September 2005

HCItasca is pleased to announce the formation of a new office: Itasca Consulting China Ltd. The office is located in Wuhan, a densely populated city in the central eastern part of China that is widely regarded as a geomechanics center. Wuhan is located approximately 60 kilometers from the Da Ye mining area — one of China's most important metal mining regions. Also, the largest hydropower design institute in China is located in Wuhan. The office is staffed with two engineers, Tao (Tony) Wang and Dr. Guan Rong, and an accountant, Ms. Haihong Li. The office also maintains an ongoing liaison with Huanchun (Peter) Zhu of Itasca Consulting Canada, Inc.  Itasca Consulting China Ltd. will, as do other HCItasca offices, offer a combination of consulting services and software sales and support. The office contact information:

Itasca Consulting China Ltd.
Suite 1001, Cherry Blossom Building
2# Luoshi Road, N
Wuhan City, Hubei Province 430072
Peoples' Republic of China
Tel/fax: 86-27-8786-2349
URL: www.itasca.cn
Email: iccl@itasca.cn

Caveability in FLAC3D



Gravity flow in REBOP From 1997-2004, Itasca participated in the International Caving Study, an industry-funded research program aimed at improving understanding of the main factors impacting the successful operation of cave mines — caveability, fragmentation, gravity flow, draw control, and undercut and extraction-level design. The research was prompted by application of caving methods to stronger and deeper orebodies for which the basic mechanics of caving have not been well understood. In the course of the study, Itasca developed a numerical model of caving that has since been applied at operations worldwide to predict caveability. A new code called REBOP also was developed to permit rapid simulation of draw of fragmented rock from block, panel and sublevel caves. Draw simulations provide critical information on the movement and recovery of ore within the cave as well as the impact of drawpoint layout and spacing on recovery. The code builds upon the significant knowledge of flow behavior and mechanisms developed from PFC3D modeling of draw conducted at Itasca and physical modeling of draw conducted at the JKMRC in Brisbane, Australia.

At the end of the International Caving Study, it was recognized that knowledge and understanding were still lacking in key areas, and a new program, named Mass Mining Technology (MMT), was formed in early 2005. MMT is a three-year industry-sponsored effort involving several research groups and individuals. Itasca's primary role to continue caving mechanics research to improve the numerical model of caving developed within the International Caving Study. The effort will make use of PFC3D and joint network modeling to directly simulate the complex fracturing that accompanies cave-induced strains in jointed rock masses. This approach will also provide an alternate means for estimating rock mass strength and post-peak behavior, both of which exert a strong influence on caving behavior under high stress conditions.

To do this work, Itasca has put together an international team of engineers and scientists from HCItasca offices in Minneapolis, France, Sweden, and Chile as well as external consultants, including Paul Young from the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Toronto and Applied Seismology Consultants. Paul and the group from ASC will bring extensive experience in microseismic monitoring to help quantify the cave-induced fracturing at several sponsor caving operations. John Napier, Honorary Professor of the School of Computational & Applied Mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand, will act as an external reviewer, drawing on his significant experience researching and developing tools to improve understanding of fracturing around mine openings.

HCItasca is excited to be involved in this great opportunity to further develop and improve the tools used to predict rock mass fracturing, fragmentation and flow in cave mining operations. Such predictions form a critical element of cave mine feasibility studies and it is expected that they will become increasingly important as cave mining methods are applied to deeper and stronger orebodies.

PFC3D 3.1 was released in early August. Find out what's new in Version 3.1...

Upcoming FLAC3D Release: FLAC3D 3.0 combines vastly increased geometrical flexibility with new advanced post-processing and licensing options. The upgrade to 3.0 offers many benefits, including: increased flexibility through CAD geometry import and export; improved performance and efficiency; powerful new post-processing options; added/enhanced physics; and network licensing. Find out more...

Update Alert:

Current Versions
updated since
May 20, 2005:

Itasca Consulting GmbH, the HCItasca office in Germany, will co-host the upcoming conference, EcoMining — Europe in the 21st Century. The event is subtitled "The Romanian Mining Integration Into The European Space - Ways Of Sustainable Development." The conference will take place October 27-29, 2005 at the Sovata-Praid Salt Mine, Romania. The conference is focused on Romanian mining practice, research, and outcomes — with particular focus on the environment — in anticipation of Romanian incorporation into the wider European community. As part of the conference, Itasca GmbH will offer a short course on the use of Itasca software and their applications in geomechanics, mining, and environmental matters. Please contact Itasca GmbH or visit the Itasca Consultants GmbH web site for further information about registration, schedule, and submission of abstracts.

