Infrastructure Stability and Serviceability


The main goal when designing the infrastructure for a caving project is to make sure that it will remain stable and serviceable under the entire lifespan of its caving activity.

In this regard, critical factors usually accounted for in ITASCA´s analysis include:

  • Characteristic parameters that define rock mass behavior
  • Structural geology components such as major faults and rock mass fabric
  • Footprint shape
  • Production draw schedule
  • Mine site stress field characterization.

Through the adequate use of numerical models, ITASCA addresses the relevant aspects that control the behavior of caving infrastructure, such as:

  • Optimization of undercut, drawbell, and extraction-level layouts, including pillar designs and spacing.
  • Assessment of sequencing options (undercut advance, draw strategy) on stability, convergence, and serviceability of drifts and related excavations.
  • Ground support design and numerical verification for undercut and extraction levels, shafts, and critical excavations.
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Upcoming Events
11 Aug
ITASCA Joins Caving 2026 as a Main Sponsor
We are pleased to announce that ITASCA will be participating as a Main Sponsor in Caving 2026, the leading international conference ded... Read More
15 Sep
ITASCA at EUROCK 2026: Advancing Innovation in Rock Engineering
ITASCA is pleased to announce its participation in EUROCK 2026 – ISRM Regional Symposium, taking place from 15–19 September 2026 in Sko... Read More
20 Sep
ITASCA to Participate in CouFrac 2026
ITASCA will be participating in CouFrac 2026, taking place from 20–23 September 2026 in Uppsala, Sweden. The conference brings together... Read More