TITLE: AN IMPROVED ROCK MASS BEHAVIOR NUMERICAL MODEL AND ITS APPLICATIONS TO LONGWALL COAL MINING The rock mass constitutive models should include elastic moduli, strength and stiffness of intact rock as well as those of joints and geometric properties of joints. The post-failure behavior of intact rock and joints must also be specified. A direct application of the above comments is in longwall coal mining where the coal as well as the immediate roof and floor strata may undergo controlled brittle failure and associated weakening in tension and shear based on post- failure characteristics of the rock mass. In addition to controlled failure and weakening of the rock mass ahead and over the longwall face, large scale caving and compaction of caved materials occur behind the longwall face. Itasca’s Cave-Hoek three dimensional constitutive model has the ability to model longwall mining process that involve the above mentioned mechanism of rock mass failure and compaction. However, its testing to date is limited. The overall goals of research are two-fold: 1) Develop numerical modeling approaches that consider the caving behavior of jointed rock masses in design and analysis, and 2) Apply these techniques in designing stable chain-pillars and set-up rooms for longwall coal mining. Specific objectives are to: 1) Develop an improved constitutive model for prediction of post-peak behavior of rock masses typical of longwall mining in Illinois, 2) Implement the improved model for predicting gob material behavior using FLAC3D numerical code (most commercial codes do not have a built in model for gob material) and its effects on load transfer into gate entries, 3) Identify mechanisms of instability in setup rooms, 4) Develop alternate 3- and 4-entry set-up room geometries using 3-D numerical analyses, 5) Implement and field demonstrate developed geometries, and 6) Monitor performance of implemented geometries through field monitoring. An alternative method to estimate the residual strength of a rock mass is developed. A yielded rock mass and a rock fill have several common characteristics including dilation behavior under low confinement and extensive crushing of contact points under high stress, which decrease dilation. The residual strength takes on an initial value in the immediate post-peak (corresponding to near-zero porosity) condition, then degrades to an ultimate residual strength that is lower as a result of bulking, a corresponding increase in porosity, and a drop in interlock under continued shear. The following comments summarize the key findings of this research: • The model for predicting rock fill material shear strength was used as a residual strength criterion. A relationship for estimating Hoek-Brown residual parameters as a function of equivalent roughness of rock fill particles and basic friction angle was used. • Macro-level measurements around setup rooms and gate entry development areas indicated that most of the observed ground control problems may be related to subsidence movements over the setup rooms area. • Mechanisms that may be responsible for poor ground conditions in setup rooms and adjoining gate entries were identified. Collected field data and numerical analyses results tend to support the identified mechanisms. • The integrated field monitoring and numerical modeling study here assisted the cooperating coal company to plan for additional supports in development entries impacted by the fault zone and in taking appropriate safety measures while the longwall face advanced toward the fault and crossed it.

Submitted by Jesiel Ferreira Gomes (jesielgomes@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-04-17T23:55:41Z No. of bitstreams: 1 KARINA FELÍCIA FISCHER LIMA SANTIAGO – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEPM) 2015.pdf: 11955651 bytes, checksum: ed2b0ddfd6604f59ef01965e640d37ac (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-17T23:55:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 KARINA FELÍCIA FISCHER LIMA SANTIAGO – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEPM) 2015.pdf: 11955651 bytes, checksum: ed2b0ddfd6604f59ef01965e640d37ac (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-26 / Capes / Neste trabalho estudam-se as propriedades físicas e mecânicas das rochas da Bacia do Rio do Peixe (BRP), provenientes do furo estratigráfico 1-BSB01-PB. Esta bacia, localizada no extremo oeste do estado da Paraíba, tem se tornado alvo de estudos exploratórios, face à ocorrência de óleo próximo a superfície, à NW da cidade de Sousa. Em sua caracterização faciológica, identificam-se cinco fácies sedimentares: calcilutito vermelho, calcilutito cinza, arenito, folhelho negro e marga. Por meio de ensaios de propagação de ondas sísmicas, experimentos de petrofísica básica, e ensaios mecânicos de compressão uniaxial com o martelo de Schmidt, determinam-se para as amostras de rochas da BRP, a porosidade, as densidades total e de grão, as velocidades sísmicas, a resistência mecânica e as constantes elásticas estáticas e dinâmicas, destacando-se o módulo de Young. Os resultados obtidos mostram que as rochas em estudo apresentam valores de porosidade entre 0,5 e 20%, resistência à compressão uniaxial de 18 a 93 MPa, módulos de Young dinâmicos entre 9 a 58 GPa, desde 1,1 até 6 vezes maiores que os correspondentes módulos estáticos. As correlações observadas para as diferentes propriedades físicas e mecânicas mostram-se fortemente influenciadas por características como presença de material carbonático, matéria orgânica, óleo e estruturas sedimentares e tectônicas, evidenciando a complexidade das rochas analisadas. / In this paper, studies on physical and mechanical properties of rocks from the stratigraphic hole 1-BSB01-PB, in the Rio do Peixe Basin (BRP), are performed. This basin, located in the far west of the state of Paraíba, has become the subject of exploration studies due to the occurrence of oil near the surface, in the NW of Sousa city. In his facies characterization is possible to identify five sedimentary facies: red calcilutite, gray calcilutite, sandstone, black shale and marl. From seismic wave propagation tests, experiments of basic petrophysics, mechanical tests on uniaxial compressive with Schmidt’s hammer, are determined for samples of BRP rocks the porosity, the bulk and grain densities, the seismic velocities, the mechanical strength and the static and dynamic elastic constants, highlighting the Young's modulus. The results obtained show that the studied rocks have porosity values between 0.5 and 20%, uniaxial compressive strength from 18 to 93 MPa, dynamic Young's modulus between 9 and 58 GPa, from 1,1 to 6 times greater than the corresponding static modules Correlations observed for the different physical and mechanical properties shows strongly influences by characteristics such as the presence of carbonate material, organic material, oil and sedimentary and tectonic structure, showing the complexity of the analyzed rocks.

Orientador: Philippe Remy Bernard Devloo / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T23:57:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos_ErickSlisRaggio_D.pdf: 9701048 bytes, checksum: ef950a7408bf4167850acdaf6ee45a45 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: A exploração de recursos minerais tem se apresentado como uma atividade de destaque na economia brasileira. Os ambientes nos quais estes recursos são encontrados se apresentam complexos e desafiadores à produção e requerem tecnologia e conhecimento indisponíveis no mercado para permitir converter reservas em produção. No âmbito da perfuração e completa ção de poços de petróleo, torna-se cada vez mais importante a compreensão e reprodução do comportamento hidromecânico de rochas em profundidade. É comum o emprego da teoria da elastoplasticidade para a modelagem dos comportamentos de deformações reversíveis e irreversíveis observados em rochas. A modelagem do comportamento hidráulico do meio poroso conduz a acoplamentos poroelastoplásticos de diversas naturezas. Contudo, não foi encontrado na literatura um texto único que postule a formulação poroelastoplástica considerando a contrapartida plástica do armazenamento de fuidos na formação. Neste trabalho objetiva-se reunir uma formulação poroelastoplástica consistente capaz de empregar modelagens constitutivas elastoplásticas que reproduzem mais fidedignamente o comportamento de rochas em relação aos largamente empregados modelos baseados na superfície de falha de Mohr-Coulomb. São empregados os modelos constitutivos de Lade-Kim e Sandler e Dimaggio, que apresentam endurecimento isotrópico e são capazes de modelar