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By J. N. Van der Merwe, M. Mathey

"The development and mechanical characterization of coal-crete, a composite material generated from coal fragments and some binder material, is described in this paper. Coal debris was obtained from a colliery in South Africa. The binder used in the study basically consists of cement and water, and further ingredients are added to the mixtures, such as sand, fly ash and polymers, in order to investigate alterations of the mechanical properties of coal-crete.Results from over 220 mechanical tests on coal-cretes with various binder mixtures give consistent trends for the material’s behaviour. Linear relationships are suggested between the uniaxial compressive strength, Young’s Modulus and the indirect tensile strength of the coal-crete.It is shown that mechanical properties comparable to coal can be achieved. Coal-crete is therefore suitable for physical modelling of mining situations in experimental studies and for use as backfill in underground coal mines. The latter application is particularly attractive when refuse coal is used as aggregate material. The indicated trends in this study may be used as a guideline for individual coal-crete design needs. However, some uncertainty remains as to the influence of particle shape, size and gradation, coal rank and age of the coal-crete. These aspects are recommended for further research."

Jan 1, 2015

By Dipankar Gorain, A K. Vishwakarma, Vivek K. Himanshu, Murari P. Roy, Shubham Singh, R S. Yadav

The industrial establishments of a power plant consist of many important structures viz. cooling tower, wagon tippler, track hopper, plants and offices. The leveled foundation is the utmost need for erecting these structures. The leveling of the foundation is done by rock excavation, when the establishments have to be setup in hilly/rocky areas. Drilling and blasting is the cheapest and most dominant method of rock excavation. However, this method has associated hazards in terms of blast induced ground vibration, air overpressure, flyrocks etc. The foundation work and erection of the industrial buildings are done in parallel to achieve the faster construction of the establishment. The challenges to reduce the induced hazards in such cases are more. This paper presents a case study on the controlled blasting method devised for the rock excavation for construction of 2 × 660 MW Obra-C thermal power plant. The foundation work for this power plant was made by excavation of Dolomitic rock. The excavation work was performed in the proximity of the existing residence of the local people and Obra market. With the advancement of project, the excavation was also performed in the proximity to the ongoing construction work of various industrial buildings. Accordingly, the controlled blasting pattern was devised suitable to the specific sites. The pattern consisted of variations in blasthole diameter, burden-spacing, maximum explosive charge per delay, total explosive in a blasting round, initiation system and direction of initiation. The suitable muffling arrangements were also used, when the blast was conducted in the close proximity to the structures. The initial blasting pattern was established by analysis of blast vibration wave propagation characteristics. Thereafter, the final pattern was adopted for the safe excavation at the site. The safe excavation for the foundation work of this power plant has been completed successfully based on the devised controlled blasting pattern.

Feb 6, 2023

By Pravin Kumar

Goldcorp Inc.?s Red Lake Mine (RLM) is situated in the Red Lake Mining District, a history rich North Western Ontario mining community. Red Lake Mine formerly known as the Dickenson Mine has experienced various degree and type of bursting since the 1960?s. During the 1960?s burst were common in shrinkage stope box hole pillars. After discovering the High Grade Zone (HGZ) between its 30th and 39th levels, the mine has changed its mining method to mechanized cut and fill with cemented paste fill. The rock mass at RLM is mainly massive basalt-ultramafic and behaves in a manner consistent with massive brittle rock. This paper presents the use of empirical and numerical design techniques. The use of the Span versus RMR graph to determine critical stope spans at RLM and the use of numerical design techniques to determine the stability of the sills and post pillars. Selecting of a sill pillar dimension is illustrated using four different failure criteria?s. The four failure criteria are m & s failure criteria, the Pillar Stability Graph, deviatoric stress ???-?3), and induced stress level criteria ?1 /UCS, which are calibrated to RLM?s ground conditions. A wide range of case histories has been studied ranging from stable to highly burst prone ground conditions in order to calibrate the failure criteria to observed conditions and quantified to local micro seismic system.

