Andrea Agosti
Innovative slope profiles for open cast mines.
- Email: a.agosti2@ncl.ac.uk
Supervisors
Project description
The traditional profile of open cast mines is designed as a straight line (ie planar). But looking at nature, the majority of natural slopes exhibit non-linear profiles.
Recently Prof Utili and his co-workers have developed a novel theoretical framework based on limit analysis. The framework will allow for the design of innovative slope profiles as applied to open cast mines, transportation embankments and cuttings.
In my PhD, I will analyse the performance of generic non-linear optimal slope profiles for rock masses by numerical modelling. I will analyse various jointing and weathering scenarios.
The project will provide new guidelines for the design of open cast mines with increased performance. This is especially beneficial for the excavation of very deep mines.