| 1. |
- Cristóbal, Andrés, et al.
(författare)
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Automatic Characterization of Block-In-Matrix Rock Outcrops through Segmentation Algorithms and Its Application to an Archaeo-Mining Case Study
- 2024
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Ingår i: Geosciences. - : MDPI AG. - 2076-3263. ; 14:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The mechanical behavior of block-in-matrix materials is heavily dependent on their block content. This parameter is in most cases obtained through visual analyses of the ground through digital imagery, which provides the areal block proportion (ABP) of the area analyzed. Nowadays, computer vision models have the capability to extract knowledge from the information stored in these images. In this research, we analyze and compare classical feature-detection algorithms with state-of-the-art models for the automatic calculation of the ABP parameter in images from surface and underground outcrops. The outcomes of this analysis result in the development of a framework for ABP calculation based on the Segment Anything Model (SAM), which is capable of performing this task at a human level when compared with the results of 32 experts in the field. Consequently, this model can help reduce human bias in the estimation of mechanical properties of block-in-matrix materials as well as contain underground technical problems due to mischaracterization of rock block quantities and dimensions. The methodology used to obtain the ABP at different outcrops is combined with estimates of the rock matrix properties and other characterization techniques to mechanically characterize the block-in-matrix materials. The combination of all these techniques has been applied to analyze, understand and try, for the first time, to model Roman gold-mining strategies in an archaeological site in NW Spain. This mining method is explained through a 2D finite-element method numerical model.
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| 2. |
- González-Fernández, Manuel A., et al.
(författare)
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Size effects on strength and deformability of artificially jointed hard rock
- 2024
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Ingår i: International Journal of Rock Mechanics And Mining Sciences. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 1365-1609 .- 1873-4545. ; 176
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An extensive experimental study is presented including around 140 triaxial compressive strength tests on artificially jointed hard rock. The experiments were performed on cylindrical and jointed specimens with either 1 sub-vertical and 2 sub-horizontal (1 + 2) or 2 sub-vertical and 3-sub-horizontal (2 + 3) joint sets. The specimen diameter consisted of 38, 54 and 84 mm and the rock was Blanco Mera granite. The confining pressures ranged between 0.2 and 15 MPa and such a testing program complements the previous study in this regard with about 100 triaxial tests on intact rock specimens. A complete set of stress-strain curves were obtained from the experiments followed by extracting the peak and residual strengths as well as indicative deformability parameters (elastic and Poisson's ratio). For the jointed specimens, the indirect strain measurement was corrected to implicitly calculate the elastic parameters following the energy-based concept. It was found that the peak strength is joint set dependent as per the conventional rock mass classification systems. For jointed specimens a moderate strength size effect was observed in which the peak strength tended to increase with size from 38 mm to 54 mm and then decreased with a rise in specimen diameter. Also, it was concluded that the effect of size on peak strength become less prominent in cases with more joints and the influence of additional jointing becomes less significant for larger specimens; both are novel findings which have not been explored before. The approximated variable elastic parameters of jointed specimens exhibited size independency but joint and confinement dependency, while the variable Poisson's ratios specifically, appeared to be size and joint set independent. The presented stress-strain data from granite specimens suggests that the mechanical parameters of jointed rock are largely controlled by the rock structure where the specimen size can play a significant role, particularly at low confinements.
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| 3. |
- Gui, Jing Yun, et al.
(författare)
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Analytical and experimental studies on toppling behavior of blocks misaligned with the slope face
- 2024
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Ingår i: Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment. - : Springer Nature. - 1435-9529 .- 1435-9537. ; 83:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The stability of potentially toppling rock blocks has been typically addressed for the case of regular block geometries showing symmetry planes and resting on surfaces aligned with the slope face, i.e., the strike of the slope is parallel to the block sides and their basal planes. However, these simple geometries with ideally oriented blocks are not often found in nature. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap through analytical and experimental approaches, in the form of laboratory physical models, to study toppling cases for non-conventional scenarios. An engineering geology review was first conducted, identifying potential non-standard cases in nature. Then, the current analytical solutions for both the factor of safety and critical toppling angle were modified for these misaligned cases, focusing on single block and standard block toppling, and considering the effect of block-edge rounding. Physical models support the analytical approach. It is concluded that toppling stability is slightly improved when the orientation of the basal plane of the blocks differs with the strike of the slope. In this way, for single blocks, the critical toppling angle increases a few tenths of a degree when the difference between strikes is 10°, about 1° with strike differences about 20° and 2 to 3° for misalignments about 30°. Similar increases are observed for block toppling cases. Accordingly, small differences in strike of basal planes and the slope contribute to slightly increasing the factor of safety of slopes prone to block toppling. This approach improves practical engineering toppling stability analyses.
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| 4. |
- Pérez-Rey, Ignacio, et al.
(författare)
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Assessment of Direct Tensile Strength Tests in Rock Through a Multi-laboratory Benchmark Experiment
- 2024
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Ingår i: Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. - : Springer Nature. - 0723-2632 .- 1434-453X. ; 57, s. 3617-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aims to experimentally assess repeatability and reproducibility of direct tensile strength (DTS) tests with deformability measurements on two types of rocks: Blanco Mera granite (Spain) and Cotta sandstone (Germany). The tests were conducted in four rock mechanics laboratories located in different countries (Canada, Germany, Spain and Sweden). A total of 51 tests were performed on cylindrical specimens of the two rocks, using different test equipment and measuring devices. Mean and standard deviation DTS values were determined in the four laboratories for the granite (5.70 ± 0.32, 6.06 ± 0.11, 3.84 ± 0.50 and 6.76 ± 0.10 MPa) and for the sandstone (1.88 ± 0.07, 1.96 ± 0.06, 1.15 ± 0.32 and 1.74 ± 0.19 MPa), together with Young’s moduli and Poisson’s ratios in tension, being statistically analysed to evaluate the variability and compare the main results obtained from the participating laboratories. The findings indicate that the DTS test with deformability measurements on cylindrical rock specimens is operationally feasible. However, certain shortcomings have been identified during the course of the experiments with the existing methodologies, such as the one suggested by the ISRM for DTS tests. The results have also shown to be sensitive to appropriate test and strain measurement configurations. The objective of this study was to shed light on these issues and provide new insights for potential future improvements of the existing testing methods.
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