Numerical Simulation of Vertical Ground Stress Distribution along Fault Trend Direction in a Metal Mine

Abstract

The fault breaks continuous ground stress distribution. The rock mass in fault zone is weak and broken, it becomes stress decreasing zone. The paper, which is combined with engineering practice and rock mechanics test, numerically simulates geological environment of fault zones and analyzes faults trend direction influence on ground stress distribution in the metal mine. The results demonstrates that deep faults breaks down the continuity of ground stress distribution, principle stresses in lower wall of faults are smaller than it in hanging wall while high deep ground stresses are in cross district of hanging-wall of fault-zone and ore bed