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.
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.
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.
Rock Mechanics Pre-Feasibility Studies (2017)
When starting a new mine, whether it's a open pit or an underground mine, the designer faces many challenges! One of these is the understanding of rock mass conditions and how this affects the choice of mining methods and the mine design at an early stage.
Investigating the mechanical behavior of a surface repository for low and intermediatelevel short-lived radioactive waste (2017)
Andra operates a surface repository in Aube (“CSA”, North‐Eastern France), where some of the concrete canisters containing low and intermediate‐level short‐lived radioactive waste are stacked in concrete structures, then filled with gravel (Fig 1). ITASCA Consultants SAS, together with EGIS Industries, has studied the mechanical behavior of the assemblies, in the framework of design and safety demonstration programs.
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.
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.
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.
Sjömalmen — Cave Modeling and Prediction of Ground Deformations (2017)
The city of Kiruna is partly located on the hanging wall side of the LKAB Kiirunavaara Mine. In the long-term perspective, it is not possible to have any residential buildings or infrastructure within the fracture zone and cave zone resulting from mining. An urban transformation process for the Kiruna city center is thus currently underway. The current prognosis is empirical based on observations since the early 1960s until today.
Modeling and Calibration of a Blocky Granite Rock (2017)
In the framework of the development of a subsea tidal turbine, the design of the foundations has to be optimal. Cathie Associates, on behalf of HydroQuest, wanted us to investigate the penetration of a single steel foundation pin in a granitic rock mass by using a discrete numerical approach and follow the state of the damaged zone around the tip during penetration.
Dynamic Soil Structure Interaction Analyses of North Shore Pump Station (2017)
Located near Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, North Shore Pump Station is a part of the North Point Wet-Weather Facility (NPF), which provides primary treatment for disinfection of wastewater. The facility is a two-story building that is completely embedded in soil, and the subsurface conditions include potentially liquefiable sand layers and soft Bay Mud deposits sitting on bedrock sloping toward the east side waterfront. The building is supported by piers extending all the way into the Franciscan Complex bedrock.