This thesis presents new methods to improve open stope hangingwall (HW) design based on knowledge gained from site visits, observations, and data collection at underground mines in Canada, Australia, and Kazakhstan. The data for analysis was collected during 2 months of research at the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Ltd. Callinan Mine in Flin Flon, Manitoba, a few trips to the Cameco Rabbit Lake mine in northern Saskatchewan, and 3 years of research and employment at the Xstrata Zinc George Fisher mine near Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia. Other sites visited, where substantial stope stability knowledge was accessed include the Inco Thompson mines in northern Manitoba; BHP Cannington mine, Xstrata Zinc Lead Mine, and Xstrata Copper Enterprise Mine, in Queensland, Australia; and the Kazzinc Maleevskiy Mine in north-eastern Kazakhstan. An improved understanding of stability and design of open stope HWs was developed based on: 1) Three years of data collection from various rock masses and mining geometries to develop new sets of design lines for an existing HW stability assessment method; 2) The consideration of various scales of domains to examine HW rock mass behaviour and development of a new HW stability assessment method; 3) The investigation of the HW failure mechanism using analytical and numerical methods; 4) An examination of the effects of stress, undercutting, faulting, and time on stope HW stability through the presentation of observations and case histories; and 5) Innovative stope design techniques to manage predicted stope HW instability. An observational approach was used for the formulation of the new stope design methodology. To improve mine performance by reducing and/or controlling the HW rock from diluting the ore with non-economic material, the individual stope design methodology included creating vertical HWs, leaving ore skins or chocks where appropriate, and rock mass management. The work contributed to a reduction in annual dilution from 14.4% (2003) to 6.3% (2005), an increase in zinc grade from 7.4% to 8.7%, and increasing production tonnes from 2.1 to 2.6 Mt (Capes et al., 2006).

This thesis presents new methods to improve open stope hangingwall (HW) design based on knowledge gained from site visits, observations, and data collection at underground mines in Canada, Australia, and Kazakhstan. The data for analysis was collected during 2 months of research at the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Ltd. Callinan Mine in Flin Flon, Manitoba, a few trips to the Cameco Rabbit Lake mine in northern Saskatchewan, and 3 years of research and employment at the Xstrata Zinc George Fisher mine near Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia. Other sites visited, where substantial stope stability knowledge was accessed include the Inco Thompson mines in northern Manitoba; BHP Cannington mine, Xstrata Zinc Lead Mine, and Xstrata Copper Enterprise Mine, in Queensland, Australia; and the Kazzinc Maleevskiy Mine in north-eastern Kazakhstan. An improved understanding of stability and design of open stope HWs was developed based on: 1) Three years of data collection from various rock masses and mining geometries to develop new sets of design lines for an existing HW stability assessment method; 2) The consideration of various scales of domains to examine HW rock mass behaviour and development of a new HW stability assessment method; 3) The investigation of the HW failure mechanism using analytical and numerical methods; 4) An examination of the effects of stress, undercutting, faulting, and time on stope HW stability through the presentation of observations and case histories; and 5) Innovative stope design techniques to manage predicted stope HW instability. An observational approach was used for the formulation of the new stope design methodology. To improve mine performance by reducing and/or controlling the HW rock from diluting the ore with non-economic material, the individual stope design methodology included creating vertical HWs, leaving ore skins or chocks where appropriate, and rock mass management. The work contributed to a reduction in annual dilution from 14.4% (2003) to 6.3% (2005), an increase in zinc grade from 7.4% to 8.7%, and increasing production tonnes from 2.1 to 2.6 Mt (Capes et al., 2006).

No description available.

No description available.

This thesis focused on using a detailed structural evaluation of seven (three flexible and four composite) high performance in-service pavements designated as high-priority routes to verify the applicability of the Mechanistic Empirical (M-E) models to high performance pavements in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The structural evaluation included: determination of layer thicknesses (from cores, GPR and historical data), pavement condition assessment based on visual survey, estimation of layer moduli from FWD analysis as well as material characterization. One of the main objectives of this study was to utilize the results from the backcalculated moduli in order to predict the performance of this group of pavement structures using the M-E Design Guide Software. This allowed a quick verification of the performance prediction models used by comparing their outcome with the current condition. The in-depth structural evaluation of the three flexible and four composite pavements showed that all the sites are structurally sound. The investigation also confirmed that the use of GPR to determine layer thicknesses and the comparison with a minimum number of cores is a helpful tool for pavement structural evaluation. Despite some difficulties performing the backcalculation analysis for complex structures, the obtained results were considered reasonable and were useful in estimating the current structural adequacy of the evaluated structures. The comparison of the measured distresses with those predicted by the M-E Design Guide software showed poor agreement. In general, the predicted distresses were higher than the distresses actually measured. However, there was not enough evidence to determine whether this is due to errors in the prediction models or software, or because of the use of defaults material properties, specially for the AC layers. It must be noted that although an in-depth field evaluation was performed, only Level 3 data was available for many of the input parameters. The results suggest that significant calibration and validation will be required before implementation of the M-E Design Guide. / Master of Science

