A Stability Analysis of an Abandoned Gypsum Mine Based on Numerical Simulation Using the Itasca Model for Advanced Strain Softening Constitutive Model

An abandoned gypsum mine has been discovered beneath the route of a highway construction in Hunan province, south China. Due to the highway construction and operations safety, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive stability analysis of the abandoned mining area. The 3D laser scanning detection...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yungang Shi, Huaijian Wang, Xin Tan, Yuxuan Jin, Jiaxu Wang, Bigang Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-11-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/23/12570
_version_ 1797400434148638720
author Yungang Shi
Huaijian Wang
Xin Tan
Yuxuan Jin
Jiaxu Wang
Bigang Tang
author_facet Yungang Shi
Huaijian Wang
Xin Tan
Yuxuan Jin
Jiaxu Wang
Bigang Tang
author_sort Yungang Shi
collection DOAJ
description An abandoned gypsum mine has been discovered beneath the route of a highway construction in Hunan province, south China. Due to the highway construction and operations safety, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive stability analysis of the abandoned mining area. The 3D laser scanning detection technique has been adopted, and over 400 drillholes were strategically placed near the highway to capture the spatial information of the abandoned gypsum mine. The ore body has an average mining thickness of about 3 m, and the depth of the mining roof ranges from 40 to 60 m, with an average span of 16 m. Based on the research achievements in the engineering geological investigation, rock mass quality assessment, and geometry information, a simplified numerical model has been established for stability analysis. The numerical model employed the IMASS rock mass constitutive model to conduct a stability analysis of the abandoned gypsum mine during the excavation process and in the medium to long term. The IMASS constitutive model can effectively reflect the entire process of rock mass from microscopic damage to macroscopic instability, and the numerical simulation of current and long-term stages provides a much greater understanding of the mining room stability and the effect of various geo-mechanical parameters not considered in traditional empirical methods. The abandoned gypsum mine stability is guaranteed in the mining and current stages. However, the numerical results showed that a 0.4 m spalling thickness of the sidewalls can cause an overall instability and failure of the abandoned mine, and reinforcement measures must be taken for long-term safety. The stability of the abandoned gypsum mine with filling solutions was also evaluated numerically.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T01:55:27Z
format Article
id doaj.art-1f40caec0c36414591ccf1b3ffdbfd63
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2076-3417
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T01:55:27Z
publishDate 2023-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj.art-1f40caec0c36414591ccf1b3ffdbfd632023-12-08T15:11:01ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-11-0113231257010.3390/app132312570A Stability Analysis of an Abandoned Gypsum Mine Based on Numerical Simulation Using the Itasca Model for Advanced Strain Softening Constitutive ModelYungang Shi0Huaijian Wang1Xin Tan2Yuxuan Jin3Jiaxu Wang4Bigang Tang5Hunan Communications Research Institute Co., Ltd., Changsha 410015, ChinaCCCC Construction Group Co., Ltd., Beijing 100022, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, ChinaHunan Communications Research Institute Co., Ltd., Changsha 410015, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, ChinaHunan Communications Research Institute Co., Ltd., Changsha 410015, ChinaAn abandoned gypsum mine has been discovered beneath the route of a highway construction in Hunan province, south China. Due to the highway construction and operations safety, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive stability analysis of the abandoned mining area. The 3D laser scanning detection technique has been adopted, and over 400 drillholes were strategically placed near the highway to capture the spatial information of the abandoned gypsum mine. The ore body has an average mining thickness of about 3 m, and the depth of the mining roof ranges from 40 to 60 m, with an average span of 16 m. Based on the research