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STABILITY ANALYSIS OF VERTICAL AND INCLINED BACKFILLED STOPE

Article · January 2017

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 70
Journal of Engineering Sciences
Assiut University
Faculty of Engineering
Vol. 45
No. 1
January 2017
PP. 70– 79

STABILITY ANALYSIS OF VERTICAL

AND INCLINED BACKFILLED STOPE
Wael R. Abdellah 1 and Mahrous A. Ali 2
1
Mining & Metallurgical Eng. Depart, Faculty of Engineering- Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
2
Mining &Petroleum Eng. Depart, Faculty of Engineering- Al-Azhar University, Qena, Egypt
Received 6 September 2016; Accepted 4 November 2016

ABSTRACT
Sublevel stoping mining with delayed backfill is a widely employed method in many Canadian
underground metal mines (e.g., Bosquet, Doyen, Laronde, and Lapa mines in Quebec and Garson,
Creighton, Red lake and David bell mines in Ontario). In this method, the extracted stope(s) must be
tightly backfilled before advancing to extract the adjacent secondary stope(s). Thus, backfill is
necessary to provide good-confinement to the host rock mass. Therefore, its objective is to maintain
the stability of mined out stope(s). Otherwise, the failure of backfill column into adjacent stope(s)
leads to higher operation cost (e.g., cost of ore milling/ore processing operation, costs associated
with ore dilution when waste/backfill material mixed with unmined block(s)). Consequently,
backfill instability could lead to an overall unsafe/interrupt mining operation. This article presents
the results of numerical modelling analysis to evaluate the performance stability of vertical and
inclined backfilled stope adopting stress state distribution. Two-dimensional finite element model is
built to conduct linear elastic analysis employing RS2D program (e.g., formerly known as phase2D).
The results are presented and discussed in terms of vertical stress and absolute total displacement.
Keywords: Backfill performance evaluation, Stress state into backfilled stope, Numerical
modelling, sublevel stoping mining system

1. Introduction
The backfill term defines the waste material which used for filling an excavation (e.g.,
mined out stope). It has extensively become a significant element/practice in many Canadian
metal mines using sublevel stoping mining system with delayed backfill [1-2]. It is mainly
used to provide stope stability (e.g., supports the walls of extracted stope and does not allow
further lateral displacement) [3-5]. Also, the uses of backfill in underground mines will
reduce the amount of wastes disposed on the surface and therefore protect the mining
environment from the hazard of acid mining drainage (e.g., in case of presence of the
sulphide minerals). Thereby, it will increase ore recovery by controlling ore dilution [5-7
and 1]. The different purposes to use backfill in underground mines are depicted in Figure 1
* Corresponding author.
E- mail address: [email protected]
71
Wael R. Abdellah and Mahrous A. Ali, stability analysis of vertical and inclined backfilled stope

below [7]. Also backfill is used in the cut-and-fill mining operation to provide working
surface and for mucking ore, in open stoping method, from upper stopes [3 and 8]. Backfill
can be classified into three groups: hydraulic backfill, paste fill and rock fill [1]. In the next
section below, a brief review on the three different categories of the backfill.
2. Review on backfill types
As stated above, the definition of backfill means filling mined out stope(s) with waste
rock/material. The backfill type is determined according to its composition. For example,
hydraulic or slurry backfill composes from permeable, low density blend of mill tailings,
sand, rock and water which having an average pulp density from 60 -70% solid by weight [3
and 9]. This type of backfill requires huge binder quantities to substitute the binder seepage
out of mined stope(s) with water. Thus, hydraulic or slurry backfill is limited to overhand cut
and fill mining operation. The second type of backfill is the paste fill which consists of
thickened tailings of the mill with lime, Portland cement, pulverized fly ash and smelter slag.
The percentage of solid by weight is 75 – 80% in the component of this fill type. Pastefill is
widely practiced in sublevel stoping mining system [3 and 10-11]. The third type of backfill
is known as rock fill (cemented or uncemented). This type composes from sand/waste rocks
obtained from quarries or mine development operations. It does not contain binding agent
except that the cement slurry can be injected in later stage to provide consolidation.

