Abstract

Safe design of underground excavations for mining requires sound knowledge of the state of natural stresses in rock masses. Digital modeling is now the main tool for designing underground excavations and evaluating the safety factors that characterize them. However, these models require an in-depth understanding of natural stresses and the parameters characterizing rock mass resistance.

Currently, the only way to determine such stresses with acceptable accuracy is to take in situ measurements. However, the stress measurement techniques currently used in mines are of limited reliability and precision. They always leave some doubt as to the validity of the results, thereby exposing miners to risks that are difficult to evaluate.

The project is intended to improve the quality of in situ measurements. A new device will be designed to interpret such measurements with a new calculation method that uses all collected information and thus increases reliability.

Once the project is completed, Quebec mining companies will have access to some of the world’s most sophisticated equipment and interpretation models for measuring in situ stress. Pairing state-of-the-art electronic field equipment with a new interpretation model incorporating all data obtained from a measurement will provide better quality results and increase miner safety.