- Title
- In situ experiments of rockfall in an open pit coal mine
- Creator
- Giacomini, A.; Thoeni, K.; Kniest, E.; Lambert, C.
- Relation
- Slope Stability 2011: International Symposium on Rock Slope Stability in Open Pit Mining and Civil Engineering. Proceedings, Slope Stability 2011: International Symposium on Rock Slope Stability in Open Pit Mining and Civil Engineering (Vancouver, Canada 18-21 September, 2011)
- Publisher
- Canadian Rock Mechanics Association
- Resource Type
- conference paper
- Date
- 2011
- Description
- Rockfalls are a significant safety hazard in mining environments that need to be rigorously managed, in particular when designing portal entries for punch longwalls. In situ experiments were carried out at a mine in New South Wales (Australia) to improve management of the rockfall hazard at the base of the highwall. Concrete blocks were released from the top of the highwall. Block sizes were defined according to records of rockfall events and results of polyhedral modelling of the highwall. The tests were carried out on two different sections of the highwall: the first section was draped with a netting protection system whereas the second section had no protection system (net) installed. In the first section, the blocks were released behind the net in order to be able to investigate the effect of the net on the block trajectory and the energy dissipation. Direct comparison was made with the section where no net interfered with the rockfall. The tests were repeated several times and were recorded by using high speed cameras. Analysis of the rockfall images and videos allowed for the gathering of information on the motion type, trajectories, arrest zones and potential impacting energy. Particular emphasis was given to the analysis of the residual hazard once a protection system is in place. This is of particular importance for giving recommendations for optimising the protection system which then helps to provide greater confidence in the safety of portal installations.
- Subject
- rockfalls; safety hazards; mine protection systems; mining
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1325392
- Identifier
- uon:25262
- Language
- eng
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