achievements in the engineering geological investigation, rock mass quality assessment, and geometry information, a simplified numerical model has been established for stability analysis. The numerical model employed the IMASS rock mass constitutive model to conduct a stability analysis of the abandoned gypsum mine during the excavation process and in the medium to long term. The IMASS constitutive model can effectively reflect the entire process of rock mass from microscopic damage to macroscopic instability, and the numerical simulation of current and long-term stages provides a much greater understanding of the mining room stability and the effect of various geo-mechanical parameters not considered in traditional empirical methods. The abandoned gypsum mine stability is guaranteed in the mining and current stages. However, the numerical results showed that a 0.4 m spalling thickness of the sidewalls can cause an overall instability and failure of the abandoned mine, and reinforcement measures must be taken for long-term safety. The stability of the abandoned gypsum mine with filling solutions was also evaluated numerically.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/23/12570gypsum minestability analysislaser scanninggoafnumerical simulation
spellingShingle Yungang Shi
Huaijian Wang
Xin Tan
Yuxuan Jin
Jiaxu Wang
Bigang Tang
A Stability Analysis of an Abandoned Gypsum Mine Based on Numerical Simulation Using the Itasca Model for Advanced Strain Softening Constitutive Model
Applied Sciences
gypsum mine
stability analysis
laser scanning
goaf
numerical simulation
title A Stability Analysis of an Abandoned Gypsum Mine Based on Numerical Simulation Using the Itasca Model for Advanced Strain Softening Constitutive Model
title_full A Stability Analysis of an Abandoned Gypsum Mine Based on Numerical Simulation Using the Itasca Model for Advanced Strain Softening Constitutive Model
title_fullStr A Stability Analysis of an Abandoned Gypsum Mine Based on Numerical Simulation Using the Itasca Model for Advanced Strain Softening Constitutive Model
title_full_unstemmed A Stability Analysis of an Abandoned Gypsum Mine Based on Numerical Simulation Using the Itasca Model for Advanced Strain Softening Constitutive Model
title_short A Stability Analysis of an Abandoned Gypsum Mine Based on Numerical Simulation Using the Itasca Model for Advanced Strain Softening Constitutive Model
title_sort stability analysis of an abandoned gypsum mine based on numerical simulation using the itasca model for advanced strain softening constitutive model
topic gypsum mine
stability analysis
laser scanning
goaf
numerical simulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/23/12570
work_keys_str_mv AT yungangshi astabilityanalysisofanabandonedgypsumminebasedonnumericalsimulationusingtheitascamodelforadvancedstrainsofteningconstitutivemodel
AT huaijianwang astabilityanalysisofanabandonedgypsumminebasedonnumericalsimulationusingtheitascamodelforadvancedstrainsofteningconstitutivemodel
AT xintan astabilityanalysisofanabandonedgypsumminebasedonnumericalsimulationusingtheitascamodelforadvancedstrainsofteningconstitutivemodel
AT yuxuanjin astabilityanalysisofanabandonedgypsumminebasedonnumericalsimulationusingtheitascamodelforadvancedstrainsofteningconstitutivemodel
AT jiaxuwang astabilityanalysisofanabandonedgypsumminebasedonnumericalsimulationusingtheitascamodelforadvancedstrainsofteningconstitutivemodel
AT bigangtang astabilityanalysisofanabandonedgypsumminebasedonnumericalsimulationusingtheitascamodelforadvancedstrainsofteningconstitutivemodel
AT yungangshi stabilityanalysisofanabandonedgypsumminebasedonnumericalsimulationusingtheitascamodelforadvancedstrainsofteningconstitutivemodel
AT huaijianwang stabilityanalysisofanabandonedgypsumminebasedonnumericalsimulationusingtheitascamodelforadvancedstrainsofteningconstitutivemodel
AT xintan stabilityanalysisofanabandonedgypsumminebasedonnumericalsimulationusingtheitascamodelforadvancedstrainsofteningconstitutivemodel
AT yuxuanjin stabilityanalysisofanabandonedgypsumminebasedonnumericalsimulationusingtheitascamodelforadvancedstrainsofteningconstitutivemodel
AT jiaxuwang stabilityanalysisofanabandonedgypsumminebasedonnumericalsimulationusingtheitascamodelforadvancedstrainsofteningconstitutivemodel
AT bigangtang stabilityanalysisofanabandonedgypsumminebasedonnumericalsimulationusingtheitascamodelforadvancedstrainsofteningconstitutivemodel