comportamentos de compactação e controle de dilatância. Formula-se também um algoritmo genérico de decomposição elastoplástica com controle de erro por subincrementação e capaz de determinar a matriz tangente elastoplástica consistente com auxílio de estratégias de diferenciação automática. A implementação deste módulo na linguagem C++ genérica e orientada a objetos, juntamente com módulos de análise elastoplástica e poroelastoplástica, permitiram a extensão do ambiente de computação científica PZ para modelar estes tipos de problemas. Como resultado obtiveram-se algoritmos bastante robustos e respostas mecânica e hidromecânica de simulações de perfuração de poços bastante condizentes com a experiência do doutorando. / Abstract: The exploration of mineral resources is growing in importance in the Brazilian economy. Since the environments in which these resources are found are becoming increasingly more complex and challenging for the production phase, currently unavailable knowledge and technologies are required to produce these reserves. In the particular well drilling and completion areas, the comprehension and numerical reproduction of the hydromechanical behavior of rocks in such deep environments become an issue. The observed reversible and irreversible strain behavior of rocks is commonly modeled by the elastoplasticity theory. The hydraulic modeling of a porous media leads to poroelastoplastic couplings of several kinds, but an unique text on poroelastoplastic postulation concerning the plastic counterpart of fluid storage in the formation had not been found in the bibliography. Thus, this thesis aims for the development of a consistent poroelastoplastic formulation applied to the elastoplastic consitutive models of Lade-Kim and Sandler & Dimaggio. These models embody isotropic hardening and allow the correct modeling of rock compaction and controled dilatancy, resembling the rock behavior in a more reliable sense than the conventional and largerly applied models based on the Mohr-Coulomb yield surface. The author presents a generic elastoplastic decomposition algorithm with adaptive substepping in order to constrain the ODE's integration deviation. A consistent jacobian operator evaluation becomes feasible by the adoption of automatic differentiation strategies. The final C++ implemented generic and object-oriented elastoplastic decomposition and elastoplastic and poroelastoplastic simulation modules extend the PZ scientific computation environment to the simulation of such problems. The resultant algorithms presented high computational robustness and mechanical and hydromechanical well drilling behavior agreeing to the author's experience. / Doutorado / Estruturas / Doutor em Engenharia Civil

Exploitation of difficult potash deposits requires the adaption of mining procedures to the specific local situation. Based on geomechanical models describing the expected rock mechanic behavior the mining procedure is planned and realized. Both mining surveying results and validation of geomechanical models are essential for a safe mining process. The text gives an overview about the current state of mining survey techniques and the procedure to ensure a successful Sylvinite mining process. The interaction of geomechanical prognosis, adapted mining techniques and proactive mining survey support the safe exploitation of difficult potash deposits. / Für die Gewinnung von Kalisalzen in anspruchsvollen Lagerstättenbereichen müssen vorhandene Abbauverfahren an die lokalen Verhältnisse angepasst werden. Auf der Grundlage standortspezifisch entwickelter, geomechanischer Modellvorstellungen zur Vorhersage des Gebirgsverhaltens wird der Abbau geplant und durchgeführt. Vorbereitende und begleitende messtechnische Beobachtungen ermöglichen die Validierung und ggf. erforderliche Anpassung der Modelle und schaffen so die Voraussetzung für einen sicheren Abbau. Der Beitrag soll einen Überblick über den aktuellen Stand der im Werk Werra eingesetzten Messtechnik geben sowie das gesamte Vorgehen am Beispiel eines erfolgreich durchgeführten Sylvinitabbaus in drei Phasen vorstellen. Das dargestellte Zusammenwirken von geomechanischer Prognose, Abbauanpassung und messtechnischer Beobachtung erlaubt die Durchführung eines sicheren Abbaus bei der Gewinnung anspruchsvoller Lagerstättenbereiche.

