Proceedings of the Rocscience International Conference 2025 (RIC 2025)

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Comparison of Limit Equilibrium and Stress-Strain Stability Analyses of an Open-Pit Mine

Authors
Lucas Guimarães Carvalho1, *, Thiago Cruz Bretas2, Gabriel Mendes Cabral3, Thales Furtado Cota4
1Geotechnical Engineer, Rocscience, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
2Geotechnical Engineer, Director at TBretas Consulting, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
3Geotechnical Engineer, TBretas Consulting, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
4Geotechnical Intern, TBretas Consulting, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
*Corresponding author. Email: lucas.guimaraes@rocscience.com
Corresponding Author
Lucas Guimarães Carvalho
Available Online 7 December 2025.
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-900-1_52How to use a DOI?
Keywords
LEM; FEM; open pit
Abstract

2D Limit equilibrium stability analyses in open-pit mines are widely used to validate or reject a given geometry, which directly influences all aspects of the operation, including planning, sequencing, operations, and even the beneficiation plant. It is known that, due to geological factors, an open pit mine exhibits significant lithological heterogeneity, as well as variations in its strength and deformability parameters, hydrogeological conditions, and structural features. In addition to these many variables, it is important to highlight that we are dealing with a dynamic structure in geometric terms. Therefore, relying solely on 2D limit equilibrium analysis can be time-consuming in terms of modeling, and it does not primarily account for variations in the stress field due to constant geometric changes. Thus, even if the factor of safety (FoS) is satisfactory, considering deformations resulting from excavations or backfilling may reveal deformation zones not identified by the limit equilibrium approach. This study, therefore, compares 2D limit equilibrium stability analysis with 2D finite element analysis for a section of an open pit mine, aiming to confirm the location of the failure mechanism, considering the interventions carried out.

Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the Rocscience International Conference 2025 (RIC 2025)
Series
Atlantis Highlights in Engineering
Publication Date
7 December 2025
ISBN
978-94-6463-900-1
ISSN
2589-4943
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-900-1_52How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - CONF
AU  - Lucas Guimarães Carvalho
AU  - Thiago Cruz Bretas
AU  - Gabriel Mendes Cabral
AU  - Thales Furtado Cota
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/07
TI  - Comparison of Limit Equilibrium and Stress-Strain Stability Analyses of an Open-Pit Mine
BT  - Proceedings of the Rocscience International Conference 2025 (RIC 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 521
EP  - 530
SN  - 2589-4943
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-900-1_52
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-900-1_52
ID  - Carvalho2025
ER  -