Abstract:

As mining move into a digital age of interoperability, generating and integrating meaningful data into mining operation has become essential to improve productivity and safety. In this regard, geomechanical information provided by microseismic systems to map stress concentration and fracturing mechanisms that lead to cave-ins are now an important component of successful mine design and planning. However, information about in-situ and induced rock stress is still somewhat limited and can impact the development of optimal underground excavation design.

In response to this, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), in collaboration with CanmetMINING, has developed a revolutionary ultrasonic sensor known as RBS^TM. The RBS^TM sensors measure stress, load and deformation in rock bolts buried in rock. These robust and economical sensors are designed to be deployed in clusters or networks generating real time information on the status of the bolts. When used in conjunction with seismic data, RBS™ sensors provide a better understanding of rock movement and can support the impact assessment of extraction operations. For instance, the sensors can detect a number of rock-stress related properties in real-time following blasts and micro seismic events, properties like delay for registering the stress at sensor location, rock bolt load charge and distribution of the load within the bolts itself and within the cluster of sensors deployed in the rock structure.

This presentation will highlight the results of our field trial during RBS^TM sensors deployment in three Canadian mines and will show how the RBS^TM data may complement microseismic information.

Biography of the presenter: Yves Quenneville, B.Sc., DSA, MBA Yves Quenneville is Client Relationship Leader at National Research Council (NRC) for the Business Management Support Branch. He joined NRC in 1995 and has been providing its expertise in technology transfer to the industry since. In 2013, with a focus on novel sensor applications, he started offering its skill to the High Efficiency Mining Program. He has been responsible at NRC to develop strategy for the commercialization of intellectual property as well as for negotiating contractual and license agreement with mining industry stakeholders. His career path also includes the life sciences industry where he held various positions as Vice-President, Director, Technical Specialist and Researchers for Biotech start-ups, multinational companies and Research centers. Among other things, he developed there novel approaches and strategies for commercializing technologies. Mr. Quenneville holds an MBA in Marketing and a DSA from HEC Montreal and a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Certificate in Genetic Engineering from Laval University in Quebec.

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Roger Lacroix