Ty Grantham
Associate & Senior Geotechnical Engineer
E: t.grantham@blackrockmining.net
M: +61 437 881 075
A: Level 6, 40 Creek Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Geotechnical Consulting.
More Than Rocks & Bolts
Our geotechnical engineers utilise high specification computational processing and traditional engineering methods to deliver practical geotechnical solutions across the lifespan of open cut and underground mines and development projects.
Geotechnical Analysis & Design
Our team has experience in a range of challenging operating environments - from arid deserts to high rainfall, high seismic regions. We collaborate closely with our clients to develop robust geotechnical models, by combining the best traditional approaches with the latest software innovations.
Blackrock Mining Solutions carry out detailed geotechnical analysis, design, and optimisation for the following mining environments and applications:
Mine slope stability, including pit slopes, internal and external spoil dumps, heap leach pads
- Mining methodology considerations (i.e. dragline, truck and shovel, terrace mining, softwalling, drill and blast)
- Conceptual to feasibility level mining studies (e.g., desktop/conceptual studies; pre-feasibility (PFS); bankable feasibility studies (BFS); definitive feasibility studies (DFS) etc)
- Stereographic and kinematic analysis – failure mode and mechanism analyses, structural geological assessment
- 2D and 3D modelling for open cut and civil slopes
- Remote pit wall mapping
- Design of slope stabilisation methods
- Depressurisation studies
- Progressive rehabilitation and closure plan (PRCP) geotechnical inputs – residual void geotechnical stability and bunding requirements, underground mining.
- Mining methodology considerations (i.e. dragline, truck and shovel, terrace mining, softwalling, drill and blast)
- Conceptual to feasibility level mining studies (e.g., desktop/conceptual studies; pre-feasibility (PFS); bankable feasibility studies (BFS); definitive feasibility studies (DFS) etc)
- Stereographic and kinematic analysis – failure mode and mechanism analyses, structural geological assessment
- 2D and 3D modelling for open cut and civil slopes
- Remote pit wall mapping
- Design of slope stabilisation methods
- Depressurisation studies
- Progressive rehabilitation and closure plan (PRCP) geotechnical inputs – residual void geotechnical stability and bunding requirements, underground mining.
Mine production areas, entrances and accesses, including portals, drifts, mains and development roadways, and ventilation shafts
- Ground support design for coal and metalliferous projects/operations (i.e rock/cable bolt specifications and optimisation, passive and active ground support, shotcrete/fibrecrete liners)
- 2D and 3D modelling for underground excavations such as roadways, production areas, crusher chambers and underground infrastructure
- Ventilation shaft stability assessments for various excavation methods (i.e., blindboring and raiseboring construction)
- Subsidence analysis for longwall and caving operations
- Ground support design for coal and metalliferous projects/operations (i.e rock/cable bolt specifications and optimisation, passive and active ground support, shotcrete/fibrecrete liners)
- 2D and 3D modelling for underground excavations such as roadways, production areas, crusher chambers and underground infrastructure
- Ventilation shaft stability assessments for various excavation methods (i.e., blindboring and raiseboring construction)
- Subsidence analysis for longwall and caving operations
Geotechnical Site Investigation
We work closely with our clients to develop field programs that maximise the value of the data collected.
- 2D and 3D slope stability analysis
- Emirpircal rock mass classifications - RMR, Q-System, GSI, CMRR
- 3D non-linear strain softening continuum and discontinuum modelling
- Utilisation of advanced constituitive models for rock masses and geological structures
- Discrete Fracture Netwrok modelling and probabilistic simulation
- Dynamic modelling
- Emirpircal rock mass classifications - RMR, Q-System, GSI, CMRR
- 3D non-linear strain softening continuum and discontinuum modelling
- Utilisation of advanced constituitive models for rock masses and geological structures
- Discrete Fracture Netwrok modelling and probabilistic simulation
- Dynamic modelling
Geotechnical Modelling
Our numerical modelling incorporates advanced non-linear techniques in order to provide a reliable decision-making tool to assist geotechnical engineers, mining engineers, geologists, and mine managers with the decision-making process of increasing mine performance and productivity.
Our experienced team can provide a complete modelling solution using the most up-to-date empirical, analytical, and numerical tools available.
- Rock mass characterisation and classification using industry standard methodologies, such as Geological Strength Index (GSI); Rock Mass Rating (RMR); Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR); Q-system; Rock Quality Designation (RQD)
- Stress analysis
- 2D limit equilibrium modelling (LEM) using Rocscience’s Slide software
- 2D and 3D finite element modelling (FEM) using Rocscience’s RS2 and RS3 software
- 3D explicit finite difference modelling (FDM) and finite volume modelling (FVM), including non-linear strain-softening simulation and ubiquitous joint constitutive modelling using Itasca’s software packages including FLAC3D, 3DEC, and PFC
- Development of three-dimensional mine-scale non-linear, strain-softening continuum and discontinuum models
- Explicitly integrating large numbers of geo-structures into the model to simulate the most realistic geo-material response to mining activities
- Utilisation of the most advanced, realistic constitutive models for the rock mass and geological structures, including strain-softening and dilatant behaviour
- Quantified calibration based on field measurements, including seismic data, geotechnical instrumentations, and field observations
- Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) modelling techniques and probabilistic simulation approaches, Realistic simulation of local and regional stress field conditions, and Dynamic modelling
- Stress analysis
- 2D limit equilibrium modelling (LEM) using Rocscience’s Slide software
- 2D and 3D finite element modelling (FEM) using Rocscience’s RS2 and RS3 software
- 3D explicit finite difference modelling (FDM) and finite volume modelling (FVM), including non-linear strain-softening simulation and ubiquitous joint constitutive modelling using Itasca’s software packages including FLAC3D, 3DEC, and PFC
- Development of three-dimensional mine-scale non-linear, strain-softening continuum and discontinuum models
- Explicitly integrating large numbers of geo-structures into the model to simulate the most realistic geo-material response to mining activities
- Utilisation of the most advanced, realistic constitutive models for the rock mass and geological structures, including strain-softening and dilatant behaviour
- Quantified calibration based on field measurements, including seismic data, geotechnical instrumentations, and field observations
- Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) modelling techniques and probabilistic simulation approaches, Realistic simulation of local and regional stress field conditions, and Dynamic modelling
Geotechnical
Data Acquisition & Interpretation
Data underpins everything that we do. We acquire, process, interpret, and analyse a broad range of geological, geophysical, hydrogeological, and geomechanical data to derive geotechnical solutions for our clients and projects.
- Open cut highwall mapping using 3D point cloud data and photogrammetry, including identification and mapping of discontinuities (i.e., faults, joints, intrusions)
- Geotechnical interpretation of wireline geophysical data (i.e., acoustic televiewer (ATV) and optical televiewer (OTV) discontinuity analysis; in situ stress orientation estimation; sonic-derived rock strength analysis)
- Underground tell-tale instrument monitoring
- Underground geotechnical hazard mapping of mains and development openings
- Slim borehole scanner (SBS) data acquisition and geotechnical interpretation
- Geotechnical interpretation of wireline geophysical data (i.e., acoustic televiewer (ATV) and optical televiewer (OTV) discontinuity analysis; in situ stress orientation estimation; sonic-derived rock strength analysis)
- Underground tell-tale instrument monitoring
- Underground geotechnical hazard mapping of mains and development openings
- Slim borehole scanner (SBS) data acquisition and geotechnical interpretation