Effect of Blasting on Internal Dragline Dump Slope
摘要
Surface mining is a prevalent technique for mineral resource extraction and offers notable advantages in terms of safety and cost-effectiveness compared to underground mining. Blasting remains the most commonly used method for rock mass extraction in surface mining owing to its cost efficiency and adaptability to a wide range of geological conditions. However, the ground vibrations generated by blasting pose significant challenges, particularly concerning the stability of the internal overburden dumps. The impact of blast-induced vibrations on the stability of dragline dumps is of particular concern and requires a detailed investigation. In this study, a 2D numerical model was developed using the RS2 software to simulate the effects of blasting on dragline dumps. The seismic coefficient, which quantifies the influence of blast-induced vibrations on dump stability, was derived from field measurements of vibration-time data. The study found that the factor of safety of the dragline dump slope is 1.22 under static conditions. The factor of safety of the internal dragline dump due to blasting was found to be 1.18, indicating a minimal effect of blasting on the dump slope. Additionally, the study concluded that the impact of the ground vibrations induced by blasting had a negligible effect on the stability of the internal dragline dump beyond an approximate distance of 150 m. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the dynamic effects of blasting on dragline dump stability, and propose a methodology for evaluating these effects through numerical modeling.