Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: FLAC3D is a three-dimensional explicit nite difference program for solving a variety of solid mechanics problems, both linear and non-linear. The development of the algorithm and its initial implementation were performed by Itasca Consulting Group Inc. The main idea of the algorithm is to discritise the domain of interest into a Lagrangian grid where each cell represents an element of the material. Each cell can then deform according to a prescribed stress/strain law together with the equations of motion. An in-depth study of the algorithm was performed and implemented in Java. During the implementation, it was observed that the type of boundary conditions typically used has a major in uence on the accuracy of the results, especially when boundaries are close to regions with large stress variations, such as in mining excavations. To improve the accuracy of the algorithm, a new type of boundary condition was developed where the FLAC3D domain is embedded in a linear elastic material, named the Boundary Node Shell (BNS). Using the BNS shows a signi cant improvement in results close to excavations. The FLAC algorithm is also quite amendable to paralellization and a multi-threaded version that makes use of multiple Central Processing Unit (CPU) cores was developed to optimize the speed of the algorithm. The nal outcome is new non-commercial Java source code (JFLAC) which includes the Boundary Node Shell (BNS) and shared memory parallelism over and above the basic FLAC3D algorithm. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: FLAC3D is 'n eksplisiete eindige verskil program wat 'n verskeidenheid liniêre en nieliniêre soliede meganika probleme kan oplos. Die oorspronklike algoritme en die implimentasies daarvan was deur Itasca Consulting Group Inc. toegepas. Die hoo dee van die algoritme is om 'n gebied te diskritiseer deur gebruik te maak van 'n Lagrangese rooster, waar elke sel van die rooster 'n element van die rooster materiaal beskryf. Elke sel kan dan vervorm volgens 'n sekere spannings/vervormings wet. 'n Indiepte ondersoek van die algoritme was uitgevoer en in Java geïmplimenteer. Tydens die implementering was dit waargeneem dat die grense van die rooster 'n groot invloed het op die akkuraatheid van die resultate. Dit het veral voorgekom in areas waar stress konsentrasies hoog is, gewoonlik naby areas waar myn uitgrawings gemaak is. Dit het die ontwikkelling van 'n nuwe tipe rand kondisie tot gevolg gehad, sodat die akkuraatheid van die resultate kon verbeter. Die nuwe rand kondisie, genaamd die Grens Node Omhulsel (GNO), aanvaar dat die gebied omring is deur 'n elastiese materiaal, wat veroorsaak dat die grense van die gebied 'n elastiese reaksie het op die stress binne die gebied. Die GNO het 'n aansienlike verbetering in die resultate getoon, veral in areas naby myn uitgrawings. Daar was ook waargeneem dat die FLAC algoritme parralleliseerbaar is en het gelei tot die implentering van 'n multi-SVE weergawe van die sagteware om die spoed van die algoritme te optimeer. Die nale uitkomste is 'n nuwe nie-kommersiële Java weergawe van die algoritme (JFLAC), wat die implimentering van die nuwe GNO randwaardekondisie insluit, asook toelaat vir die gebruik van multi- Sentrale Verwerkings Eenheid (SVE) as 'n verbetering op die basiese FLAC3D algoritme.

A comprehensive study of accident records which have occured in Coal Mining Industries of Europe and U. S. A are analysed. The intention of the research was to establish relationships between the various accidents and prevention methods adopted by each country are evaluated and to assess the impact of industrial legislation in these various countries on accident rate are examined. The study analyses in paricular the fatal accident rate, and major and minor rate. The Major health hazards associated with coal mining are described in detail and discusses together with the Measurement of safety performance and its application in the Safety field. The study also examines the role of human factors in accidents also includes a summaries of fatal and major injury rates for 46 countries. Arising from the research a number of recommendations for improving safety are requires further research are indentified.

A comprehensive study of accident records which have occured in Coal Mining Industries of Europe and U. S. A are analysed. The intention of the research was to establish relationships between the various accidents and prevention methods adopted by each country are evaluated and to assess the impact of industrial legislation in these various countries on accident rate are examined. The study analyses in paricular the fatal accident rate, and major and minor rate. The Major health hazards associated with coal mining are described in detail and discusses together with the Measurement of safety performance and its application in the Safety field. The study also examines the role of human factors in accidents also includes a summaries of fatal and major injury rates for 46 countries. Arising from the research a number of recommendations for improving safety are requires further research are indentified. / Ministry of Culture and Higher Education Of Islamic Republic of Iran

