Pseudo-static and Dynamic Analysis of Mine Rock Slope Under the Influence of Production Blasting

Blasting is one of the major man-made activities that transmit seismic waves. Unlike earthquakes, blasting has a short duration and high frequency. Blasting is regularly carried out in open-pit mines, considering its techno-economic feasibility for rock fragmentation. Hence, excavated slopes in the mines are under constant influence of ground vibration due to large-scale production blasting. The intensity of the ground wave produced depends on the blast design parameters along with the quantity of explosives used. Ground motion due to a blast is measured by its displacement, velocity, or acceleration. Velocity generally referred to as peak particle velocity (PPV) is largely accepted as the parameter to ascertain the blast-induced ground movement. In this study, an attempt has been made to investigate the effect of a blast on an excavated slope based on peak horizontal ground acceleration (PHGA). Slope stability analysis of the mine rock slope was carried out by pseudo-static and dynamic modeling techniques. Blast loads were applied by two different approaches. Similar slope deformation characteristics were witnessed in both modeling techniques.