May 1, 2002

Many of the recent major achievements of our industry were visions of our forefathers in the 1800s. Only recently has technology been able to meet the vision of our predecessors. This paper follows the development of selected aspects of tunnelling from the 1800s to present day. It appears that, at the turn of the century, technology is beginning to catch up with our vision and we are able to put our ideas to work more quickly.

Jan 1, 1999

By J. Baz-Dresch

A custom-designed shotcrete system, consisting of an 8-m3 (10-cu-yd) transit mixer and a shotcrete spray boon carrier, is used by a two-man crew to transport and place up to 25 m3 (32 cu-yd) of steel fiber reinforced, dry, silica fume shotcrete per 11-hour shift. Shotcrete is custom blended by a local supplier and delivered predampened. Mix design and quality control are performed with a computer program that develops and graphs a properly balanced mix based upon the materials sieve analyses.

Jan 1, 1992

By V. Thangadurai

The critical problems in commercialization of the present solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and useful electrical and physical properties of IT-SOFCs electrolytes are discussed briefly. The conductivity behavior of the perovskite-type and perovskite-related structure metal oxides are summarized. Perovskite-type La0.9Sr0.10ao.8Mgo.203_8 (LSGM) exhibits high ionic conductivity of 0.1 S/cm at 800 °C. In order to improve the electrical conductivity of LSGM and the In analogue of LSGM, substitutions have been made at the A-and B-sites. Substitution of trivalent La3+ by isovalent Pr3+ in LSGM and La09Sro ilno.sMgo.202.85 (LSIM), yield new mixed conductors. Among the investigated compounds in the present study, La0APro.4Sro.21no sMgo.2028 exhibits the highest total electrical conductivity of 3.2 x 10-5 S/cm at 200 °C in air with the lowest activation energy of 0.44 eV (200-700 °C). LSIM and Pr-substituted LSGM and LSIM perovskites show p-type electronic conductivity in the oxygen partial pressure range 10-5 ? 0.21 atm at 750 °C. The perovskite-type solid solution SrSn1-xFex03 exhibits compositionally driven phase transitions. For example, compound of the composition x = 0 to 0.3 crystallizes in an orthorhombic GdFeO3-like perovskite structure, where as that of x = 0.4-0.9 crystallizes in simple cubic SrTiO3-like, and that of x = 1 in orthorhombic structure. The electrical conductivity of SrSn1_xFex03 increases with the increasing Fe content and reaches a value of about 10-1 S/cm at 25 °C in air for x = 1. Compounds with low Fe content exhibit both ionic and electronic conductivity, while the higher Fe content 0.5) perovskites are electronic conductors over a wide range of oxygen partial pressure of 10-22? 0.21 atm at 750 °C.

Jan 1, 2005

By Lan Li, Izaak Williamson

"The efficient separation and storage of CO2 from power plant flue gases can reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere and mitigate global warming. Potential candidates for industrial applications are solid sorbent materials. Crucial factors to control the efficiency of porous sorbent materials include the framework and pore structure, and the chemical and physical reactivity of CO2 within the pores. Computational modeling approaches, based on density functional theory (DFT) and van der Waals-DFT, have been applied to nanoporous solid – manganese dioxide a-MnO2. We found that the types and charges of cations as dopants in the a-MnO2 and the concentration of CO2 influence the structural features of a-MnO2, which control its CO2 selectivity performance within the flue gases.IntroductionCarbon capture and storage is a technique to separate large quantities of CO2 from power plant flue gases before being released into the atmosphere. Porous solids are a potential candidate as sorbents to “trap” CO2 through chemical or physical adsorption on their porous surfaces[1]. Such separation efficiency is determined by the size and shape of its pores and by the interaction between the porous surface and the gas adsorbates. The incorporation of cations into the pore can act as a means of structural support and alter the pore diameter to be comparable to the kinetic diameter of the gas adsorbate, such as CO2.A porous solid of particular interest for CCS is manganese dioxide a-MnO2, an octahedral molecular sieve (OMS) composed of edge-sharing MnO6 octahedra that are linked into a nanoporous framework[2]. The framework consists of (1×1) and (2×2) tunnels, referred to as OMS-2. Due to the larger tunnel size, cations and gas adsorbates prefer to reside along the (2×2) tunnel axis of the OMS-2. As seen in Figure 1, a potassium cation K+ is located in the (2×2) tunnel, known as cryptomelane-type MnO2. Its pore diameter of ~ 4.6 Å gives it a good CO2 selectivity performance, because the diameter is comparable to the kinetic diameter of 3.3 Å for CO2[3]. Alternatively, replacing potassium K+ with other cations, e.g. barium Ba2+, sodium Na+ or lithium Li+, in the OMS-2 tunnel is of great research interest, due to the effects of their concentrations, types and charges on the CO2 selectivity efficiency and sorption hysteresis phenomenon[2,4]."