Fig. 1. Purposes of backfilling [7]

Regardless of the types of backfill, they are slightly soft and show low yielding strength
compared with the surrounding rock mass. Thus, they may produce large strain (e.g., 5%)
when they placed into mined out stope(s) [12-15]. Some loads may then be induced, as a
result of backfill deformation, and transferred along the interfaces between backfill and
rock mass (e.g., frictional forces that developed along the contact with the rock mass) [16].
This phenomenon is known as arching effect [17-20]. Therefore, the underground control
engineers should be able to adapt a reliable tool that helps measuring/estimating the stress
state into and around the backfilled stope(s). The model layout (e.g., geometry and
dimensions), for vertical and inclined stope, is introduced in the next section.
 72
JES, Assiut University, Faculty of Engineering, Vol. 45, No. 1, January 2017, pp. 70 – 79

3. Numerical analysis and model layout

This analysis is conducted using Rocscience’s RS2D, a two-dimensional finite element
code [21]. The rock mass and backfill properties used in this analysis are listed in Table 1
[22]. The backfill properties represent the cemented rock fill (CRF). Linear elastic
analysis, employing Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, is adopted in this study (e.g., the
model’s input parameters are: UCS, (unconfined compressive strength), E (Young’s
modulus), υ (Poisson’s ratio), σt (tensile strength) and  (unit weight). The used backfill
material is cemented rock fill (CRF) and it obeys an elasto-plastic law with Mohr-Coulomb
criterion. CRF properties are described by the values of UCS, E, υ, σt and, with the
friction angle ϕ=300, cohesion C=1MPa and dilation angle φ=00).
Figure 2 shows the model layout for the vertical (e.g., left) and inclined stope (e.g.,
right) respectively. The stope dimensions are: (25×5-ms); (height×width), and is located at
a depth of 500m below the ground surface. A 0.5m (height) left as a void space on the top
of the stopes (e.g., to limit stress transformation from the top of the backfilled column).
The in situ horizontal-to-vertical stress ratio, K, may be calculated from Equations (1, 2
and 3) below [23]. In this analysis, the average horizontal-to-vertical stress ratio is
considered and determined using Equation (2). The model is divided into three areas;
hanging wall (HW), orebody (stopes) and footwall (FW). The ore body consists of massive
sulphide rock (MASU). The hanging wall contains meta-sediments (MTSD) and the
footwall comprises of Norite Rock (NR). The simulated mining steps are listed in Table 2.
Table 1.
Rock mass and backfill geomechanical properties [22]
Property Hanging wall, HW Footwall, FW Ore/stope Cemented rock fill,
(MTSD) (NR) (MASU) (CRF)
γ, MN/m3 0.02782 0.02961 0.04531 0.02
UCS, MPa 90 172 90 3
E, GPa 25 40 20 0.1
Poisson’s ratio, υ 0.25 0.18 0.26 0.30
Tensile strength, 𝜎𝑡 , MPa 0.11 1.52 0.31 0.01
Cohesion, MPa 4.80 14.13 10.2 1
Friction angle, ϕ, (degree) 38 42.5 43 30
Dilation angle, φ, (degree) 9 (ϕ/4) 10.6 (ϕ/4) 11 (ϕ/4) 0
𝝈𝒉𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝟑𝟓𝟕
𝑲𝒎𝒂𝒙. = 𝝈𝒗
= 1.46 + 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒉 (𝒎) (1)
𝟑𝟓𝟕
𝑲𝒂𝒗𝒈. = 1.25 + (2)
𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒉 (𝒎)
𝟏𝟔𝟕
𝑲𝒎𝒊𝒏. = 1.1 + (3)
𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒉 (𝒎)

