ORALS

Mining is essential to economy of the nations as well as technological development and human industry. Until we can stop using some of the material mined or replace the process with a more environmental friendly one, reduction of environmental impact of existing processes would be the best way forward. Monitoring and laboratory experiments have provided very good data concerning mining activities but it is usually expensive and time-consuming to perform field studies or laboratory experiments. Numerical modelling is one way to assess the process and to extract useful information from field observations and experimental data. Numerical modelling can also provide predictions for future operations or new mining process. In this paper, the finite discrete element method [1] will first be introduced and the development of the method to model blasting and rock cutting [2] will be explained. With a better understanding of the method involved, its environmental impact can be minimised.

References:
1. Munjiza AA, Knight EE, Rougier E (2011) Computational mechanics of discontinua. John Wiley & Sons
2. Liu HY, Kang YM, Lin P (2015) Hybrid finite–discrete element modeling of geomaterials fracture and fragment muck-piling International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 9:115-131 doi:10.1179/1939787913Y.0000000035