Cette thèse aborde le problème de la rupture localisée dans les roches, qui caractérise un grand nombre d'applications dans le domaine du génie civil, tels que la rupture du barrage, effondrement des fondations, la stabilité des excavations ou les tunnels, les glissements de terrain et les éboulements. Le risque de rupture localisée devrait être mieux appréhendé pour mieux l'éviter. La rupture localisée dans les roches est généralement caractérisée par une une rupture soudaine et quasi-fragile sans avertissement sous forme de grandes déformations et visibles avant la rupture elle-même. Cela se produit également sous l'influence des hétérogénéités matériels, des fissures existantes et d'autres défauts initiaux.Les trois nouveaux modèles numériques, intégrant les mécanismes de ruptures localisées, l'hétérogénéité de la roche et des fissures existantes et d'autres défauts, sont présentés dans cette thèse. Le premier modèle propose une représentation en 2D de roche composite à deux phases, où la phase solide représente la roche intacte et la faible phase indique les défauts initiaux. Le deuxième modèle représente l'extension du modèle précédent vers un espace 3D, où est considéré un ensemble complet de mécanismes de ruptures en 3D. Les propriétés hétérogènes sont considérées ici par une distribution aléatoire en accord avec la variation statistique de Gausse. Ce modèle est également utilisé pour l'analyse de la roche intacte par spécimens possédant des écarts de formes géométriques qui influencent la résistance à la compression uni-axiale. Le troisième modèle est un modèle en 2D, traitant l’interaction volumétrique entre un fluide et la structure sous l’influence de l’écoulement du fluide à travers le milieu de la roche poreuse.L'approche des lattices discrètes est choisie pour construire un cadre général pour les trois modèles, où les cellules de Voronoï représentent les grains de roche tenus ensemble par les poutres de Timoshenko comme des liens de cohésion. La cinématique améliorée est caractérisée par l'approche intégrée des discontinuités comme un supplément à la cinématique standard de liens cohérents. Cela sert pour la propagation de la macro fissure dans tous les modes de ruptures et de leurs combinaisons, entre les grains de la roche. La formation de la zone du processus de rupture suivie par des microfissures coalescentes, précédant la rupture localisée, est aussi considérée dans les modèles. L’écoulement du fluide est régi par la loi de Darcy, tandis que les conditions de couplage obéissent à la théorie de poroélasticité de Biot.Les résultats des modèles numériques ont été vérifiés par des exemples de la littérature dans le cas des modèles en 2D. Le modèle en 3D a été validé suite aux résultats expérimentaux effectués sur 90 échantillons de roches, où sont considérées de légères déviations géométriques des spécimens.La présentation de ces modèles, ainsi que leurs aspects de mise en œuvre sont présentés en détail. L’approche avec une discontinuité intrinsèque et le caractère local des améliorations nécessaires à la simulation des discontinuités de déplacement orientent vers la condensation statique des degrés de liberté améliorés sont efficacement intégrés dans l’architecture des éléments finis. / This thesis deals with the problem of localized failure in rocks, which occurs often in civil engineering practice like in dam failure, foundation collapse, stability of excavaations, slopes and tunnels, landslides and rock falls. The risk of localized failure should be better understood in order to be prevented. The localized failure in rocks is usually characterized by a sudden and brittle failure without warning in a sense of larger and visible deformations prior to failure. This happens also under the strong influence of material heterogeneities, preexisting cracks and other defects.The three novel numerical models, incorporating the localized failure mechanisms, heterogeneity of rock and preexisting cracks and other defects, are presented in this thesis. First model deals with 2D plane strain two-phase rock composite, where stronger phase represents the intact rock and weaker phase initial defects. Second model represents the extension of the previous model towards the 3D space, where full set of 3D failure mechanisms is considered. Heterogeneous properties are taken here through the random distribution and Gauss statistical variation of material properties. The latter model is also used for the analysis of intact rock core specimens geometrical shape deviations influencing the uni-axial compressive strength. Third model is a 2D, dealing with volumetric fluid-structure interaction and localized failure under the influence of fluid flow throughthe porous rock medium.The discrete beam lattice approach is chosen for general framework for three models, where Voronoi cells represent the rock grains kept together by Timoshenko beams as cohesive links. The enhanced kinematics characterized for embedded discontinuity approach is added upon standard kinematics of cohesive links. This serves for the macro crack propagation in all failure modes and their combinations, between the rock grains. The fracture process zone formation followed by micro-cracks coalescence, preceding the localized failure, is considered as well. Fluid flow is governed by a Darcy law, while coupling conditions obey Biot's theory of poroplasticity. The results of the numerical models were verified by the benchmarks available from literature in 2D case. The 3D model was validated against the experimental results conducted on 90 rock specimens, where even slight geometrical deviations of specimens are considered.Presentation of these models, as well as their implementation aspects are given in full detail. Embedded discontinuity concept and the local nature of enhancements required to capture the displacement discontinuities leads to the very efficient approach with static condensation of enhanced degrees of freedom and technique that can be efficiently incorporated into finite element code architecture.

