Role of Rock Mass Fabric and Faulting in the Development of Block Caving Induced Surface Subsidence

Influence of large-scale structures on the stability of the hangingwall in a caving mine: a modelling study

“…This is likely to happen for the structures where slip is more pronounced such as DZ050 and DZ031. The presence of slip along the structures near the boundaries of the excavations at the intersections with the large-scale structures confirms a link found in studies by Vyazmensky et al (2010) and Sainsbury et al (2011b). In these studies, it was shown that geologic structures have an effect on the propagation and geometry of the cave formed as mining progresses.…”

“…Vyazmensky et al (2010) found that the direction of the cave propagation is highly influenced by the orientation of large-scale structures, such as faults. Following from the conceptual model of caving by Duplancic and Brady (1999), Sainsbury et al (2011b) used the computer code FLAC 3D to determine the influence of large-scale structures and it was found that the crater formed during caving and its progression followed the orientation of faults, if present in the cave area.…”

Empirical investigation and characterization of surface subsidence related to block cave mining

“…This indicates a greater influence of topography on surface subsidence despite any limiting influence the faults may present. A similar observation was made by Vyazmensky et al [10] who conducted an extensive investigation of the influence of faults on block caving induced surface subsidence.…”

A preliminary analysis of failure mechanisms in karst and man-made underground caves in Southern Italy

“…In particular, as regards numerical modelling, the rock mass can be represented as a continuum either for the absence of discontinuities or the presence of a large number of joint sets. In case of strongly anisotropic rock mass, due to the presence of a limited number of single discontinuities or joint sets, knowledge of the rock joint properties is much more important (Brekke and Selmer Olsen, 1965;Vyazmenski et al, 2010). For an appropriate characterization of the rock mass properties, detailed field surveys, in situ and laboratory investigations need to be carried out (I.S.R.M.…”