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A new workflow constructs rock mass models by combining convex sub-regions, allowing traditional cutting algorithms to operate on the resulting representation. Block identification is performed via discontinuity contraction and sub-region merging to consider finite discontinuity sizes. Implemented in GeoSMA-3D and tested on a shallow-buried metal mine stope, the method identifies independent blocks and critical key blocks affecting stability, including key-block statistics driven by excavation-induced disturbance.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/block-identification-and-stability-analysis-of-underground-stope-with-multi-working-face/445087/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/block-identification-and-stability-analysis-of-underground-stope-with-multi-working-face/445087.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"dhado","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-05","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":19},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"Why is block identification difficult for underground stopes with multi-working faces?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"The interaction between discontinuities and excavation faces becomes complex under multi-face geometry, making conventional block identification methods harder to apply directly.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How does the proposed method enable use of traditional cutting algorithms?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"It builds rock mass models by combining convex sub-regions, so the traditional cutting algorithms can be applied to the constructed representation.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What factors drive the increase in key blocks in the study results?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Excavation disturbances increase the persistence of discontinuities, which then leads to a notable rise in the number of key blocks.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},445087,1790733391,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":19,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145},5909893218464,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_085a072bc5b1113ac321206ff7593b45","OPEN ACCESS  \nCitation: Zhang M, Tie C, Wang B, Yang Y, Wang C, Sun W, et al. (2026) Block identification and stability analysis of underground stope with multi-working face. PLoS One 21(1): e0335980. [https://doi](https://doi). org/10.1371/journal.pone.0335980  \nEditor: Zhenhua Li, Henan Polytechnic University, CHINA  \nReceived: October 16, 2025  \nAccepted: December 15, 2025  \nPublished: January 6, 2026  \nCopyright: © 2026 Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.  \nData availability statement: All relevant data are within the paper.  \nFunding: The National Natural Science Foundation of China(Award Number:  \nNo.52168055, No.52374157) Graduate Innovation Special Fund Project of East China  \nRESEARCH ARTICLE  \nBlock identification and stability analysis of underground stope with multi-working face  \nMinsi Zhang1,2, Chenlong Tie1,2, Bin Wang3*, Yong Yang1,2, Chen Wang1,2, Wenpan Sun4, Jingxiao Xia1,2, Xin Zhou1,2  \n1 Engineering Research Center for Geological Environment and Underground Space of Jiangxi Province, East China University of Technology, Jiangxi, Nanchang, China, 2 School of Civil and Architecture Engineering, East China University of Technology, Jiangxi, Nanchang, China, 3 The Third Exploration Team of Shandong Coalfield Geologic Bureau, Shandong, Taian, China, 4 Liaoning Institute of Science and Technology, Liaoning, Benxi, China  \n* [wangbin19860723@163.com](wangbin19860723@163.com)  \nAbstract  \nThe stability analysis of multi-working face stopes presents significant challenges due to complex concave geometries that limit conventional block theory applications. This study proposes a novel methodology in which rock mass models are constructed through the combination of convex sub-regions, enabling the application of traditional cutting algorithms. Block identification is achieved through discontinuity contraction and sub-region merging, effectively accounting for finite discontinuity sizes. The proposed method was implemented into the software GeoSMA-3D and applied to a shallow-buried metal mine stope. The analysis successfully identified all independent blocks, including key blocks critical for stability. The results demonstrate that excavation disturbances lead to an increase in discontinuity persistence, subsequently causing a notable rise in the number of key blocks. The integration of random discontinuities with deterministic features revealed a total of 205 key blocks, 60% of which involved the deterministic discontinuities. These key blocks have a maximum volume of 5.37 m³ and are predominantly distributed along the deterministic discontinuities. The results demonstrate the precision and efficacy of the proposed method for analyzing complex, multi-face excavations. This work provides a robust technical framework for the stability assessment of surrounding rock in mining stopes.  \n1. Introduction  \nIn rock mass engineering, discontinuities hold a crucial role in governing the stability of the rock mass. These discontinuities interact with excavation faces, forming blocks with varying shapes, which significantly impact the overall stability. For excavations featuring simple, regular shapes, traditional block theory effectively simplifies the problem, identifying key blocks and their pertinent information. However, for more intricate underground projects, such as stope with multi-working faces, the interplay  \nPLOS One | [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0335980](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0335980) January 6, 2026 1 / 23  \nUniversity of Technology(Award Number:No. YC2025-S547) .  \nCompeting interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.  \nbetween discontinuities and excavation faces becomes intricate, rendering block identification a challenging task. Based on the tradi","cbCaipz0aFX6k4QY","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaipz0aFX6k4QY","pdf",1919478,23,"English","# Introduction\n## Background and significance of block stability in rock mass engineering\n## Limitations of traditional block identification for complex multi-face excavations\n## Block theory fundamentals and key block concept\n## Motivation for developing new identification methods","[{\"question\":\"Why is block identification difficult for underground stopes with multi-working faces?\",\"answer\":\"The interaction between discontinuities and excavation faces becomes complex under multi-face geometry, making conventional block identification methods harder to apply directly.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the proposed method enable use of traditional cutting algorithms?\",\"answer\":\"It builds rock mass models by combining convex sub-regions, so the traditional cutting algorithms can be applied to the constructed representation.\"},{\"question\":\"What factors drive the increase in key blocks in the study results?\",\"answer\":\"Excavation disturbances increase the persistence of discontinuities, which then leads to a notable rise in the number of key blocks.\"}]","Block identification and stability analysis of underground stope with multi-working face | PDF",1790710262,58]