Method of simulating rock mass stability in laboratory conditions using equivalent materials

Purpose. To determine the qualitative composition of the equivalent material of a laboratory model representing Kryvyi Rih iron-ore basin ground, as well as to develop a method to determine its quantitative composition for the study of the rock mass stability in the laboratory conditions with the geometric scale of similarity 1:200. Methods. Laboratory studies on models with geometric scale of similarity 1:200 allowed to establish the dependence of the initial stress changes on the percentage of the components comprising the equivalent material. Findings. As a result, the study found that it is expedient in laboratory conditions to replace the full-size model by the sand and paraffin-based equivalent material consisting of granite chips, cast iron, silica sand, mica and paraffin wax. It was established that the quantitative composition of the equivalent material mixture simulating rocks of Kryvyi Rih iron-ore basin consists of cast iron and granite chips (34%) and silica sand, mica and paraffin (66%). Originality. For the first time, the empirical dependence of initial stress occurring in the equivalent material on the percentage of paraffin and iron has been set. Initial stress in the equivalent material depend directly on the amount of cast iron in the mixture and vary according to the polynomial dependence, and the amount of paraffin in the mixture varies according to the quadratic dependence. Practical implications. The obtained results of laboratory tests can be used with sufficient accuracy for physical modeling of processes occurring in rocks during underground mining, and the resulting values of modeling can be used in the design of stopes to be developed.