Open Pit Applications

IUCM serves as the built-in constitutive model for SlopeX and accounts for all experimentally and operationally documented rock mass behaviours as a function of the acting stresses and accumulated strain.

Strength Anisotropy, where present, plays a critical role in the rock mass response. IUCM incorporates strength anisotropy with the addition of three simply acquired parameters.

Faults and other large-scale structures can be included explicitly in models constructed using SlopeX. The user can include up to 20 fault groups in the model. For models constructed using the automatic octree meshing routine, the faults will be included as a domain with a user defined thickness.

Rock mass domains are assigned using geological wireframes created in any external package. Use domain volumes, or lithological surfaces to split the rock mass as you need. Geotechnical properties are then individually defined in the SlopeX interface

Import water tables for any mining step, including the pre-mining step, ensuring your analysis includes the critical influence of pore pressure on slope stability.

StopeX assigns the in situ stresses in the model according to principal stress gradients provided by the user, or amore simplistic method where only horizontal to vertical stress ratios and the trend of the major horizontal stress are provided. The interface also allows the user to include a locked stress for each principal stress component, which will add a constant stress value at ground level elevation.

Boundary conditions are automatically assigned to limit boundary effects on model results. Prior to an initial processing step that ensures the model is in a state of equilibrium before extraction is considered.

From the SlopeX interface mining stages can be designed using surveys or mine design files. Meshing resolution, and water tables can be assigned to each step. Inclusion of in-pit backfill or buttress construction as part of the mining sequence is quick and simple.

Pit extraction can be modelled with gradual extraction, ensuring realistic stress path recreation in the modelling process. This plays a critical role in understanding rock mass responses in large scale slopes.

Automatically run Shear Strength Reduction models as part of a unified workflow. Define a range of SSRs to consider, with failure surfaces are generated on user defined failure criteria.

After each SSR trial, a DXFfile of the failed volumes is exported. The failure criterion can be controlled by the user and is based on a displacement and velocity criteria. These DXF files can then be used to visualise the FoS of different parts of the pit in 3D, as shown here.

Save time and resources by taking advantage of Cavroc’s Aurora cloud computing options to process models faster than ever before.

Have your model reviewed by an expert member of the Cavroc team. Rigorous error checking and evaluation of your modelling inputs ensures your analysis can continue smoothly.

Geometry preparation can be a time consuming and challenging part of the modelling process. If you are pressed for time or resources, let us take care of it for you. Or use Cavroc Rhino plugin to simplify the process