By substituting in Equation (2) with h=500m, then the average horizontal-to-vertical

stress ratio,K avg. is calculated as follows:
σ 357
K avg. = σh = 1.25 + 500 = 1.96 ≅2.0.
v

The vertical and horizontal in-situ (e.g., pre-mining) stresses can then be obtained, at
h=500m and average rock mass density of, avg. = 0.0287 MN/m3, adopting the following
two formulae (e.g., Equations (4) & (5)) respectively:
73
Wael R. Abdellah and Mahrous A. Ali, stability analysis of vertical and inclined backfilled stope

𝛔𝐯 = ×h = 0.0287 × 500 = 14.35MPa (4)

𝛔𝐡 = 𝛔𝐯 × 𝐊 𝐚𝐯𝐠. = 14.35× 2.0 = 28.70MPa (5)
Table 2.
The simulated mining steps
Mining step Mining activity
1 Model reaches initial equilibrium
2 Mine out the primary stope then run the analysis
3 Backfill the primary stope except (0.5m) left as void space at the top of the stope
4 Mine out the adjacent secondary stope and run again the analysis

Fig. 2. The geometry of the vertical (left) and inclined (right) backfilled stope
3.1. Results and discussion
The results presented in this paper are obtained under the condition of linear elasticity,
even though RS2D program can be used for nonlinear analysis. The results are presented
and discussed in terms of vertical stress and absolute total displacement. The contours of
the vertical stress distribution along the central line in the backfilled vertical and inclined
primary stope, after extracting the secondary stope, are depicted in Figures 3 & 4
respectively. It can be seen that, the contours of vertical stress show a non-uniform stress
distribution. Also, the analysis revealed that, negative (e.g., tension) vertical stress occurs
on the top of backfilled stope and slightly increases with depth (Figures 3 & 4).
The simulated vertical stress, along the central line, of the vertical and inclined backfilled
primary stope at different height-to-width ratio (h⁄w), is shown in Figures 3 & 4
respectively. It is measured each 2.5m apart on the center of backfilled stope column (e.g.,
the stope width is 5m). Figures 3 & 4, show that, the vertical stress is negative at the top of
backfilled primary stope (e.g., relaxation zone), and then it increases slowly as depth extends
downwards. It is unusual to immediately place backfill into extracted stope. Thus, this may
lead to the deformation of the surrounded rock mass. Hence, it is strongly advised to place
 74
JES, Assiut University, Faculty of Engineering, Vol. 45, No. 1, January 2017, pp. 70 – 79

backfill into mined out stopes at earliest time to prevent any possible stope instability or
falling rocks. The results of analysis also show the non-uniform contours distribution of the
vertical stress along the central line of the vertical and inclined backfilled stope, Figures 3 &
4 respectively. The backfilled column starts with a relaxation or tension zone on the top (e.g.,
failure region) then vertical stress converted to a compression stress as depth increases. The
minimum vertical stresses (e.g., tensile stresses) are found to be -0.1MPa at the top portion of
both vertical and inclined backfilled primary stope while the maximum vertical stresses
occurred at the bottom of the backfilled stopes and they are 4.96 & 3.94MPa respectively.
Alternatively, tensile stress developments are shown in the top part (e.g., extend to shallow
depth downwards) of backfilled primary stope which indicates failure condition (e.g., loss of
confinement). In the light of this analysis, failure zone is shown at the top portion of
backfilled primary stope (e.g., presented by tensile stress region).

