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 RBSTM. The RBSTM 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 RBSTM sensors deployment in three Canadian mines and will show how the RBSTM data may complement microseismic information.