The specific aim of this project is to reduce the number of accidents that occur during the operation and maintenance of ore pass systems. A major safety issue involves situations when material hangups or blockages occur in ore passes. The procedures for removing these material hangups are extremely hazardous and usually involve the intervention of a miner to remove the blockage. The research should lead to changes in the design guidelines for ore passes and similar material transportation and storage systems in mines and significantly improve safety.

Abstract

Research Plans

Results at a Glance

• Discrete Element Methods for Mechanical Analysis of Systems of General Shaped Bodies
• Material Flow Analyses of Non-circular Shaped Granular Media Using discrete Element Methods
• Development of Discrete Element Methodology for the Simulation of Gravity Flow in Ore Passes
• A Numerical and Experimental Study of the Performance and Safety Issues for Ore Pass Systems
• Computer Simulation of Gravity Flow of Ore in Ore Passes by the Discrete element Method (DEM)
• Application of DEM to Simulate Gravity Flow of Bulk Solid Materials in Mines
• Discrete Element Analysis of the Flow of Ore Materials in Underground Mining Ore Passes
• Quantification and Analysis of Ore Pass/Draw Point Flow Problems Leading to the Development of Design Rule of Thumbs

• A Numerical Study of the Performance and Safety Issues for Ore Pass Systems (Final Report)

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Presentations

Related Literature