Abstract

The first phase of this project established a simple methodology for the quantification of the risk of sudden and violent ruptures of the rock surrounding mine excavations.

Although the methodology has been partially tested at two sites, testing on a larger scale is necessary. In this phase, the methodology will be applied at a site known to present cave-in problems. The assessment of the risk of cave-ins will be complemented by data from geomechanical surveys and from computerized modelling.

This research will afford a real-life validation of the proposed methodology, including its proposed zoning regulations for mines and its analysis of instabilities. This will further understanding of the phenomenon and provide an effective risk assessment tool.