Associated Event

Ground Support 2023
10-12 October 2023 | Perth, Western Australia
Hyatt Regency Perth

The Role of Numerical Modelling in Ground Support Design Workshop

9 October 2023 | Hyatt Regency Hotel, Perth, Western Australia

From pre-feasibility studies to rehabilitation

Register here
About the Workshop

Mine-wide and detailed local-scale numerical modelling has become a standard tool for geotechnical decision-making throughout the mine cycle. The use of empirical methods, kinematic analysis and an evolutionary process of incremental support system improvements appear to dominate the ground support design and selection process during the mining cycle.

This workshop will explore the role of numerical methods in ground support design, and its strengths and limitations, as well as examine areas where value can be added with numerical modelling informing decision-making. 

Several experts will present on different topics followed by a panel discussion to further explore some of the presented ideas. 

Topics

The role and the strength and limitation of numerical modelling through the mine life cycle:

  • Pre-feasibility studies
  • Feasibility study
  • Detail design 
  • Maintenance/rehabilitation design, e.g. planning pro-active scheduled maintenance
  • Efficiency improvements

The role of numerical modelling at different scales of evaluation, i.e. mine/block-scale, local area, drive-scale.

What is the role and the strength and limitation of different numerical modelling approaches?

  • Continuum/discontinuum
  • Implicit and explicit modelling of ground support elements
  • Comparative assessment versus predictive modelling
Workshop Facilitator
Johan-Wesseloo_web

Associate Professor Johan Wesseloo
Director
Australian Centre for Geomechanics

Since obtaining a BEng (Civil) and MEng (Geotechnical) from The University of Pretoria, Johan has been involved in geotechnical engineering in open pit and underground environments throughout 14 countries. He commenced his career in 1998 as a geotechnical engineer at SRK Consulting, Johannesburg where he was involved in open pit and underground projects in varying geotechnical conditions. In 2005 he was awarded a PhD (Geotechnical) from The University of Pretoria. Johan joined the Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG) in 2007 as a research fellow. During his time at the ACG, Johan has been involved in research, the supervision of postgraduate students and geotechnical training. He also performs geotechnical and mining-induced seismicity reviews providing him with the valuable opportunity to visit numerous operations worldwide. Johan was instrumental in the development of the mXrap software and many of the software routines and apps available in that platform. Johan is a Fellow of The Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM). He was awarded the SAIMM Gold Medal in 2006 and 2016, and the SAIMM Silver Medal in 2014. In 2019, Johan was appointed director of the ACG.