D.Ing. / The research described in this thesis is an investigation into fundamental aspects of the mechanical excavation of hard rock using free rolling cutters, currently being undertaken at the Chamber of Mines of South Africa Research Organization. The motivation for undertaking this study was provided by the need to improve the effectiveness and operational efficiency of this type of tool with regards to its application in the South African gold mining industry. Earlier work has shown that the use of high-pressure water jets enhances the performance of mechanical cutting in hard rock. To assess the potential of this approach for use in conjunction with free rolling cutters, a series of laboratory tests was conducted using both disc and button type cutters, to determine the relative effects, on cutter performance, of variations in the relevant jet and cutting parameters. The parameters investigated were jet pressure, jet configuration, depth and spacing of cuts and cutting speed. Jets of diameter 1,2 mm were used singly and in combination of 2 and 4 jets at pressures in the range of 5 MPa to 40 MPa which gave flow rates of up to 0,3 lis per jet. Cut spacing, cut depth and cutting speed were varied between 15 mm and 90 mm, 2 mm and 6 mm, and 0,1 mls and 1,0 mls respectively. Tests were carried out on a linear rock cutting machine, purpose built according to specifications prepared from measurements made during underground field trials, which gave it the ability to test full-scale cutters under loading conditions representative of those found in the field. All the tests carried out were performed in the constant penetration, multiple pass (groove deepening) cutting mode, using dressed (smooth) and pre-conditioned (pre-roughened) rock surfaces.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:13410 |
| Date | 02 March 2015 |
| Creators | Fenn, Orrie |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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