Les argilites, sont définies comme étant des roches comportant une large fraction de minéraux argileux. Leurs propriétés physiques et mécaniques présentent un intérêt pour l’étude du comportement hydro-mécanique des failles dans la partie supérieure de la croûte mais aussi pour la compréhension des roches couvertures de réservoirs d’hydrocarbures ou pour l’expertise de la pérennité du stockage de déchets radioactifs.Cette thèse propose deux approches afin de comprendre l’organisation de la déformation dans ce type de matériau, une première purement mécanique sur des échantillons intacts et la seconde s’intéressant aux propriétés physiques de matériaux déformés. Pour cela, nous avons étudié les argilites de Tournemire (Tunnel expérimental de l'IRSN, Aveyron, France).La première partie consiste en une série d’essais triaxiaux. Nous avons déterminé les enveloppes de rupture de trois groupes d’échantillons carottés avec des orientations différentes par rapport au litage (0°, 45°, et 90°). Pour chaque orientation, sept expériences ont été réalisées à différentes pressions de confinement (2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 MPa). L’influence de la vitesse de déformation a été établie en comparant des expériences réalisées avec des vitesses de déformation différentes (10-7 s-1 et 10-5 s-1). Pendant les expériences, les vitesses d’ondes P et S ont été enregistrées selon différents angles par rapport au litage afin de quantifier l’évolution de l’anisotropie des propriétés élastiques.Cette partie permet de mettre en évidence l’importance de l’orientation du litage par rapport à la contrainte principale sur la résistance mécanique de nos échantillons. De plus, un modèle micromécanique basé sur le « wing crack » permet d’expliquer l’anisotropie mécanique de nos argilites par l’anisotropie de la ténacité KIC.Par ailleurs, on constate que l’évolution de l’anisotropie des propriétés élastiques dépend elle aussi de l’orientation considérée. Lors de la compression, l’orientation 90° présente d’importantes variations pouvant aller jusqu’à une inversion de l’anisotropie, alors que les vitesses n’évoluent que très peu pour l’orientation 0°. Ces variations ont été quantifiées par les paramètres de Thomsen. L’étude des vitesses élastiques et celle des microstructures, permettent de mettre en évidence l’importance des processus plastiques comme la réorientation des minéraux au cours de la déformation.La seconde partie consiste en une étude pétrophysique (vitesses des ondes P, ASM, densité, saturation, porosité) d’échantillons provenant d’un forage traversant une zone de faille. Le but est de quantifier la variation de ces propriétés à l’approche du cœur de faille.Un protocole d’échantillonnage et de mesure a été mis en place. Le protocole comporte une première série de mesures directement sur le terrain afin de s’affranchir des problématiques liées à la préservation des échantillons (notamment pour les mesures de porosité/densité/saturation). Par la suite, des échantillons ont été prélevés pour réaliser des mesures à la fois dans le cadre de cette thèse (vitesses des ondes P et ASM) mais aussi dans d’autres laboratoires (étude de la composition minéralogique, CT-scan).A partir des observations, on caractérise :• Une zone saine caractérisée par des échantillons ne présentant pas ou très peu de fracturation• Une zone endommagée qui présente un grand nombre de fractures calcifiées• Une zone de cœur caractérisée par une déstructuration totale (pas de bedding apparent) et des variations de couleur.Notre étude met en évidence une signature physique propre à chaque zone de cette faille avec notamment une diminution de l’anisotropie des échantillons en zone endommagée fortement marquée. De plus, des mécanismes de rotation de la stratigraphie similaires à ceux observés à l’échelle des microstructures lors de la déformation expérimentale ont été observés. / Shales or clays are defined as rock having a large proportion of clay minerals. Their physical and mechanical properties are of interest for the study of the hydro-mechanical behavior of faults in the uppermost crust but also for the understanding of the cap rocks of hydrocarbon reservoirs or for the expertise of the durability of radioactive waste storage.This thesis proposes two complementary approaches to understand the organization of the deformation in this type of material, a first purely mechanical on undisturbed samples and the second focusing on the physical properties of deformed materials. During this thesis, we studied Tournemire shales (IRSN tunnel, Aveyron, France).The first part consists in triaxial tests. We determined the failure envelopes of three sets of core samples with different orientations with respect to bedding (0 °, 45 ° and 90 °). For each orientation, seven experiments were performed at different confining pressures (2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 