Microbiologically Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking in Underground Mines. Premature brittle failure of rock & cable bolts due to stress corrosion cracking can cause fatalities and serious damage, and has been reported in several mining operations across Australia and world-wide. The evidence suggests that microbial activity is a contributing factor. The project aims to implement experimental methodologies to determine the specific conditions responsible for bolt failure and develop novel prevent ....Microbiologically Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking in Underground Mines. Premature brittle failure of rock & cable bolts due to stress corrosion cracking can cause fatalities and serious damage, and has been reported in several mining operations across Australia and world-wide. The evidence suggests that microbial activity is a contributing factor. The project aims to implement experimental methodologies to determine the specific conditions responsible for bolt failure and develop novel prevention techniques applicable in underground mines. The benefits of this research will be improved understanding of the environment causing catastrophic failure of bolts and avoidance of potential hazards & economic loss in mining projects. This will lead to improved safety & increased productivity in mining operations.Read moreRead less
A Machine Learning driven flow modelling of fragmented rocks in cave mining. The project aims to develop an integrated method that uses micro scale and macro scale information to predict block scale behaviour so that a better cave mining design can be established. The role of various mineral composition on the energy storage and fracture properties of rocks will be investigated to examine rock fragmentation for block cave mining. Later Machine Learning based models will be developed to establis ....A Machine Learning driven flow modelling of fragmented rocks in cave mining. The project aims to develop an integrated method that uses micro scale and macro scale information to predict block scale behaviour so that a better cave mining design can be established. The role of various mineral composition on the energy storage and fracture properties of rocks will be investigated to examine rock fragmentation for block cave mining. Later Machine Learning based models will be developed to establish various predictive models for Block Scale rock mass behaviour and caveability of ore deposit. Finally, we will develop a new constitutive model based on a dual damage concept that will capture the rock fragmentation and simulate the cave propagation in a large scale mine layout using Smoothed-particle hydrodynamics.Read moreRead less
Preventing extreme granular wear of geotechnical machinery. This project will investigate the mechanisms controlling the mechanical wear that is incurred while handling geomaterials such as sand, ore, coal and fragmented rock. The overarching aim is to help forecast and mitigate extreme wear conditions by analysing the microscopic forces that granular materials produce when in contact with moving metallic surfaces. The intended outcomes include a thorough understanding of these interfacial inter ....Preventing extreme granular wear of geotechnical machinery. This project will investigate the mechanisms controlling the mechanical wear that is incurred while handling geomaterials such as sand, ore, coal and fragmented rock. The overarching aim is to help forecast and mitigate extreme wear conditions by analysing the microscopic forces that granular materials produce when in contact with moving metallic surfaces. The intended outcomes include a thorough understanding of these interfacial interactions and an experimentally validated theory predicting wear rates for a range of materials and handling processes. The expected benefit of this project is to enhance the productivity and reliability of the mining and construction sectors by reducing wear-related machinery failures.Read moreRead less
Multi-phase modelling and characterisation of mudrush hazard in cave mining. A mudrush is a sudden, uncontrolled flow of wet fine particles (mud) into an underground mine that damages equipment, infrastructure, and can even cause fatalities. This project aims to develop cost-effective management and monitoring of mudrush hazards within the at-risk Carrapateena cave mine operated by OZ Minerals. Building on recent technological and numerical advances, a novel experimental–theoretical–numerical ap ....Multi-phase modelling and characterisation of mudrush hazard in cave mining. A mudrush is a sudden, uncontrolled flow of wet fine particles (mud) into an underground mine that damages equipment, infrastructure, and can even cause fatalities. This project aims to develop cost-effective management and monitoring of mudrush hazards within the at-risk Carrapateena cave mine operated by OZ Minerals. Building on recent technological and numerical advances, a novel experimental–theoretical–numerical approach will be used to simulate mudrush risk based on moisture content, particle sizes, compaction, geological conditions, and seismic energy. Outputs will include a practical framework to boost the safety, productivity, and profitability of caving operations to benefit miners and the broader resources industry.Read moreRead less
A multi-scale theory for solid-granular transition due to fragmentation. The prediction of rock fragmentation and fragment sizes during its phase transition from solid (rock mass) to granular (ore fragments) is the most crucial problem in a cave mining operation. Current practice relies on empirical tools without fundamentals of fracture, and hence cannot reliably predict the fragmentation process and fragment sizes. This can lead to huge economic loss due to damage to extraction points, hold-up ....A multi-scale theory for solid-granular transition due to fragmentation. The prediction of rock fragmentation and fragment sizes during its phase transition from solid (rock mass) to granular (ore fragments) is the most crucial problem in a cave mining operation. Current practice relies on empirical tools without fundamentals of fracture, and hence cannot reliably predict the fragmentation process and fragment sizes. This can lead to huge economic loss due to damage to extraction points, hold-ups for safety precautions, and mine closures. The project will develop a new theory and models to describe this solid-granular transition, and computational tools for simulations of cave mining operations. The expected benefits and outcomes include safer operations, and better control of production schedule and budgeting.Read moreRead less
A novel whole-process analysis method for fractured rock slopes . Aims: The project aims to develop a discontinuous deformation and displacement analysis method to study the jointed rock slope instability.
