In situ characterisation of weak cretaceous clay shales and rich feed oil sands using a self-bore pressuremeter

拟议的研究将使用先进的压力计测试来确定一个正在推进的油砂矿的页岩覆盖层和油砂地层的原位特征。感兴趣的特点将是发展非线性的刚度模型能够捕捉弱，后屈服变形。研究还将尝试在矿山开挖前和基坑开挖完成后准确地确定原位主应力的演变。最后，在富含饲料的油砂中进行的测试将试图表征过饱和土壤（相对于溶解气体）在基坑开挖过程中的强度损失。从先进的现场程序中获得的参数将通过实验室测试加以补充，并输入能够预测矿井推进过程中坑壁移动的二维和三维应力应变模型。然后将这些模型的有效性与包括物理监测和遥感技术在内的现场监测方案进行比较。这项研究的目标是更好地开发一种基于位移的观测设计，用于白垩纪粘土页岩的坑壁施工，并更好地预测与气体溶解和流动滑动相关的机制，这些机制可能发生在富含饲料的矿石中。这些目标将被工业合作伙伴用于提供与工人健康和安全相关的风险管理所需的信息，以及潜在的生产停机时间。

The proposed research will use advanced pressuremeter testing to determine the in-situ characteristics of the shale overburden and oil sands formations at an advancing oil sands mine. The characteristics of interest will be to develop non-linear stiffness models capable of capturing weakened, post-yield deformations. The research will also attempt to accurately determine the evolution of the principle stresses in-situ prior to mine excavation and after the completion of pit wall excavation. Finally, testing in the rich feed oil sands will attempt to characterize the strength loss of over-saturated soils (with respect to dissolved gas) during pit wall excavation. The parameters obtained from the advanced field program will be supplemented by laboratory tests and fed into 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional stress-strain models capable of predicting pit wall movements during mine advancement. The efficacy of these models will then be compared to field monitoring programs including physical monitoring and remote sensing techniques. The goal of this research is to better develop a displacement based observational design for pit wall construction through the Cretaceous clay shale and to better predict the mechanisms associated with gas dissolution and flow slides, which can occur in rich feed ore. These goals will be used by the Industrial Partner to provide information needed to manage risks associated with worker health and safety as well as potential production downtime.