Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2003.

Thesis (M.S. in engineering)--Washington State University, December 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 58-59).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006.

A study has been made to evaluate the effects of horizontal drain drainage on the water table drawdown in open pit slopes. Two major parameters of a horizontal drain drainage system, length and spacing, were studied. A two dimensional finite element computer model was constructed to simulate the water flow into drains in rock slopes. Water flow in the saturated zone was assumed. The computer model was tested by the field data obtained from the LORNEX Mine in British Columbia and the data taken from INTRODUCTION TO GROUNDWATER MODELING (Wang & Anderson, 1982). Satisfactory agreements were obtained. As the result of computer simulations, a series of graphs were plotted. These graphs show the relationship between hydraulic head distribution vs. drain spacing and length. They could be used in horizontal drain design as an aid to determine the spacing and length of a drain system. The computer simulations were also made to study the drainage characteristics of anisotropic rock slopes. The results indicated the influence of such rock conditions on the drainage effect. Another feature of mining slopes is that their height varies as the mining operation progresses. Therefore, the suitable vertical spacing between drain rows was investigated by computer simulation. A comparison of the drainage effects of different drain patterns, parallel drain and fanned drain layouts, was also made. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Mining Engineering, Keevil Institute of / Graduate

Orientador: Carlos Eduardo Angeli Furlani / Resumo: Visto que a demanda de produção de alimentos é crescente no mundo, surge a necessidade de se utilizar melhor os recursos disponíveis nas áreas de cultivo agrícola. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito da interação entre declividades do terreno e exposição à radiação solar no desenvolvimento e produtividade da cultura do milho em cada uma das condições de superfície e, além disso, avaliar o índice de estresse hídrico da cultura. O experimento foi conduzido na safra 2018/2019 no município de Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil, na FCAV/UNESP, em estrutura que simula diferentes condições de exposições e declividades. No primeiro, o delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema 6x4 com cinco repetições, sendo seis declividades (0,10,20,30,40 e 50%) e quatro exposições (Norte, Sul, Leste e Oeste). Foram avaliados componentes fitotécnicos da cultura: altura e massa de matéria seca de planta, massa de mil grãos, produtividade. No segundo trabalho, foram utilizadas três declividades (0, 30 e 50%) e duas exposições (Norte e Sul). Após verificação da normalidade dos dados, usou-se análise de variância pelo Teste F e, quando necessário, aplicou-se o teste de Tukey (p<0,05) para comparação das médias. A exposição da cultura do milho influenciou no desenvolvimento das variáveis diâmetro do colmo, massa de grãos, número de fileiras por espiga e produtividade. O índice de estresse hídrico varia de acordo com a exposição a que as plantas estão submetidas aos raios solares. / Abstract: Since the demand for food production is growing in the world, there is a need to make better use of the resources available in agricultural cultivation areas. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of the interaction between land slopes and exposure to solar radiation on the development and productivity of the corn crop in each of the surface conditions and, in addition, to evaluate the water stress index of the crop. The experiment was conducted in the 2018/2019 harvest in the municipality of Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, at FCAV / UNESP, in a structure that simulates different conditions of exposures and declivity. In the first, the design used was completely randomized, in a 6x4 scheme with five repetitions, six slopes (0.10,20,30,40 and 50%) and four exposures (North, South, East and West). Crop phytotechnical components were evaluated: height and dry matter of plant, mass of a thousand grains, productivity. In the second study, three slopes (0, 30 and 50%) and two exposures (North and South) were used. After verifying the normality of the data, analysis of variance was used by the F Test and, when necessary, the Tukey test (p <0.05) was applied to compare the means. The exposure of the corn crop influenced the development of the stem diameter, grain mass, number of rows per ear and productivity variables. The water stress index varies according to the exposure to which the plants are exposed to sunlight. / Mestre

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Mining Engineering / Slope stability is critical for final wall in open pit mining operations. Not only is slope failure costly to manage, it might also be accompanied by loss of lives. Factor of safety is very critical during the slope design phase, however, the execution of the design is as important as the design phase itself. Among the many factors affecting stability of highwalls, geology, groundwater and blasting are at the top of the list. This research takes a kinematic stability analysis approach and investigates the possible failure mechanisms in the phyllites rock mass. The data collected from the structural geological mapping along with the window mapping classifies the rock as fair to good rock. The induced failures causing reduced catchment berms and consequently longer bench heights are largely influenced by the prevailing geological conditions, presence of groundwater seeping through the highwall and quality of blasting being conducted. Amongst the factors influencing slope stability, blasting is the only controllable one. Therefore, adjustments to the blast designs need to be made as mining progresses keeping in mind that rock is not homogeneous. Wall control blasting techniques should be continuously adjusted depending on the Rock Mass Rating or blastability index of the rock mass in that area. Hydrogeological testing of boreholes including Packer testing was conducted in order to estimate the hydraulic conductivity. Adjustments to blast designs were made taking due cognizance of the geological conditions as well as presence of ground water. Adjustments to the wall control blasting techniques need to be made as mining progresses through the different rock mass zones. A few blasts on the lower levels (mining benches below 1112RL) were conducted which saw an improvement in the quality of the highwall. Further adjustments to blast designs need to be made as the pit gets deeper and as geological conditions vary. / NG (2020)

The relationship between lithology and slope morphology is investigated at eight sites on granitic, andesitic, and sedimentary rock slopes in the Tucson Mountains. Several methods are used in the study. Topographic profiles are constructed. Skewness indices of the slope shapes, maximum and minimum slope angles, and slope lengths of the different slope profiles are computed and compared with each other. Debris size analysis is done to better determine hillfront/piedmont junctions. Slope surface regularities of the three lithological slopes are analysed and compared. The results show that the granitic piedmont slopes are found to be slightly concave to almost rectilinear, indicating their high resistance to erosive processes. In contrast, the concavity of the andesitic and sedimentary piedmont slopes demonstrate their inability to resist the erosive attack on them. However, in the case of the hillfront slopes, slope forms do not reflect lithological variations.

Thesis (M.Eng.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2005. / Restricted until October 2007. Bibliography: leaves 128-137.