Pore Pressure Model for Large Open Pit Mine in the North of Chile (2019)
For over five years, Itasca Chile SpA (Itasca) has developed and continuously updated, the 3D numerical groundwater flow model for this open pit mine in Chile. The model is primarily used to estimate pore pressure distributions for past, present, and predictive stages of the pit excavation. These are subsequently used for 3D slope stability analysis. With the new and updated model, new predictions for future stages were made, and new mining and drainage plans were evaluated from a hydrogeological point of view.
Numerical simulations of shield support for a coal mine (2019)
The development and mining of a deeper seam in a coal mine, located in southern Siberia is planned. ITASCA was tasked with assessing the minimum support pressure and maximum unsupported distance between shield and coal face required to ensure stability of the roof. Also the stress state, displacement field and excavation damaged zone in the roof of the seam were analyzed.
Stability during the construction of diaphragm-walls in sand-fills (2019)
For the construction of the diaphragm‐walls of a cut & cover tunnel in sand‐fill, Itasca Consultores S.L. has been analyzing the stability of the slurry walls of an excavation panel
Seismic Performance of the OPC Puerto Cortes Container Terminal in Honduras (2019)
Itasca conducted a seismic performance evaluation of the trestle‐wharf section of the OPC Puerto Cortes Container Terminal, located in Honduras. A FLAC3D analysis of the soil is performed, including the piles and deck of the terminal. This is a fullycoupled, dynamic, soil‐structure, time‐history analysis that quantifies the performance and potential risks for the structure and slope. The Finn model – Byrne formulation was utilized using data from investigation boreholes.
Penetration of a Single Steel Foundation Pin in a Granitic Rock (2018)
The development of a subsea tidal turbine requires specific research work concerning the design of the foundation in contact with the seabed. This design stage can be simplified by the use of numerical modelling and more particularly by using discrete modelling. HydroQuest asked Cathie Associates to check their previous calculations regarding the behavior of a single steel foundation pin in a granitic rock mass by using Itasca’s discrete numerical approach and follow the forces applied to the pin as well as the state of the damaged zone around the tip during penetration.
Modeling Blast-induced Vibrations to Limit Damage to Underground Stopes (2018)
With concurrent open-pit mining and sub-level open stoping under way at Rampura Agucha, the goal of this work was to gain insight into how blasts should be designed to better protect underground excavations. FLAC3D models were used to link the small-scale detonation and crushing behavior to the mine-scale stress wave propagation behavior.
Development of Conceptual and Numerical Groundwater Models for EIA Studies (2018)
Itasca Chile SpA was retained to develop a numerical 3D groundwater flow model that would allow the assessment of potential environmental impacts over the aquifer due to the infiltration associated with the expansion of the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF). Additionally, it was requested to study the potential influence of infiltrations on the mine pit located about 3 km of the TSF.
Modelling over-boring and extension of a tunnel with surrounding excavations (2018)
As part of phase four in the extension of the ANDRA Meuse/Haute-Marne Underground Research Laboratory, a safety niche (called GT1) will be over-bored into a larger section, then extended. The tunnel axis is 16 m from an auxiliary shaft (named PX). Two perpendicular drifts, called GLN and GLE, connect these 2 excavations.
Junction Dam (2018)
Built between 1959 and 1961, Junction Dam is a double-curvature concrete arch dam located on Silver Creek in El Dorado County, California, just downstream from where Little Silver Creek and South Fork Silver Creek merge. The dam is in a relatively narrow canyon with steep sides and retains the Junction Reservoir.
Investigation of Mine Access Tailings Storage in an Open Pit (2017)
The mine is interested in using the decommissioned open pit for storage of tailings from the underground mine, as this would be beneficial both from an environmental and an economical perspective. The implementation will be a technical challenge since portions of the crown pillar separating the open pit from the underground mining has been extracted.
Seismic Deformation Analyses of a Hydraulic Fill Embankment Dam (2017)
As part of evaluation of seismic performance of this 175-foot high hydraulic fill dam located at a confidential site in the southeast Appalachia region, Geosyntec hired Itasca Consulting Group (Itasca) to perform deformation analyses for seismic loading of the dam using numerical modeling. Prior to the deformation analyses, Itasca also assisted Geosyntec with numerical simulations to assess the liquefaction potential of the dam using the cyclic stress ratio approach.
Karowe Mine Groundwater Flow Model and Predictive Dewatering Simulations (2017)
Karowe Mine, located approximately 16 kilometers (km) southwest of the town of Letlhakane, is a diamond mine where the second largest diamond ever found on record, with a weight of 1,111 carats, was discovered. This project involved simulating mine dewatering and excavation to evaluate future dewatering requirements, as well as providing guidance for future monitoring borehole and piezometer designs.
Liquefaction Risk Mitigation using Jet Grouting and Earthquake Drains (2017)
Boldwing Continuum Architects Inc. has contracted Itasca Consulting Group to perform a liquefaction analysis and evaluate several soil improvement designs for the Langdale Ferry Terminal Project in Vancouver, Canada. The terminal sits on a deltaic granular deposit prone to liquefaction. The new expansion of the ferry terminal has to be designed in compliance with the 2017 Canadian Building Code, which requires the analysis of 11 different earthquake time histories. The most challenging requirement is to design the ground improvement to limit any lateral soil spreading within 100-150 mm.
Electrical resistivity and air permeability of a model baked anode material (2017)
A baked anode is a complex material, that results from the mixing and baking of different petrol coke grains, with different size distributions, with a pitch binder. A PFC2D model accounting for the microstructure of a baked anode, using the Bonded Particle Model (BPM) has been developed in previous studies.
Rock Mechanics Study for the Kevitsa Strategy Project (2017)
The Kevitsa open pit mine has been in operation since 2012 and was acquired by Boliden in 2016. A new strategic plan is currently being developed to investigate an increase in production. In conjunction with this, the geotechnical slope design parameters for the final pit depth, including a possibly deeper pit, need to be analyzed.