Numerical and experimental studies of arching effects within mine fill slopes

Abstract

This paper presents a study that utilizes an experimental model and the two and three-dimensional finite difference packages FLAC and FLAC3D to investigate the arching effects including the consideration of interface elements between rock and backfill, stope geometry, shear strength parameters and material properties. An arching effect instrument was prepared and investigated the stress developments within circular and square stopes, which were found similar tend with the results of numerical modeling. Stress values in the circular stopes were approximately 85% of square stopes from the experimental model. Many laboratory tests were conducted to find out friction angles for four Australian mines, which were between 30 and 49 degrees. It was also shown that the effect of friction angles and cohesion of fills on stresses for the circular and square stopes using FLAC and FLAC3D were lesser but same trend and closer values than narrow stopes through FLAC.