A Numerical Analysis of Stress Path and Rock Mass Damage in Open Pit Rock Slopes

摘要

Excavation of a large pit is performed in stages, which subjects the rock mass to several changes in stress conditions during the life of the mine. If the influence of stress relaxation in strength is not evaluated properly results of the analysis will not be accurate. Analysis of the stress path in an open pit is conducted in this paper to determine the behavior in different sections of the slope as a consequence of mining. Preliminary results are presented on the use of discrete element method (DEM) numerical models as a possibility to simulate rock mass damage under stress relaxation. Numerical testing of SRM samples under specific stress paths may be an alternative to characterizing relaxation induced damage and its effect on rock mass strength. Preliminary results presented in this paper show the development of damage during the process of unloading.