Abstract

As ore is extracted from mines, the crushed rock and other waste is piled up and cemented together for use as barriers to increase tunnel stability. The pressure on these barriers depends on several factors: size of the crushed rock, barrier height, drainage, etc. Despite the experience gained by mining companies, barrier breakage still occurs. This project, which will be conducted in collaboration with mines in north-western Quebec, will involve on-site testing of a method of characterizing the barrier's geological dynamics through the use of an automatic drill equipped with a pressure meter. The tests will serve to quantify the physical parameters which determine the pressure on barriers. Subsequently, a manual describing the geomechanical profile of barriers will be produced to allow mining engineers to better follow up and evaluate their safety.