Computer applications in geomechanical stope and pillar design at Noranda Minerals Inc.

The science of applied rock mechanics forms the basis of any engineered mine design. The rapid escalation in microcomputing power during the past ten to fifteen years has been instrumental in the realization of rock engineering as a practical mine design tool. Geomechanical stope and pillar design incorporates a number of interrelated areas, each of which relies to a greater or lesser degree on the practical use of computers. These key areas are listed below: 1 Geomechanical database 2 Laboratory testing systems 3 Numerical stress analysis models 4 Empirical mine design programs 5 Blast analysis 6 Field instrumentation systems Although specific cases of these areas may require the generation of dedicated software, there exists public domain and/or very low cost software that can be adapted or used directly to perform most of the above functions. All of the necessary software can be run on powerful but low cost modem microcomputer hardware. This paper describes how the Centre de Rechrche Noranda has used such packages to fulfill most of its software requirements. Brief examples of the utility of the programs, and their benefits and limitations are given.