The problem facing the Tlokwe Local Municipality is that it is Constitutional and legislatively obliged to avoid and/or mitigate the impact of potential disasters within its boundaries, through the effective management of potential disaster risks and disasters. The lack of effective risk management tools is especially concerning in the context of the water catchment management of the Mooi River, which is the main water supply of the Tlokwe local Municipality. The Mooi River is exposed to many potential catchment related hazards that could affect the municipality of which the origins are both anthropogenic and natural. Although, many of the impacts on the catchment arise beyond the boundaries and the control of the municipality, this does not relieve the municipality from the responsibility to develop tools to manage the risks. The aim of the study is to assist in addressing the above stated problem through establishing the requirements for a conceptual model for an effective spatial information system that will assist the municipality in effectively managing the potential disaster risks and disasters that may arise in the Mooi River Catchment area that could impact on the Tlokwe Local Municiaplity. The aim gives rise to three-research questions that are formulated as research objectives that are used to identify the conceptual model requirements. The first is to identify and conceptualise the constitutional and legislative obligations in respect of disaster risk management in general and specifically those governing the disaster disk management in the water catchment area for the Mooi River. The study of this objective not only highlight the constitutional and legal obligations that the local municipality is subject to, but provides legislatives remedies that the local municipality can utilise to assist with disaster risks reduction. The second is to identify and conceptualise the generic hazards that are related to water catchment areas (including the related groundwater compartments) and those specific in the Mooi River catchment area. In this section, potential anthropogenic and natural hazards are listed, a methodology for risk and vulnerability analyses is provided, and a concise study of quaternary catchment C23D is provided. The third is to identify and conceptualize the requirements for an effective conceptual model of GIS for Disaster Risk Management in the Tlokwe Local Municipality. An overview of a GIS is provided. The essential components of a generic information system namely, people, software, hardware, procedures and processes, data and telecommunications or networks are discussed. The information and system requirements cumulating from the analyses of the three research questions, serve as the drivers of the goal, outcomes and transformation process of the system as well as the requirements for the conceptual model. In this section: a comparison of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Framework for Applied Systems Thinking (FAST), problem solving and the phases addressed in this study; the identification of the conceptual model requirements; and a concise systems conceptualisation of an effective GIS is provided. As the, mini-dissertation focuses on the needs for a conceptual model, the additional activities required before the system can be implemented are identified and formulated as recommendation that provide the opportunity for future research. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The problem facing the Tlokwe Local Municipality is that it is Constitutional and legislatively obliged to avoid and/or mitigate the impact of potential disasters within its boundaries, through the effective management of potential disaster risks and disasters. The lack of effective risk management tools is especially concerning in the context of the water catchment management of the Mooi River, which is the main water supply of the Tlokwe local Municipality. The Mooi River is exposed to many potential catchment related hazards that could affect the municipality of which the origins are both anthropogenic and natural. Although, many of the impacts on the catchment arise beyond the boundaries and the control of the municipality, this does not relieve the municipality from the responsibility to develop tools to manage the risks. The aim of the study is to assist in addressing the above stated problem through establishing the requirements for a conceptual model for an effective spatial information system that will assist the municipality in effectively managing the potential disaster risks and disasters that may arise in the Mooi River Catchment area that could impact on the Tlokwe Local Municiaplity. The aim gives rise to three-research questions that are formulated as research objectives that are used to identify the conceptual model requirements. The first is to identify and conceptualise the constitutional and legislative obligations in respect of disaster risk management in general and specifically those governing the disaster disk management in the water catchment area for the Mooi River. The study of this objective not only highlight the constitutional and legal obligations that the local municipality is subject to, but provides legislatives remedies that the local municipality can utilise to assist with disaster risks reduction. The second is to identify and conceptualise the generic hazards that are related to water catchment areas (including the related groundwater compartments) and those specific in the Mooi River catchment area. In this section, potential anthropogenic and natural hazards are listed, a methodology for risk and vulnerability analyses is provided, and a concise study of quaternary catchment C23D is provided. The third is to identify and conceptualize the requirements for an effective conceptual model of GIS for Disaster Risk Management in the Tlokwe Local Municipality. An overview of a GIS is provided. The essential components of a generic information system namely, people, software, hardware, procedures and processes, data and telecommunications or networks are discussed. The information and system requirements cumulating from the analyses of the three research questions, serve as the drivers of the goal, outcomes and transformation process of the system as well as the requirements for the conceptual model. In this section: a comparison of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Framework for Applied Systems Thinking (FAST), problem solving and the phases addressed in this study; the identification of the conceptual model requirements; and a concise systems conceptualisation of an effective GIS is provided. As the, mini-dissertation focuses on the needs for a conceptual model, the additional activities required before the system can be implemented are identified and formulated as recommendation that provide the opportunity for future research. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014