Eduan du Plessis is a Mechanical Engineering MEng student at the University of Pretoria. His research investigates how laboratory measurements and numerical modelling can be combined to predict the strength of UG2 chromitite pillars. The work sits within the programme’s rock-mechanics research thrust and is intended to improve understanding of how specimen-scale measurements can inform the behaviour of larger underground pillars.
Research question and approach
The study is titled “Predicting UG2 Chromitite Pillar Strength through Laboratory Testing and Finite Element Modelling with Transfer Learning.” Underground pillars support excavations, but translating measurements from small laboratory specimens to larger pillars is challenging. Eduan’s research explores whether laboratory testing, finite-element models and transfer-learning methods can help address that scale gap.
The planned experimental work includes compression testing, with uniaxial tests and confined tests considered subject to specimen availability and equipment feasibility. Measurements such as force, displacement and strain will be used to characterise specimen response. Core samples are being sourced and a test protocol has been drafted; experimental results are not yet available.
Modelling and current status
Initial two- and three-dimensional specimen models have been set up in ANSYS Mechanical, and preliminary simulations have explored unconfined and confined compression. The work will compare modelling choices and material parameters against experimental measurements once testing is complete. Calibration, validation and investigation of scale effects remain future steps; the preliminary simulations should not be interpreted as validated predictions of underground pillar performance.
The research is supervised by Prof Stephan Heyns, Prof Francois Malan and Dr Ncamisile Khanyile. The next stages are to obtain suitable samples, complete the laboratory programme, refine the numerical models and investigate whether transfer learning can support predictions across specimen and pillar scales.