Fig. 3. Contours of vertical stress distribution along the central line of vertical backfilled primary stope
On the other hand, there is no deterioration occurred at the bottom of both vertical and
inclined backfilled primary stope. Also, high stress concentration zones are developed at
the crown and bottom of the vertical and inclined backfilled primary stope (reddish color)
and transferred to the surrounded rock mass. Thus, in turn, indicates that backfill provides
stability and good confinement to adjacent rock mass.
The vertical stress development and absolute total displacements, in the vertical and
inclined backfilled primary stope, are shown in Figures 5& 6 respectively and they are
measured at various height-to-width (h⁄w) ratios (e.g., measured each 2.5m apart) starting
from the stope surface (e.g., at 0m or (h⁄w) =zero) to the stope toe (e.g., at 25m or (h⁄w)=5).
75
Wael R. Abdellah and Mahrous A. Ali, stability analysis of vertical and inclined backfilled stope

Fig. 4. Contours of vertical stress distribution along the central line of inclined backfilled primary stope

Fig. 5. The development of vertical stress at different depth-to-width ratios along the central line
of vertical and inclined backfilled primary stopes

Fig. 6. Total displacement at different depth-to-width ratios along the central line of backfilled primary stopes
 76
JES, Assiut University, Faculty of Engineering, Vol. 45, No. 1, January 2017, pp. 70 – 79

Figure 6 shows that, the maximum total displacement occurred at the top of the vertical
and inclined backfilled primary stopes (e.g., 0.1m and 0.79m correspond to the tensile
stresses of -0.1MPa, Figure 5) respectively. This indicates that, there is a significant
movement towards the adjacent secondary stope (e.g., mined out stope) only in the top of
the backfilled column, which, in turn, suggesting possible minor failure may occur. The
bottom of backfilled primary stope looks stable and has less displacement (e.g.,
displacement reduces downwards). Alternatively, the total displacement decreases as
depth-to-width ratio increases. The minimum displacements for the vertical and inclined
backfilled primary stope are 0m and 0.12m at the stope toe (e.g., correspond to vertical
stresses of 4.96 & 3.94MPa, Figure 5) respectively. Thus, it means the backfilled stope is
stable particularly at the bottom (e.g., where a backfill material was first cured and far
away from the free face and void space of secondary stope).
4. Conclusion
Placement of backfill into extracted stopes is necessary in deep underground mines
(e.g., particularly at high in-situ stress conditions/environments) in order to prevent any
possible failure of the surrounding rock mass. The backfill placement should be
immediately done after stope is extracted to avoid any rock mass deformation and stress
build-up. For instance, the bottom of backfilled stope looks stable as backfill material was
first cured and placed far away from the free face and void space of secondary stope. The
results revealed that, for both vertical and inclined backfilled primary stopes, possible
minor failure may occur in the top portion of backfilled stopes (e.g., tensile stress).
Alternatively, the top part of backfilled primary stopes looks unstable compared to their
bottom (e.g., looks more stable as positive stress and zero/small displacement are
developed). Even though, the numerical modelling analysis is considered a powerful tool,
it can be used to assess the stability of backfilled stopes and surrounded host rock.
However, its results have to be confirmed by monitoring the exposed backfilled stope to
blasting/vibrations in the mine and using the produced failure surface for validation. Also,
in order to provide good-confinement to the host rock mass, an immediate and proper tight
filling is necessary especially at the top of the stope to secure its stability. Furthermore,
the filling material must be placed into stages to allow it to be cured before adding another
layer. Also, it is imperative to allow proper period of curing time to achieve stable fill wall
before extracting the adjacent secondary stope to backfilled primary stope. Fill strength at
the top of backfilled column is reduced since maximum stress is developed at the bottom
of the backfilled column compared to the top. Therefore, it is recommended to involve
cement as a binding agent to improve the fill strength.
Recommendations for future work
For future research, additional numerical modelling has to be done to better
understanding the behaviour of backfilled stopes (e.g., taking into account rock-fill
interface behaviour, the effect of water on the response of backfill in stopes (e.g., pore
pressure build-up due to backfill addition), effect of blast vibrations/loads on the stability
of backfill, backfill segregation). Also, static analysis is insufficient to design/determine
the strength requirement of the backfill. A 3-D modelling has to be conducted, adopting
real mining sequences, to introduce the exact mining conditions/scenarios.
77
Wael R. Abdellah and Mahrous A. Ali, stability analysis of vertical and inclined backfilled stope