Jan 1, 2014

By S G. Li

Mine intelligent ventilation is an important guarantee to realise intelligent mining. It is the integration of the Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence, internet, cloud computing with ventilation technology, forming a complete ventilation system with intelligent perception, intelligent decisionmaking, intelligent emergency response and airflow control. In order to fully grasp the progress and trends of mine intelligent ventilation research in western China. The paper based on literature analysis and field application research, comprehensively expounds the main research and practical results of mine intelligent ventilation in western China, mainly analyses the development status of key technologies such as accurate and rapid determination of mine ventilation parameters, intelligent analysis and decision-making of ventilation and intelligent regulation of ventilation equipment, and introduces the field test or application of mine intelligent ventilation technology in western China. It lays the foundation reference for related research and improving the intelligent level of mine ventilation.

Oct 12, 2022

By Norman Carmichael

This paper describes the evolution of transportation at an important mining property, beginning at a time when the railhead was 400 mi. distant, and tracing the steps leading to the development of what is probably the heaviest ore train ever operated in underground mine service over narrow-gage tracks, a 300-ton ore train on a 20-in. track, at working costs closely approximating those obtained on systems involving much greater capital expenditure. Useful where geological and financial considerations render inadvisable the excavation and maintenance of large tunnels and heavier rolling stock. THE problem of transportation in the Clifton-Morenci district of Arizona has been one of peculiar difficulty and consequently has been an important factor in the cost of mining and treating the ores produced. From the crude beginning made over 50 years ago, many changes have been necessary to keep pace with the increased output of copper. A heavy-duty haulage system has developed on the original 20-in. track gage to meet the existent metal-mine conditions.

Jan 3, 1924

By FREDERICK W. BRADLEY

MINING methods are evolved rather than devised; and the process is slow. The advance in no particular year is phenomenal, but progress is un- questionably being made constantly in several directions: (a) better adaptation to given conditions of various "systems" of mining; (b) better utilization of mechanical equipment ; (c) improvement in working conditions so as to promote the health, safety and efficiency of the workers. During the year 1930 operations were commenced at a number of important new mines. Methods adopted are not new, except in minor detail, but the fitting of methods to conditions is interesting, because, as the engineers presumably started from scratch, they have selected the methods that experience under similar conditions has indicated as being the best.

Jan 1, 1931

By T. Kawai

Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) has started an exploration program for Seafloor Massive Sulfides (SMS) in the EEZ of Japan, and launched an investigation program for mining, processing and environmental impact on SMS development. With regard to the mining aspect, the mining system consists of three units: a mining unit on the sea floor, an ore lift-up unit to surface, and a mining support vessel unit which has an ore unloading system that unloads onto a shuttle ship. Regarding the mining unit, JOGMEC and certain Japanese mining and machinery companies developed two types of state of the art mining testing tools. Excavation tests on the actual SMS site in the Okinawa Trough, south-west of Japan, were conducted in 2012. In these tests, the functions of the testing tools, such as cutting ore, moving on the seafloor and climbing up slopes having steeper than a 25 degree gradient, were confirmed. The physical characteristics of the ore, which are key parameters for establishing a mining system, are yet to be fully understood as the exploration program has been undertaken simultaneously. Hence, those examinations have been carried out by ground cutting experiments, analysis of drilling core data, and the like. This paper describes the outline of a proposed mining system, mining testing tools and results of the on-site mining testing.