Significance: The proposed method verified by experimental tests will be inherit the advantages of finite element method and discontinuous deformation analysis and is able to provide an entire and unified description of rock deformation and failure.
Expected Outcomes: The results of this integ ....A novel whole-process analysis method for fractured rock slopes . Aims: The project aims to develop a discontinuous deformation and displacement analysis method to study the jointed rock slope instability.
Significance: The proposed method verified by experimental tests will be inherit the advantages of finite element method and discontinuous deformation analysis and is able to provide an entire and unified description of rock deformation and failure.
Expected Outcomes: The results of this integrated study will provide a new method for engineers who wish to characterise and predict the stability of rock/tunnel slopes in Australia and worldwide.
Benefits: Australian society will benefit from new tools to facilitate more reliable assessment of risks associated with instability in rock slopes.
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Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC160100036
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,881,754.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre in Alloy Innovation for Mining Efficiency. ARC Training Centre in Alloy Innovation for Mining Efficiency. This centre aims to make Australian manufacturers dominant in the multi-billion dollar mining equipment sector by training innovators to design the world’s best highly customized long-life, wear resistant components. It intends to rapidly develop customized alloys that excel in severe mining conditions, using three-dimensional printing, novel characterisation and its netw ....ARC Training Centre in Alloy Innovation for Mining Efficiency. ARC Training Centre in Alloy Innovation for Mining Efficiency. This centre aims to make Australian manufacturers dominant in the multi-billion dollar mining equipment sector by training innovators to design the world’s best highly customized long-life, wear resistant components. It intends to rapidly develop customized alloys that excel in severe mining conditions, using three-dimensional printing, novel characterisation and its networked training environment. It expects these innovations will enable much needed efficiencies after the end of the mining super-cycle. Anticipated outcomes are the design of products with superior alloy design and material selection; jobs growth and security in the mining component production sector; and increased mining efficiency and cost reduction.Read moreRead less
Maximise goaf gas drainage for safe coal extraction and emissions reduction. Coal mine methane is a serious mining hazard and greenhouse gas emissions. This project seeks to enhance mining safety by maximising gas capture during coal extraction. This will be achieved through field data back-analysis, coupled Multiphysics modelling, and stochastic risk assessment. Gas explosion and spontaneous combustion risks associated with intensive gas drainage will be quantitively assessed and eliminated to ....Maximise goaf gas drainage for safe coal extraction and emissions reduction. Coal mine methane is a serious mining hazard and greenhouse gas emissions. This project seeks to enhance mining safety by maximising gas capture during coal extraction. This will be achieved through field data back-analysis, coupled Multiphysics modelling, and stochastic risk assessment. Gas explosion and spontaneous combustion risks associated with intensive gas drainage will be quantitively assessed and eliminated to help mine managers’ decision making, design optimisation, and mitigation planning. This will provide significant benefit for the mining industry in maintaining production commitments in a safe workplace while addressing environmental concerns by capturing the fugitive emissions to be converted into a useful energy resource.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101153
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,000.00
Summary
Mapping resources, demands and constraints to critical metal supplies. This project aims to assess the mineral resources of five metals needed for renewable energy transitions and map the potential impacts of their mining. It uses novel geochemical proxy models to build highly detailed resource databases and demonstrates a world-first use of cloud-computing power to assess worldwide satellite data of mine areas. Expected outcomes include in-depth knowledge of geological endowments and global-sca ....Mapping resources, demands and constraints to critical metal supplies. This project aims to assess the mineral resources of five metals needed for renewable energy transitions and map the potential impacts of their mining. It uses novel geochemical proxy models to build highly detailed resource databases and demonstrates a world-first use of cloud-computing power to assess worldwide satellite data of mine areas. Expected outcomes include in-depth knowledge of geological endowments and global-scale patterns of mining emerging to meet changing metal demands, plus the discovery of geological and socio-environmental constraints to future supplies. This will enhance government and industry capacities for de-risking metal supply chains, and facilitate more sophisticated land use planning of mining regions.Read moreRead less