Course Introduction

Bench Face Design in Rock

Version: January 26 2002

James Mathis PhD PE(US) P.Eng (Canada)

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Start the Course with an Orientation Session	Review the Course at the Summary Level	Start the Course at the Detailed Text Level	Course Certification Entry or Registration
(first time viewers)	(reviewers)	(serious viewers)	(certification)

Introduction

Bench Face Design in Rock is intended as both a course and a technical reference for an audience of mining engineers, engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers concerned with design and maintenance of benched excavations in rock for open pit mining, quarrying or highway construction. Complementary courses on Geotechnical Data Collection for Excavation in Rock and Reinforcement Design for Excavation in Rock, by the same author, are also available.

The course provides a comprehensive discussion of the parameters and methodology of bench face design in rock, from data collection and basic geotechnical approaches through to the more complex questions of estimating bench face angles and distributions, design sensitivity to rock mass parameters, and the influences of drilling and blasting procedures. Analytical procedures are presented for simple and complex failure geometries for plane failure, wedge failure and toppling, including the use of statistical methods for simulation of discontinuity networks and identification and analysis of potential failure geometries.

Course topics include: Analysis of Existing Benches, Structural Data Collection, Rock Fabric Data Reduction, Rock Material Testing, Bench Analysis for Simple Failure Geometries, Bench Analysis for Complex Failure Geometries, and Catch Benches and Stability Improvement.

Course Content

Bench Face Design in Rock consists of 31 viewing sessions of 30 - 60 minutes each with supporting figures, tables and examples, plus interactive course reviews. Course duration is equivalent to approximately 20 hours of viewing content.

Learning Outcomes

Participants who successfully complete this course and the certification requirements will be able to perform the following.

• Discuss methods for data collection, analysis and reduction in the context of bench face design.

• Discuss analytical methods for dealing with both simple and complex failure geometries in bench face design.

• Discuss the impact of drilling and blasting procedures and drainage on bench stability and methods for improving stability.

• Apply the knowledge gained to practical investigation, analysis and design of bench faces in rock.

Course Requirements

Basic requirements for successful completion of this course include the following.

• A degree in mining or geotechnical engineering, engineering geology or related discipline.

• Experience with underground and/or surface excavation in rock.

Course Certification

This course qualifies for EduMine Certification. A certificate will be issued to an EduMine enrollee who registers for certification and successfully completes the certification requirements. The total certification fee for this course is Can$260.

2.0 CEUs  (Continuing Education Units) will be awarded for successful completion of certification requirements for this course. EduMine meets the Criteria for Certification established by the Authorized Provider Commission of The International Association for Continuing Education and Training, 1620 Eye Street, N.W., Suite 615, Washington, DC 20006.

To register for certification for this course use the "Course Certification Entry or Registration" link above or below on the right.

UBC Certificate in Mining Studies

This course qualifies as online learning for the University of British Columbia - Certificate in Mining Studies in the Geotechnical and Rock Mechanics stream. Students who complete the certification requirements for this course may optionally register for the Certificate in Mining Studies program and complete the associated classroom component. For further information click UBC Certificate in Mining Studies

[Note: Participation in the UBC Certificate in Mining Studies program is optional. For EduMine certification proceed as described under Course Certification above.]

Start the Course with an Orientation Session	Review the Course at the Summary Level	Start the Course at the Detailed Text Level	Course Certification Entry or Registration
(first time viewers)	(reviewers)	(serious viewers)	(certification)