The electric mining shovel is the main rock loading machine at the majority of surface mining operations. The performance and utilization of these multi-million dollar machines can govern an entire mining operation. Despite their significance, they remain largely unexplored in terms of their potential. The thesis discusses the development of the forward and inverse kinematic models, the Newton-Euler dynamics, and the actuator dynamics for an electric mining shovel. The thesis relates to work undertaken towards the development of a mining shovel simulator, the purpose of which is to explore productivity and machine performance issues as a function of the interaction of the shovel with the ground. Both the parametric and nonparametric system identification results are presented, based on field test data collected from an operating mining shovel. Simulator results describing analytical and empirical models, as well as continuous-time controller and disturbance rejection are also presented. The thesis concludes with a discussion of planned continuing work.

The design of traditional and novel structures, e.g. underground tunnels, dam foundations, nuclear waste depositories, requires an understanding of the behaviour of rock under different stress conditions. This thesis is part of an overall research program into the behaviour of rock masses undertaken by the Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering at McGill University. The main objective of this project is the determination of the appropriate stress functions that describe the response of rock to applied loads. In this work, the distinction is made between intact, single discontinuity and fractured rock material. / The first segment of this thesis deals with a critical evaluation of the different failure criteria for rock and rock discontinuities that have been used in the past. Their applications and limitations are identified. In the second segment of this work, the frictional behaviour of rock and rock discontinuities is defined, based on results of laboratory testing in direct-shear and triaxial compression.

The first part of the thesis describes the concepts of viscoplasticity as a continuous plasticity theory highlighting different kinds of yield functions, plastic potentials and visocplastic constitutive laws. / A 2-dimensional elasto-viscoplastic finite element model for stress/stability analysis of mining excavations has been developed for use on microcomputers. An iterative explicit time stepping scheme is implemented. The program uses automatic time-step calculator based on equations giving a limit on the time step in an attempt to prevent numerical instability when common forms of isotropic yield functions and plastic potentials are used in the viscoplastic solution. When the input data are read parallel to the analysis undertaken the user can simulate compound behaviour by stopping the analysis, examining the results graphically and restarting it again and possibly implementing a certain decision in the subsequent appended input. This also imposes no limit on the number of time stations at which instantaneous changes like elements cut, elements backfilled, loads added or simply outputs are required. The program is equipped with graphical pre- and post- processors.

De-inking sludge and its contaminants were studied in supercritical water (SCW), where temperature and pressure are above water's critical point of 374ºC & 22.1 MPa. Phase behavior of pure organics in the sludge were studied with a diamond anvil cell (DAC) technique, and optical & FT-IR microscopes. Oxidation experiments in SCW were performed in batch and flow reactors for the complex sludge and pure decachlorobiphenyl (10-CB). / From the visual observations in the DAC, homogeneous phases with water were found for cellulose at 329ºC; for naphthalene (NT) at 383ºC; for benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) at 508ºC and for polystyrene (PS) at 570ºC. Adding O2 shifted the formation of the single phase to lower temperature. Complete dissolution of 10-CB occurred only when excess O2 was present (at 548ºC with 225% excess O2 or at 450ºC for 596 s with 93% excess O2). Adding Na2CO3 significantly enhanced dissolution rate of 10-CB, for example, using 2.5-mol% Na2CO 3, complete dissolution was achieved at 434ºC even with low O 2 concentration (69.5% theoretical O2). / The homogeneous conditions are important for the oxidation study of the sludge in batch reactors. Oxidation experiments of heavy metal (Pb, Cr, Cd)-, NT and BaP-contaminated sludge in SCW were conducted. It was found that all organics in the sludge, including stable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons could be almost completely oxidized to CO2 and H2O. The water-soluble heavy metal salts were effectively removed by precipitation to insoluble oxides and salts with little leachability. During the oxidation of 10-CB at 225% excess O2, only 99.2% destruction rate was obtained accompanied by severe corrosion of the reactor. However, using 100% theoretical Na2CO3, all 10-CB was destroyed at 159.5% excess O 2 with little corrosion. 10-CB was also successfully destroyed in a flow reactor. / Oxidation pathways of the major components of the sludge and a sequence of corrosion reactions were proposed. / It can be concluded that the SCW oxidation process is an effective technique for the destruction of organic wastes including very stable hazardous compounds (e.g., BaP & 10-CB) due to the homogeneous conditions of chemical reactions and removal of heavy metals.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-07, Section: B, page: 4676. Adviser: G. Fernandez. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 254-260) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Professional Degree)--University of Missouri, School of Mines and Metallurgy, 1926. / The entire thesis text is included in file. Typescript. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed October 5, 2009) Includes index (p. [35-38]).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-11, Section: B, page: 6596. Advisers: Jamshid Ghaboussi; Youssef Hashash. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-122) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