Nomenclature
ϕ: Angle of internal friction of rock mass,
φ: Angle of dilation of rock mass,
C: Cohesion of rock mass,
𝜎
K: Horizontal-to-vertical stress ratio (K= 𝜎ℎ ),
𝑣
MASU: Massive sulphide rock mass (ore),
E: Modulus of elasticity of rock mass (Young’s modulus),
MTSD: Meta-sediment rock mass (hanging wall),
NR: Norite rock mass (footwall),
υ: Poisson’s ratio of rock mass,
RS2D: Rock-soil two-dimensional finite element software,
𝜎𝑡 : Tensile strength of rock mass,
UCS: Unconfined compressive strength of rock mass, and
: Unit weight of rock mass.
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the support of Rocscience Inc. for getting a free two-week
full-version of RS2D (Rock-Soil two-dimensional finite-element analysis program). The
authors are grateful for their support. For more information about RS2D software, the reader
is directed to the link: https://www.rocscience.com/rocscience/products/rs2

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‫‪Wael R. Abdellah and Mahrous A. Ali, stability analysis of vertical and inclined backfilled stope‬‬

‫تحليل استقرار بلوكات الخام الرأسية والمائلة المملوءة بمواد الردم‪/‬الحشو‬

‫الملخص العربي‪:‬‬
‫تعتبر عملية حشو‪/‬ملء بلوكات الخام الفارغة بمواد الردم بعد استخراج الخام منها من أكثر الطرق شييوعا‬
‫ف ي المنييا ا الدند يية تلييح ال(ييطلية جمثييل منييا ا بوسييديح د دال ييامد ط رالكييدد طبييا بم ا عيية كيبي ي المنييا ا‬
‫ارسوم د كر توم د البليير اللميراء ال يرا داالالد بم ا عية االكتيار ويث حييد تعتميد ر ية اطسيتخراج‬
‫ه ي ع علييء ملء‪/‬حشييو بلوكييات الخييام بمييواد ردم بعييد اسييتخراج الخييام منهييا ال بييل الت ييدم طسييتخراج الخييام ميين‬
‫البلوكات التاليية أال الماياالر لهياث الميواد الردم‪/‬اللشيو ةيرالر ة طسيت رار كتيل الاليخور المك ي ة الكي ل‬
‫اللاملية للخيام بعيد عمليية التعيد نث ف يد ييدر اكهييار ميواد اللشيو‪/‬الردم نليء كثيير مين المشيدكت منهيا ياد‬
‫تداليف تاهيز‪ /‬لن التركيز المعدم ف الخام كتياية اتيتك ميواد اليردم مي كتيل أال بلوكيات الخيام الماياالر‬
‫الالتء لا ت(تخرج بعدث البالتال يدر نلء تعطيل عملييات اطسيتخراجث يدم هي ا البليد كتياحل التللييل العيدد‬
‫لت ييا أداء‪/‬است رار مواد اللشو‪/‬الردم داتل بلوكات الخام الرأسية الالماحلة بعيد اسيتخراج الخيام منهيا باسيتخدام‬
‫ر ة تو اط هاداتث تا نكشاء كموذج ثناح األبعاد باستخدام بركامل العنا ر الملدالد التا عرض كتياحل‬
‫ور اط هادات الرأسية الالم(افة‪/‬اط احة الدليةث‬ ‫الدراسة ف‬
‫الكلمات الرئيسية‪ :‬ت ييا أداء مواد اللشو‪/‬الردم د تو ي اط هيادات داتيل ميواد اللشيو‪/‬الردم د النم ية العدد ية د‬
‫ر ة استخراج بلوكات الخام باستخدام )‪.(Sublevel stoping mining‬‬

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