Aug 1, 2013

By Sang-Kyun Woo

The electric power conduit (EPC) in Korea has been constructed since 1978. Facing the challenge of safety and sustainability of the EPC, it is urgent to develop an inspection strategy and maintenance system for the structure based on the concept of life-cycle management. This paper introduces the newly developed mobile inspection and diagnostic system of the EPC. The novel aspect of this particular system is the integration of non-destructive mobile inspection techniques with BIM (Building Information Modeling) and LBS (Location-Based Service). BIM is an ideal tool and platform for developing an inspection and diagnostic system, and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a useful tool to construct USN (Ubiquitous Sensor Network) for LBS. The goal of this research is to establish an EPC inspection and diagnostic system concept based on BIM and LBS using RFID. In this research, a BIM model of OPENTBM tunnel for EPC will be established to show the integration of 3D CAD with the inspection data. An EPC?s maintenance database, which includes the deterioration types of the structure, inspection records, and repair methods, was designed to interact with the BIM. The system will be implemented by the BIM with the related database, in which the construction geometry and all related information are stored. The proposed system was designed to utilize the inspection and diagnostic system under the USN environment using RFID in EPC directly.

Aug 1, 2013

By C Balci, D Tumac, A Sheterpour-Mamaghani, E Dogan, A Kocbay, T Erdogan, A Gumus, H Copur, E Altintas

Excavation of vertical and/or inclined shafts in the underground structures requiring careful design and planning. Raise Boring Machines (RBMs) are commonly used for excavation of shafts for different purposes such as ventilation, orepass, and human-material transportation. Proper selection and accurate performance prediction of RBMs are two main parameters affecting the cost estimation and planning/scheduling. Indentation test is one of the most preferred methods that can be used to predict advance rate of RBMs. This study aims at suggestion of new prediction model for instantaneous penetration rate of RBMs based on indentation tests. Different rock (core) samples (with different geological origins) are obtained from the raise boring application projects in Turkey; then, the indentation tests are carried out on them by using a real-life insert (button), which is used in reamerhead cutters investigated in this study. Finally, the statistical relationships between the field performance and the indentation indices are investigated. The study indicates that the brittleness index (the ratio of maximum applied force to corresponding penetration) can be used to predict instantaneous penetration rate of RBMs used in the vertical raise bored shafts excavating rocks having uniaxial compressive strength lower than 100 MPa.

Nov 29, 2022

By Yoshinori Shimada, Oleg Kotiaev, Hiroaki Sakamoto, Toshihiro Asakura, Naotoshi Yasuda, Norikazu Misaki, Masahiro Shinoda

"To ensure that trains run safely, the performance of railway civil engineering structures is checked by periodic inspections. General inspection method has merits and demerits, but none of them offers the combination of high accuracy and quick inspection. In an effort to resolve this problem, West Japan Railway Company, the Institute for Laser Technology and the Railway Technical Research Institute jointly developed a remote laser sensing system as an alternative to the impact acoustics method for detecting defective concrete elements in tunnel linings. The proposed remote laser sensing system has two lasers, one to apply an impact to the concrete surface and the other to measure the vibration of the concrete generated by the impact laser. The impact laser is a high-energy pulse laser that induces vibration in the concrete. The detection laser has a signal beam and a reference beam. The signal beam reflects on the concrete surface and goes into the dynamic hologram crystal. The reference beam diffracts in the dynamic hologram and enters the detection sensor with the signal beam. The vibration of the concrete surface can be measured to detect the movement of an interference pattern. A prototype of the remote laser sensing system was developed as shown in Figure1. A vibration and acoustic insulators are equipped to remove a noise generated from a maintenance car or electric generator in this system. The proposed laser remote sensing system and the detection algorithm were verified with the help of field test conducted in a tunnel on the Shinkansen. An impact test using hammering was applied to obtain the accurate response acceleration on the surface of the concrete before application of the proposed method. In this test, the result obtained from the proposed method has good agreement with that obtained from the impact test by hammering. Consequently, it is verified that the proposed method can be used as an alternative to the standard impact acoustics method."