MPa). The influence of the strain rate was determined by comparing experiments with different strain rates extending over two orders of magnitude (between 〖10〗^(-7) s^(-1) and 〖10〗^(-5) s^(-1)). During the experiments, the P and S wave velocities were recorded from different angles with respect to the bedding to quantify the evolution of the anisotropy of the elastic properties according to the imposed stress.This section allows to highlight the importance of the orientation of bedding relatively to the principal stress applied on our samples. It is noted for example that the weakest orientation is 45 ° and 90 ° the strongest orientation. In addition, a micromechanical model based on the "wing crack" theory helps to explain the mechanical anisotropy of our argillites by the anisotropy of the fracture toughness K_Ic.Moreover, it is found that changes in the anisotropy of the elastic properties also depends on the bedding orientation. During compression, the 90 ° orientation has significant variations up to a reversal of the anisotropy, whereas the elastic wave velocities show little changes for 0 ° orientation. These variations were quantified by Thomsen parameters. The study of elastic velocities and of microstructures of our samples highlight the importance of the plastic processes such as reorientation of minerals during deformation.The second part consists of a petrophysical study (P wave velocities, ASM, density, saturation, porosity) of samples from a borehole drilled through a fault zone. The goal here is to quantify the variation of these properties as we approach the fault core.A protocol of sampling and measurement was established to realize a complete study of drillings. The protocol includes a first serie of measures directly in the field in order to overcome the problems linked to the preservation of samples (especially for porosity measurements / density / saturation). Subsequently, samples were taken for measurements both in the context of this thesis (P wave velocities and ASM), but also in other laboratories (study of the mineralogical composition, CT-scan).Three fault zones were identified from field observations:• An intact zone characterized by samples with no or very little fracturing• A damaged zone that includes a large number of calcified fractures• A fault core zone characterized by a complete breakdown (no apparent bedding) and color variations.Although these areas were determined on observation criteria, our study demonstrates an own physical signature for each zone of this fault with an important decrease in the anisotropy of the samples from fault core. In addition, bedding rotation with similar mechanisms to those observed at the microstructural scale during the experimental deformation was observed.

Please read the abstract in the section, 00front, of this document / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Geology / PhD / Unrestricted

This study describes the bedrock lithologies and structure of the Ordovician to early Devonian (485-419 Ma) Table Mountain Group (TMG), the Devonian (419-358 Ma) lower Bokkeveld Group, and the Miocene to Holocene (<23 Ma) overburden sediments of the Algoa Group within an area identified by Eskom for the potential construction of South Africa’s second proposed nuclear power plant (NPP), ‘Nuclear-1’. The study area is located along the southern coastal margin of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, between Oyster Bay and St. Francis (approximately 88 km west of Port Elizabeth), and encompasses the Thyspunt site where the proposed NPP will be built. The study aims to supplement existing information about the Thyspunt area, related to the geoscientific topic ‘Geological Setting’, as outlined in section 2.5.1.1 of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) Standard Review Plan NUREG-800, which details the geological information required for review of a proposed NPP. The results obtained from geoscientific studies are used to determine geological factors that may potentially affect site specific design. Factors considered include: bedrock lithology, stratigraphic bedrock contacts, bedrock palaeotopography, thickness of overburden sediments and structural geology. Work by previous authors is combined with new data to create a GIS based 2½D model of the study area’s geology (geomodel) and on which future research or interpretations can be based. Field mapping and petrographic analyses of the TMG, comprising the Peninsula, Cedarberg, Goudini, Skurweberg and Baviaanskloof Formations as well as the lower undifferentiated Bokkeveld Group were undertaken to define the study area’s lithologies and structure. Interpretation of geophysical results and the integration of existing borehole data aided in defining the variability in overburden sediments, the identification of contacts between TMG formations