Ernesto Villaescusa

The performance of ground support as a scheme is essential to constrain failures occurring at the rock surfaces of deep or highly stressed excavations. This book covers laboratory and theoretical developments coupled with field experiments and observations with the implementation of the methodology at mines. It explains the energy dissipation capabilities of reinforcement and support systems leading to the design of complete ground support schemes that can maintain integrity following the dynamic ejection of a mass of rock from an excavation boundary. The key features of the book are as follows: It explores the mechanics, demand and capacity of ground support technology It covers the whole gamut of theories, laboratory and field test results and case studies related to ground support technology It includes a comprehensive database of mesh, rock bolts, cable bolts and shotcrete capacity It examines ground support scheme testing and explanation It discusses comprehensive case studies, including de-stress blasting This book is aimed at professionals in mining engineering, including civil engineering, geological engineering and geotechnical engineering, and related advanced postgraduate studies.

The performance of ground support as a scheme is essential to constrain failures occurring at the rock surfaces of deep or highly stressed excavations. This book covers laboratory and theoretical developments coupled with field experiments and observations with the implementation of the methodology at mines. It explains the energy dissipation capabilities of reinforcement and support systems leading to the design of complete ground support schemes that can maintain integrity following the dynamic ejection of a mass of rock from an excavation boundary. The key features of the book are as follows:It explores the mechanics, demand and capacity of ground support technologyIt covers the whole gamut of theories, laboratory and field test results and case studies related to ground support technologyIt includes a comprehensive database of mesh, rock bolts, cable bolts and shotcrete capacityIt examines ground support scheme testing and explanationIt discusses comprehensive case studies, including de-stress blastingThis book is aimed at professionals in mining engineering, including civil engineering, geological engineering and geotechnical engineering, and related advanced postgraduate studies.

The first comprehensive work on one of the most important underground mining methods worldwide, Geotechnical Design for Sublevel Open Stoping presents topics according to the conventional sublevel stoping process used by most mining houses, in which a sublevel stoping geometry is chosen for a particular mining method, equipment availability, and work force experience. Summarizing state-of-the-art practices encountered during his 25+ years of experience at industry-leading underground mines, the author: Covers the design and operation of sublevel open stoping, including variants such as bench stopingDiscusses increases in sublevel spacing due to advances in the drilling of longer and accurate production holes, as well as advances in explosive types, charges, and initiation systemsConsiders improvements in slot rising through vertical crater retreat, inverse drop rise, and raise boringDevotes a chapter to rock mass characterization, since increases in sublevel spacing have meant that larger, unsupported stope walls must stand without collapsingDescribes methodologies to design optimum open spans and pillars, rock reinforcement of development access and stope walls, and fill masses to support the resulting stope voidsReviews the sequencing of stoping blocks to minimize in situ stress concentrationsExamines dilution control action plans and techniques to back-analyze and optimize stope wall performanceFeaturing numerous case studies from the world-renowned Mount Isa Mines and examples from underground mines in Western Australia, Geotechnical Design for Sublevel Open Stoping is both a practical reference for industry and a specialized textbook for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate mining studies.