Jan 1, 2016

By T. Gibson

It is generally accepted that South African coal mines have gone through the mechanization of most of its underground mines, and while there certainly were a lot of productivity improvements, the lack of visibility on these machines operating underground still leave vast areas for improvement. The average actual cutting time still remains very low, in the 30 per cent area, which leaves significant improvement possible. Currently all analysis is carried out using hand-written reports. Unfortunately this is subjective and often inaccurate because of human interpretation. In addition in order to avoid costly component failure, a monitoring system is required to warn of eminent failures and condition monitoring. The challenge faced was to supply and install a system that was ‘Open’ and could be retrofitted to existing machines in operation because of the current standard of communication links to the underground sections. In addition it was intended to use, existing ‘off the shelf’ software and hardware and adapting this for the harsh underground mining conditions wherever possible in order to reduce costs. As development occurred, as with all technology, doors opened to other opportunities such as, remote access data logging and Internet based reporting. We focused on the Voest Alpine Bergtechnik (VA) range of continuous miners, as need arose to achieve the desired cost improvements because of the strategy of service contracts the subsidiary company, Voest Alpine Mining & Tunnelling (VAMT) offer the mining industry in South Africa. This paper describes a data logging system that has been installed on various continuous miners that provides data in real time, on line, and that could be expanded to any electrically supplied underground mobile or stationary mining machine.

Sep 1, 2001

By John Vergunst

"This paper traces the development of Ontario 's cap lamp standard. Over the years, numerous Coroner's Juries investigating fatal mine accidents have made recommendations with respect to underground lighting. As well, recommendations to improve mine lighting have been made by two Commissions, investigating mine safety in Ontario.During the past few years, the performance of any cap lamp worn by miners involved in serious accidents, have been measured by the Mining Heal/h and Safety Branch. Large variations in light output were found between and among cap lamp types. These variations have been attributed to the lack of quality control on the bulbs, design of the cap lamp head piece and in some cases, poor maintenance.In 1986, a series of underground tests were conducted to establish the minimum light output from cap lamps required to visually identify loose ground. The results of these tests indicated that a cap lamp should produce a minimum peak illuminance of 1500 lux measured at 1.2 metres from the light source. On May 30, 1987, Ontario became the first province in Canada to legislate the minimum amount of light required to visually assess ground conditions. INTRODUCTIONPoor lighting has been identified as a factor which can contribute to mining accidents. Over the past decade, several Coroner's Juries as a result of inquests into mining fatalities, have recommended improved lighting in mines.The Joint Federal-Provincial Inquiry Commission into Safety of Mines and Mining Plants in Ontario, was appointed to report upon the adequacy of existing arrangements and practice s that may affect safety. This Commission completed their report in April 1981, and recommended that inadequate lighting be investigated as a possible cause of all reportable underground accidents, and that a comprehensive research programinto mine lighting be undertaken.In response to the first recommendation, the Mining Health and Safety Branch of the Ministry of Labour, hereafter referred to as the Branch, initiated a program to measure lighting levels in all fatal accident investigations where inadequate lighting was a possible factor."