beneath overburden, and the palaeotopography of bedrock. Borehole data indicates a clear N-S trend in the thickness distribution of Algoa Group aeolian and marine related sediments. Four coast-parallel trending thickness zones (zones A – D) are recognized within the study area. At Thyspunt overburden thickness reaches a maximum of 61 m, approximately 1200 m from the coastline, in areas underlain by the argillaceous Goudini and Cedarberg Formations. Overburden thickness is influenced by a combination of dune relief, bedrock lithology, palaeotopography and the area’s sediment supply. Interpolation of bedrock elevation points and detailed cross sections across bedrock reveals four NW-SE trending palaeovalleys at Thyspunt, Tony’s Bay, Cape St. Francis and St. Francis, where bedrock relief (beneath overburden) is formed to be below present day sea-level. Approximately 450 m NW of Thys Bay, a 1050 m2 (area below sea-level) palaeovalley, gently sloping SE to a depth of -15.5 m asl, is cut into strata of the Goudini Formation resulting in thicker overburden fill in that area. Structural analysis of the TMG confirms that NE-SW striking strata form part of the regional SE plunging, north verging Cape St. Francis anticline. Bedding inclination is controlled by the distance away from the fold axis, varying from a 5° SE dip along the broad fold hinge to 65° along its moderately steeper SE limb. Folds within the study area plunge gently southeastward at shallow angles, with axial planes dipping steeply SW or NE. Fold axes orientated perpendicular to the fold axis of the Cape St. Francis anticline indicate a secondary stress orientation oblique to the main palaeostress direction. The previously identified 40 km long, NW-SE trending Cape St. Francis fault occurring offshore within 17.5 km of Thyspunt show no onshore continuation within the bounds of the study area. Late jointing is pervasive within the study area and four joint systems are identified. The dominant joint set J1, trends N-S to NNE - SSW; perpendicular to bedding and has a subvertical dip. Normal right-lateral and left-lateral micro-faults dip subvertically, with a displacement that ranges from a few centimetres to <3 m. Micro-faults trend parallel to joints sets J1 and J4 (ESE-WSW). Inferred faults, identified by the Atomic Energy Co-operation (AEC), are interpreted as zones of closely spaced jointing (shatter zones), and show little to no recognizable displacement. Faults and joints do not extend into the younger cover deposits of the Algoa Group and are therefore older than 23 Ma years.

The overall objective of any geotechnical mine design procedure must be to maximize the extraction of the ore reserves while maintaining the integrity of the working areas. At the McLellan Mine the cut-and-fill mining method was first adopted. This decision was made for flexibility in the size and shape of the mine openings to allow for the variability in width and grade of the ore zone. As a result the geotechnical design of the cut-and-fill stopes necessitated investigations to evaluate the character of the rock mass with regard to the hydrogeology, lithology, structural geology, rock strength and rock mass ratings at the site and to assess the in-situ stress conditions. In addition, the character of the backfill material had to be estimated prior to detailed testing. Based upon these parameters two dimensional finite element analyses were completed, the sill pillar and the two stopes were designed. Finally, remedial rock reinforcement was recommended for suspected unstable spans. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Mining Engineering, Keevil Institute of / Graduate

Les travaux de recherche présentés dans ce manuscrit ont été menés dans le cadre d’une convention CIFRE avec le Groupe Dacquin. Le sous-sol rennais est composé, en majorité, de schistes datés du Briovérien. Ces terrains, qui peuvent être rencontrés sur une grande partie du massif armoricain, présentent des degrés d’altération et de fracturation extrêmement variables à l’échelle du bassin rennais. Cette variabilité est très difficile à prendre en compte dans le cadre de la réalisation de soutènement, tant au niveau de la conception qu’au niveau de l’exécution. Dans un premier temps, des modélisations basés sur la méthode des éléments finis (logiciel PLAXIS 2D ©) ont été entreprises afin d’évaluer l’influence de la prise en compte d’une anisotropie du terrain sur le comportement de la paroi, en termes de moments et de déplacements. Le modèle utilisé permettait de prendre en compte une anisotropie élastique combinée à un critère orienté de plasticité de type Mohr-Coulomb. Les résultats obtenus avec ce modèle, pour différentes orientations du critère de plasticité, ont été comparés à ceux obtenus avec un modèle élastique isotrope et critère de plasticité de type Mohr-Coulomb. La même étude a été menée