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.
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.
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.
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.
Bench Stability Analysis at Björkdalsgruvan (2016)
The Björkdal mine ("Björkdalsgruvan"), located 28 km northwest of the town of Skellefteå, is a gold mine with the mineralization typified by Au-quartz veins located within a metamorphic package. The Björkdal mine is operating with both open pit- and underground mining. During spring 2016 the mine experienced local slope instability at one of the open pit walls. The concern was how it would affect safety for the mine workers and future mining, but also if it was safe to remove loose rock mass without endangering workers or interrupt any mining activities.
Building a baked anode material with PFC (2016)
A baked anode is made of a complex material, obtained by mixing and baking different petrol coke grains, with different size distributions, with a pitch. Hydro PMT needs to study how cracks propagate in such a material – both within and between grains. Representing properly the non-spherical grain shapes, as well as the porosity, both between grains and within the coke grains, are therefore prerequisites.
Fountain Slide – Slope Stabilization using Micropiles and Anchors (2016)
Fountain Slide has a long history of stability problems. The slope is bounded downhill by the Fraser River and uphill by a highway and a railway. This project stage focused on stabilization of a section of the railway that has suffered extensive damage to its retaining system.
Solution-Mining Modeling (2016)
A confidential mining client was interested in evaluating various potential future solution-mining scenarios using a numerical model in order to assess potential ore recovery, capital costs, and cavern lifetimes, as well as to overall optimize the proposed mine plan. Modeling of solution mining requires that the key processes controlling the mineral dissolution are modeled; however, there are numerous factors that complicate the details of the dissolution process that are impractical or impossible to account for in a model.
Back-Analysis of Initial Stress at Shallow Depth – A Case Study (2016)
At shallow depth, the initial stress state can significantly affect the behavior of the rock mass around excavations, but stress measurements are usually subjected to high levels of uncertainty. This was the case at the Odenplan railway station in Stockholm where unexpectedly large deformations were measured during the excavation.
Discrete modelling of lime kilns (2016)
KERNEOS Aluminate Technologies wishes to exploit the bauxite fines generated during the extraction, conditioning and transport of bulk bauxite, which are currently unused. To achieve this objective, the PARC project was built around 2 academics and 4 industrial companies, experts in their field.
Numerical modeling of dredged sand filled geotextile tubes behavior under seismic loading (2016)
A nearshore 120m long causeway is planned for the Mozambique LNG TMOF Project. Geosintex S.R.L. proposes a structure composed by synthetic geotubes (see Figure) for protecting the road against erosion. The mechanical behavior of this structure must be understood better. The evaluation of the potential for liquefaction of the road sandy basement and the geotubes filling material is of particular interest.
Definition and flow analysis of UFM model for the Forsmark site (2016)
The Forsmark site is studied in the context of the Swedish nuclear disposal project. One key step is defining, at the relevant depths ‐ from 200 to 400m ‐ a Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) model. The DFN modeling framework is based on simplified rules that mimic the kinematic processes governing fracture nucleation, growth and arrest (models are named UFM for likely Universal Fracture Model).
Regional-Scale Stress Model of the Stockholm Area (2016)
New metro lines are planned in Stockholm, comprising a total length of approximately 20 km with 10 new stations, mostly located underground. One of the new lines will pass under Saltsjön (a bay of the Baltic Sea) and through a major regional large-scale geological structure. The stress magnitudes and orientations around the structure are highly uncertain, and stress measurements are not practically possible near the structure. To quantify possible stress conditions near the structure, discontinuum threedimensional numerical modeling was conducted.
Liquefaction Risk Mitigation using Jet Grouting Cells (2016)
Trevi Group has been involved in the design-build of a commercial building in Turkey in an area prone to liquefaction. The foundation of the building is located approximately 10 m below original grade, which still leaves about 10-12 m of potentially liquefiable sand underneath the bottom slab.
Geometry Model for the Follo Line Project (2016)
The Follo Line project is the largest railway project in Norway in modern times. The Follo Line is a high-speed railway partly in tunnel from the traffic hub at Ski to Oslo central station. The project comprise a 20 km long tunnel. The new railway is passing through central Oslo, beneath existing infrastructure which creates challenging conditions due to overlapping tunnels and multiple intersections.