Analysis of Fracturing Above Block Caving Back: A Spherical Shell Theory Approach and BEM Numerical Simulation

Experiments and field monitoring have revealed that in block caving, fractures over the cave crown tend to form in narrow curved bands that are parallel or subparallel to the cave back surface. These fractures delineate curved shells of orebody between the bands and the cave back. The effectiveness of block caving hinges on the subsequent fracturing and fragmentation of these orebody shells. This study adopts a dual approach, combining thin spherical shell theory and full 3D numerical simulations along with principles of linear elastic fracture mechanics, to investigate the fracturing behaviour of these shells. Analytical analysis indicates that under axisymmetric loading, latitudinal tensile fractures predominantly initiate across the most part of the shell, occurring on both the upper and lower surfaces, except at a localised area. Additionally, longitudinal tensile fractures may initiate at the central area of the upper surface, while shear fractures tend to occur around the edge of the shell. Consequently, the shells become susceptible to fracturing, leading to the collapse or cave‐in of the orebody. Numerical simulations agree with these findings, illustrating that fracturing points within the shell region are longitudinally dispersed throughout the entire shell. Most of these fracturing points satisfy the criteria for tensile fracturing, particularly within the middle portion of the shell, aligning with the analytical results. Furthermore, simulations considering nonaxisymmetric loading patterns demonstrate that regions surrounding the caving cavity, aligned with the minimum principal in situ stress, exhibit heightened susceptibility to fracture initiation. This insight holds potential significance for optimising the design of the caving process.