As the cost of designing and building new highway pavements increases and the number of new construction and major rehabilitation projects decreases, the importance of ensuring that a given pavement design performs as expected in the field becomes vital. To address this issue in other fields of civil engineering, reliability analysis has been used extensively. However, in the case of pavement structural design, the reliability component is usually neglected or overly simplified. To address this need, the current dissertation proposes a framework for estimating the reliability of a given pavement structure regardless of the pavement design or analysis procedure that is being used. As part of the dissertation, the framework is applied with the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) and failure is considered as a function of rutting of the hot-mix asphalt (HMA) layer. The proposed methodology consists of fitting a response surface, in place of the time-demanding implicit limit state functions used within the MEPDG, in combination with an analytical approach to estimating reliability using second moment techniques: First-Order and Second-Order Reliability Methods (FORM and SORM) and simulation techniques: Monte Carlo and Latin Hypercube Simulation. In order to demonstrate the methodology, a three-layered pavement structure is selected consisting of a hot-mix asphalt (HMA) surface, a base layer, and subgrade. Several pavement design variables are treated as random; these include HMA and base layer thicknesses, base and subgrade modulus, and HMA layer binder and air void content. Information on the variability and correlation between these variables are obtained from the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program, and likely distributions, coefficients of variation, and correlation between the variables are estimated. Additionally, several scenarios are defined to account for climatic differences (cool, warm, and hot climatic regions), truck traffic distributions (mostly consisting of single unit trucks versus mostly consisting of single trailer trucks), and the thickness of the HMA layer (thick versus thin). First and second order polynomial HMA rutting failure response surfaces with interaction terms are fit by running the MEPDG under a full factorial experimental design consisting of 3 levels of the aforementioned design variables. These response surfaces are then used to analyze the reliability of the given pavement structures under the different scenarios. Additionally, in order to check for the accuracy of the proposed framework, direct simulation using the MEPDG was performed for the different scenarios. Very small differences were found between the estimates based on response surfaces and direct simulation using the MEPDG, confirming the accurateness of the proposed procedure. Finally, sensitivity analysis on the number of MEPDG runs required to fit the response surfaces was performed and it was identified that reducing the experimental design by one level still results in response surfaces that properly fit the MEPDG, ensuring the applicability of the method for practical applications. / text

Projetos de estabilidade de escavações mineiras por meio de estudos de caracterização do maciço rochoso com o uso da mecânica de rochas são indispensáveis para otimizar o aproveitamento das jazidas, garantir segurança nas operações de lavra e minimizar os impactos ambientais decorrentes da instabilidade dos taludes da cava. Nesta dissertação utilizou-se de critérios recentes de ruptura em rocha, para obtenção de dados de entrada em métodos já clássicos de análise da estabilidade de taludes em maciços rochosos para a cava de dolomito lavrada a céu aberto. Os critérios utilizados serão avaliados com relação à compatibilidade dos resultados obtidos com sua aplicação e a coerência com a situação atual observada na lavra em desenvolvimento. Análises sobre a paralisação da lavra em decorrência dos problemas de instabilidade também serão avaliadas e discutidas. Para ilustrar esta dissertação foi eleita a jazida de dolomito localizada no Sinclinal do Gandarela em virtude dos problemas de instabilidade encontrados na cava. As conclusões finais são apresentadas nos últimos itens deste trabalho. / The design of stable excavations using rock masses characterization with the tools provided by rock mechanics, are indispensable for optimizing the economic exploitation of ore deposits, to ensure the safety in the mining works and to minimize the environmental impacts deriving of the open pit slopes instability. In this Dissertation, for obtain the input data for classic methods of rocky slopes stability analyses, it is used the most recent criteria of rock mass failure applied for an open pit mine of dolomite. The utilized criteria compatibility will be evaluated by the results obtained with their utilization and the coherence with the real situation verified at the developing mine. Will be evaluated and discussed the analyses about the stoppage of the mine works due to the slope instability problems. To illustrate this Dissertation are elected a dolomite ore deposit situated at the Gandarela Synclinal on account of the instability problems that occurred in the mine pit. The final conclusions are listed in the items presented at the end of this work.

