were closely related with those of ecological environment and population density,which resulted form that areas with better ecological environ-ment and high production potential of land were easy and convenient for human being to live,which,furthermore,led to the aggravation of excessive exploitation of land resources there.