Training in China: HCItasca is pleased to announce that, in conjunction with the China Academy of Sciences, we will hold FLAC/FLAC3D training courses and a workshop in Beijing, China, October 17-21, 2005. Three-day training courses will be offered by Dr. Peter Cundall and Dr. Roger Hart of Itasca Consulting Group, Inc. The topics will include the theoretical background, capabilities, applications and advanced modeling techniques of FLAC/FLAC3D. In the two-day workshop session, experts from HCItasca and China will present the state-of-art of Itasca numerical modeling methods, geomechanics of hydraulic engineering, nuclear waste isolation, advanced mining design and geomechnical analyses, numerical modeling of metro-tunneling, mining-hydrogeology and contaminant hydrogeology. Keynote speakers include Dr. Peter Cundall, Prof. Wang Shijing and Prof. Liu Baochen.

Starting Soon: Itasca's semi-annual software training classes begin in Minneapolis on Monday, October 10 and run through Thursday, November 17. Classes are offered for FLAC, FLAC3D, 3DShop, UDEC, 3DEC, PFC2D/PFC3D. See the complete schedule or obtain a registration form...

Publications since May 20, 2005:

Billaux, D., Konietzky, H. "Key issues in discontinuum modelling of flow in fractured media," Barla G. & Barla, M. (Ed.): Proc. 11th International Conference of the International Association of Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics (IACMAG), June 2005, Turin, Patron Editore, pp. 361-371

Gil, I., J. C. Roegiers, R. Hart and Y. Shimizu. (2005) "Modeling the Mechanical Properties of Antler Sandstone Using a Discrete Element Model," in Proceedings of Alaska Rocks 2005 - Rock Mechanics for Energy, Mineral and Infrastructure Development in the Northern Regions (CD). University of Alaska-Anchorage, June 2005, Paper No. ARMA/USRMS 05-717, G. Chen, S. Huang, W. Zhou, and J. Tinucci, Eds. ARMA, University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Konietzky, H. "Numerical stress field modelling for underground structures," in: F. Rummel (ed.): Rock mechanics with emphasis on stress, Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd, New Dehli, pp. 55-80.

Leem, J., M. Lin, Y. Sun, D. C. Kicker and B. Damjanac. (2005) "Thermal-Hydrologic-Mechanical Study of Pre-Closure Off-Normal Thermal Scenarios at the Proposed Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository," in Proceedings of Alaska Rocks 2005 - Rock Mechanics for Energy, Mineral and Infrastructure Development in the Northern Regions (CD). University of Alaska-Anchorage, June 2005, Paper No. ARMA/USRMS 05-837, G. Chen, S. Huang, W. Zhou, and J. Tinucci, Eds. ARMA, University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Lin, M.; M. P. Board, D. C. Kicker, J. Leem, B. Damjanac and D. C. Bueschl. (2005) "Assessment of Drift Stability with Consideration of Spatial Variation of Lithophysal Cavities at Yucca Mountain," in Proceedings of Alaska Rocks 2005 - Rock Mechanics for Energy, Mineral and Infrastructure Development in the Northern Regions (CD). University of Alaska-Anchorage, June 2005, Paper No. ARMA/USRMS 05-802, G. Chen, S. Huang, W. Zhou, and J. Tinucci, Eds. ARMA, University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Pierce, M. E., C. Detournay and Lagger H. (2005) "Numerical Modeling of Ground Freezing for Sub-Surface Construction," in Proceedings of Alaska Rocks 2005 - Rock Mechanics for Energy, Mineral and Infrastructure Development in the Northern Regions (CD). University of Alaska-Anchorage, June 2005, Paper No. ARMA/USRMS 05-854, G. Chen, S. Huang, W. Zhou, and J. Tinucci, Eds. ARMA, University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Schlegel, R., Konietzky, H., Rautenstrauch, K. "Mathematische Beschreibung von Mauerwerk unter statischer und dynamischer Beanspruchung im Rahmen der Diskontinuumsmechanik mit Hilfe der Distinkt Element Methode," Das Mauerwerk, 9(2005), Heft4, pp. 143-150 (in English: Mathematical Description of masonry under static and dynamic loading within the framework of ddiscontinuummechanics using the Distinct Element Method).

Tan, C. P., C. Detournay and X. Chen. (2005) "Factors Governing Mud Infiltration and Impact on Wellbore Stability in Fractured Rock Mass," in Proceedings of Alaska Rocks 2005 - Rock Mechanics for Energy, Mineral and Infrastructure Development in the Northern Regions (CD). University of Alaska-Anchorage, June 2005, Paper No. ARMA/USRMS 05-834, G. Chen, S. Huang, W. Zhou, and J. Tinucci, Eds. ARMA, University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

   ©2005 HCItasca, Inc.

Home  |   News  |   Offices  |   Support  |   Contact

We realize you receive many emails throughout the day and that your time is valuable. You received this communication from HCItasca because we believe it provides timely and useful information. We respect your privacy. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please reply to this email and enter "unsubscribe" on the subject line, or click here.
Sent by Itasca Consultants, S.A., 64 chemin des Mouilles, F-69134 ECULLY Cedex.