Projetos de estabilidade de escavações mineiras por meio de estudos de caracterização do maciço rochoso com o uso da mecânica de rochas são indispensáveis para otimizar o aproveitamento das jazidas, garantir segurança nas operações de lavra e minimizar os impactos ambientais decorrentes da instabilidade dos taludes da cava. Nesta dissertação utilizou-se de critérios recentes de ruptura em rocha, para obtenção de dados de entrada em métodos já clássicos de análise da estabilidade de taludes em maciços rochosos para a cava de dolomito lavrada a céu aberto. Os critérios utilizados serão avaliados com relação à compatibilidade dos resultados obtidos com sua aplicação e a coerência com a situação atual observada na lavra em desenvolvimento. Análises sobre a paralisação da lavra em decorrência dos problemas de instabilidade também serão avaliadas e discutidas. Para ilustrar esta dissertação foi eleita a jazida de dolomito localizada no Sinclinal do Gandarela em virtude dos problemas de instabilidade encontrados na cava. As conclusões finais são apresentadas nos últimos itens deste trabalho. / The design of stable excavations using rock masses characterization with the tools provided by rock mechanics, are indispensable for optimizing the economic exploitation of ore deposits, to ensure the safety in the mining works and to minimize the environmental impacts deriving of the open pit slopes instability. In this Dissertation, for obtain the input data for classic methods of rocky slopes stability analyses, it is used the most recent criteria of rock mass failure applied for an open pit mine of dolomite. The utilized criteria compatibility will be evaluated by the results obtained with their utilization and the coherence with the real situation verified at the developing mine. Will be evaluated and discussed the analyses about the stoppage of the mine works due to the slope instability problems. To illustrate this Dissertation are elected a dolomite ore deposit situated at the Gandarela Synclinal on account of the instability problems that occurred in the mine pit. The final conclusions are listed in the items presented at the end of this work.

Context. Software Product Management (SPM) is an activity done by software product managers to develop products from the very first idea till the product is release to the market and providing service to customers. SPM helps software product managers to successfully maintain their product throughout product lifecycle till it is disposed of from the market. In this thesis we have studied about SPM both from the state of knowledge and state of practice to understand the different activities being followed by software product managers and concepts in those activities. Objectives. The study identifies the practices followed in SPM, both from the literature and industrial practitioners. The study also unravels the order in which they implement SPM activities. We have focused on what activities need to be focused by junior software product manager when implementing SPM and based on the inputs from software practitioners a preliminary framework was designed. Methods. Literature review was conducted to identify what are the different practices in SPM. To cover the literature related to SPM different international databases like Compendex, Inspec, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, Wiley Inter Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and Business Source Premier are selected. Articles from databases are selected between the years 1995-2011. Text books related to SPM, conference proceedings and grey literature are also used. Interviews and Survey are conducted with practitioners to identify how SPM is being implemented in organizations. We have also focused on what activities need to be implemented in SPM by junior software product managers after they take up their job. Results. Totally 133 different practices are identified related to SPM and are grouped in to their respective activities. Based on the findings a preliminary framework was designed for junior software product managers where they need to implement 22 concepts and these concepts are grouped into their respective activities which are Requirements Management, Release Planning, Product Planning, Product Roadmapping and Marketing. Conclusions. We conclude that the SPM frameworks identified through literature relate to each other and use similar activities. We also conclude that the frameworks identified from literature cover almost all of the activities implemented by software product managers during SPM when empirical research was conducted. The frameworks identified from literature don’t give a clear picture about what activities need to be focused by junior software product managers when implementing SPM. To overcome this, a preliminary framework was designed for junior software product managers based on the empirical evidence identified from interviews and survey. Moreover we conclude that a curriculum needs to be designed for SPM which clearly teaches junior software product managers regarding the activities and concepts involved in SPM and focusing more on the activities which need to be implemented by junior software product managers.

Designers often look for inspiration in their environment when exploring possible solutions to a given problem. However, many studies have reported that external stimuli may constrain designers’ imagination and limit their exploration to similar solutions, a phenomenon described as design fixation. Inspiration and fixation effects are traditionally studied with a similar experimental paradigm, which has produced a complex web of findings and explanations. Yet, when analysing the experiments and their findings closely, it becomes clear that there is considerable variation in how studies are conducted and the results they produce. Such variation makes it difficult to formulate a general view of how external stimuli affect the design process, and to translate the research findings into education and practice. Moreover, it raises questions about the reliability and effectiveness of the traditional experimental method. This thesis reports on a collection of studies that examine how design inspiration and fixation research is done and how it can be improved. It explores the research area by reviewing the literature and analysing data from a workshop; describes the research method by scrutinising experiments and their procedures; and explains the variation in research findings by testing experimental procedures empirically and suggesting new interpretations. My main findings are that: abstract stimuli can inspire or fixate designers to different degrees depending on how explicitly the stimuli are represented; external stimuli can inhibit the exploration of ideas that would otherwise be explored; the effect of experimental instructions varies depending on how encouraging the instructions are; and the way participants represent and elaborate ideas can moderate fixation results. Whilst this thesis offers insights into design practice and education, its main contribution is to design research, where it represents a fundamental material for those who are new to inspiration and fixation research, and for those who are already expert.