avec un second logiciel éléments finis (CESAR-LCPC) afin de comparer les résultats obtenus. Dans les deux cas une influence importante de l’orientation du critère de plasticité a été observée pouvant conduire à des résultats plus défavorables, selon l’orientation, que ceux obtenus avec le modèle isotrope. Ces résultats ont confirmé la nécessité de mieux caractériser l’anisotropie dans des matériaux tels que les schistes Briovériens. La caractérisation du matériau a donc été menée dans un second temps sur des prélèvements répartis sur la ville de Rennes et ses alentours (lors de travaux d’excavations ou sur des talus). Elle a permis de balayer les caractéristiques des schistes de l’échelle microscopique jusqu’à l’échelle macroscopique. La caractérisation microscopique, basée sur des observations au microscope à balayage électronique, des essais de diffraction des rayons X et des observations de lames minces, a permis de mettre en évidence des variations dans la pétrographie des échantillons (schistosité, granulométrie, teneur en argiles) permettant de les différencier en deux types : grès et siltites. La caractérisation à l’échelle macroscopique a été divisée en trois axes : la caractérisation de la matrice rocheuse et de son anisotropie (essais de compression uniaxiale, mesures de vitesses de propagation d’ondes et essais au scléromètre), la caractérisation de discontinuités exprimées (cisaillement direct) et la caractérisation de la résistance à l’usure (essais de broyabilité et Micro-Deval modifiés). Les siltites se sont révélées être extrêmement sensibles à l’eau (forte diminution des caractéristiques mécaniques mesurées) tandis que les échantillons gréseux l’étaient dans une moindre mesure. L’ensemble des essais réalisés a permis d’établir des ordres de grandeurs de variations des propriétés mécaniques des schistes du Briovérien. Enfin la classification des schistes briovériens élaborés par des géotechniciens pour la seconde ligne de métro de Rennes a été complétée en vue de mieux définir les classes intermédiaires de résistance. / Research work presented in this phD thesis was financed by a CIFRE grant given to Groupe Dacquin. Ground from the city of Rennes is, for the majority of it, composed of schists from the Brioverian era. These schists which can be encountered in the entire Armorican massif, present a weathering and a fracturing degree highly variable. This variability is hardly considered for the construction of retaining structure whether during the design step or the execution step. First, modellings using the finite elements method (PLAXIS 2D ©) have been carried out in order to evaluate the influence of ground anisotropy on the retaining wall behaviour (horizontal displacements and bending moments). The model used combined elastic anisotropy with an oriented plasticity criterion (type Mohr-Coulomb). Results obtained with this model, for different orientations of the plasticity criterion, were compared with the ones from the elastic isotropic model (with a Mohr-Coulomb plastic criterion). The same study was carried out with another finite elements software (CESAR-LCPC) in order to compare the results between the two sofwares. In both cases, an important influence of the orientation of the plasticity criterion was noted and lead to higher efforts in the wall, for certain orientations, compared to the isotropic model. These results confirmed the need of a better characterization of the anisotropy in materials such as Brioverian schists. In a second time, the characterization of the material was carried out on samplings spread over the city of Rennes and its area (during excavation work or on natural banks). Characterization was conducted from the microscopic to the macroscopic scale. Microscopic characterization based on observations with a scanning electron microscope, XRD analyses and thin section observations showed variations in the petrography of the samples (schistosity, granulometry, clay content) that lead to the differentiation of two types: sandstone and siltstone. The characterization at the macroscopic scale was divided into three parts: characterization of the rock matrix and its anisotropy (uniaxial compression tests, ultrasonic wave velocities and Schmidt hammer test), characterization of opened discontinuities (direct shear test) and the characterization of wear resistance (grindability and Micro-Deval tests). Siltstone samples were extremely sensitive to the water content (important decrease of the mechanical characteristics measured) whereas sandstones were less sensitive. The tests carried out lead to the definition of ranges for the mechanical properties of the Brioverian schists. Classification of Brioverian schists established by geotechnical engineers for the second subway line of Rennes was completed in order to better define the transitional states of strength of the material.