Back analysis of intensive rock mass damage at the El Teniente mine

Abstract

A three dimensional non-linear solution of stress, strain and energy distribution was developed to determine the deformation and damage on the extraction level and undercut level for comparison with observations during model calibration. Based on the plastic strain results (% rock mass damage), an Esmeralda scale damage was developed for its extraction evolution. By mean of this scale, the collapsed zones by periods were assessed in order to undertake the final phase of back analysis.