Jan 1, 1989

By Sean C. Farrell

In underground mining and tunneling, machine design is predominantly dictated by mine conditions and individual customer desires. In partnership with Australian companies WDS Limited and Cram Fluid Power, the engineering department of J.H. Fletcher & Company was tasked to design and manufacture roof bolting modules to be mounted off both sides of a roadheader, providing in-cycle bolting. The objective was to produce a boom and bolt module that would allow an operator to bolt from a remote location, eliminating the need for miner to work in unsupported ground. The bolt module needed to operate in front of the cutting boom, but retract to a parked position out of the way during the cutting cycle. Due to Australian electrical approval requirements, it was desirable to design the module with minimal use of electrical controls. The need for multiple, complex, drill steel and bolt handling steps led to the need for a custom hydraulics package to automate several of the movements. The result of the design is dual drill and bolt modules mounted to a multistage boom with over 24 feet (7.31 m) of extension. Each unit rotates and tilts to meet the bolt pattern requirements in conjunction with the stow and load requirements. The bolt module builds on previous designs incorporating a modular assembly with each sub-component designed to be replaceable and adjustable independently from other machine components. Each major component is painted a different color to help the operator make the connection visually from the module to the operator?s control valves. Hydraulic package valves were designed to automatically control several of the sub-components during the drill cycle, reducing the number of steps a drill operator would, otherwise, have to do manually. This design removes the operator from working in unsupported roof and away from other inherent hazards, putting them at a safe distance on the operator?s platform. The cutting and bolting equipment has been combined into one machine, which is advantageous in single entry drifts because there is no need to place change equipment. The hydraulic package valves eliminate the need for any electronics, thus avoiding any electrical regulations with respect to the controls. The addition of these modules to the roadheading machine increases miner safety and streamlines production while meeting the ground control support requirements.

Jan 1, 2014

By Harada M, Katsuta S

In order to shorten the time taken to com- plete shield tunnel excavation work, reduce labor costs and to improve safety, an automatic assembly robot system for the segments used has been developed. It was developed in the three years from 1982 until 1984. An experimental assembly system for concrete segments (outer diameter:.3.55m) has been thoroughly tested to confirm that these segments can be fed and assembled automatically (Fig. 1, 2). This report outlines the robot which will be put into practical use in the near future. The robot senses the position of already assem- bled segments by means of position sensors, controls the position and the attitude of the segment to be assembled to allow bolt hole positioning, and completes the automatic assembly of a se;nent by automatically tighten- ing bolts. The six segments which make up one ring can be automatically assembled in about 25 minutes.

Jan 1, 1987

By J. P. Ress

In 1903, seventeen years after mining of the Witwatersrand gold-bearing reefs started, the findings erf the Miners' Phthisis Commission (Transvaal) resulted in the initiation of measures with the object of controlling dust production. The substance of these measures was as follows: Removal of persons from places where they would be exposed to blasting fumes; use of water to suppress dust made in drilling and in other operations; supply and control of air to working-places; filtration of dusty air; and determination of the amount of the dust in the air. Broadly speaking, progress in dust control has followed these four lines with increasing success as the nature of the problem has become better known. Complete success has not, however, been achieved, partly because increasing mechanization of mining has intensified the problem and partly because the application of these measures is not infallible, being subject, in many cases, to human control. A brief summary of the development of these measures will lead to a description of present-day practice.

Jan 1, 1947

By W. G. Brunner

The slurry wall technique has undergone an evolution from its invention to its today’s status. In the early stages slurry walls were built with cable grab, later on with much stronger hydraulic grab and last but not least with the use of the cutter technique. The cutter allows thick walls with high verticality to extreme depths through hard soil and rock formations. With the rising demand of the construction of watertight diaphragm walls different joint systems have been developed. In addition to the rapid development of excavation systems it was necessary to improve slurry treatment and desanding plants, especially in conjunction with high performance trench cutters. Deep mixing methods can be used economically for the construction of cut-off or excavation support walls where other systems such as traditional soldier beams and lagging walls would yield unsatisfactory performance, where the installation of vibrated or driven sheet piles could cause vibration induced settlements and where concrete diaphragm walls would be time consuming and expensive. The new CSM method can largely replace the more conventional single or multiple auger methods of soil mixing or jet grouting. The cutter tool is similar to a cutter used in diaphragm walls or cut-off walls and is operated with a Kelly mounted on a drilling rig or rope suspended on a crane jib or mast of a base carrier. With this system much deeper walls can be installed and even hard soil layers can be penetrated.

Jan 1, 2007