Required strength design of cemented backfill for underground metalliferous mine

ABSTRACT

Determination of the minimum required strength of backfill is the key design aspect for underground mining with backfill. In this study, a 3D simulation model was developed for predicting the required strength of backfill and displacement contours, yield state, and strength/stress ratios were considered to evaluate the stability and failure mechanism of backfill. The backfill design strength, assessed from numerical modelling, was compared with the previously developed analytical solutions. Further, the developed 3D simulation model was successfully used for backfill strength estimation of a few underground stopes in Eastern and Western India.

KEYWORDS:

• Mining
• cemented backfill
• strength
• numerical modelling, backfill stability

Acknowledgments

The authors thankfully acknowledge Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Limited (IMFA) and Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) management for sponsoring this study and providing the necessary facilities and materials.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

There is no additional data available for this manuscript.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the HZL and IMFA .