<p> Metal production in the United States contributes significantly to the national and global economies due to resource demands. As mineral reserves are becoming scarce, demand has driven mining companies to operate at increasing depths underground. Along with this, production has continued to increase year after year, as lower grade ores are excavated economically. However, the increased mining depths and increased production have resulted in enlarged heat loads in the underground mine environment. Increased heat loads can result in temperatures, which are too high for mine workers to safely work. This may cause heat related illness, injuries or even death. Mine operators must pursue heat reduction strategies in order to maintain safe temperatures to protect mine workers. </p><p> There are a number of heat mitigation methods and strategies which mine operators can implement. The most common means is through the use of ventilation to provide cool air volumes to reduce the heat load and dilute the contaminants generated in the production workings below their threshold limit values (TLV). This can be done by increasing the fresh air volumes through surface accesses such as shafts, raises, adits, ramps, or other mine entrances. When ventilation alone cannot provide acceptable climatic conditions in the production workings and throughout the mine, artificial cooling methods need to be used. These methods can be very effective, however, they require large capital investments, continuous maintenance, and additional operating costs. This includes central cooling, spot cooling, and micro-climate cooling systems. Though reducing the heat load is effective, another strategy is to reduce the source of the heat generation. One such source is the heat generated by diesel engine equipment fleet. This can be decreased by switching to a battery/electric engine equipment fleet. All of these strategies can be compared based off their heat reduction, temperatures, and operating costs. This study does exactly this by using an underground metal mine&rsquo;s ventilation system to compare various scenarios, and identify the most effective cooling method or system that can be used in deep and hot US mines.</p><p>

3-D geographic information systems (GIS) provides a powerful tool for visualizing and interpreting the subsurface distribution of geology and hydrothermal parameters that are important in exploring for deposits concealed at depth. For the purpose of this study, restoration of a historical mine data set was undertaken with the goal of migrating information from paper records to fully linked data sets suitable for interpretation in 3-D GIS. Heath Steele, in the Bathurst Mining Camp, northern New Brunswick, is one such deposit with historical records that include the distribution of ore-associated iron formation, massive sulfides and host rocks. Structural and stratigraphic interpretations from previous studies and exploration programs were incorporated in the model, along with fabric measurements, regional geology, drillcore logs and geophysical data. This study shows how revisiting historical mine data in a 3-D environment can generate new knowledge about an ore deposit and particularly the spatial context of hydrothermal features in a complexly deformed setting that may aid future exploration.

Cemented Paste Backfill (CPB) is extensively used in underground mine operations. Several studies have been conducted to investigate the mechanical properties of CPB. However, little attention has been devoted to the thermal conductivity of CPB. The knowledge of this thermal property is vital for the design of cost-effective and durable CPB materials. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive laboratory study on the thermal conductivity of CPB. Influencing factors on the thermal conductivity of CPB were quantitatively investigated. The measurements of thermal conductivity were performed by using the KD2 Thermal Properties Analyzer. Valuable results with regards to the effects of CPB's mix components, curing time and temperature, water saturation degree on the thermal conductivity of CPB were gained. It is felt that the present study would contribute to the better optimization of CPB mixtures and the design of more cost-effective and durable CPB underground structures. Keywords. Cemented Paste Backfill; Thermal Conductivity; Hydration; Temperature; Sulphate; Tailings.