A new damage model for rock burst in hard rocks during deep mining. This project seeks to develop a new model to predict incipient rock burst in deep mines. Violent sudden energy released during dynamic brittle failure of rocks can kill people and cause serious damages to mining infrastructures. The project aims to investigate formation of micro-fractures on the brittle shear zones during dynamic brittle failure of pristine rocks with a unique experimental methodology under high-pressure-tempera ....A new damage model for rock burst in hard rocks during deep mining. This project seeks to develop a new model to predict incipient rock burst in deep mines. Violent sudden energy released during dynamic brittle failure of rocks can kill people and cause serious damages to mining infrastructures. The project aims to investigate formation of micro-fractures on the brittle shear zones during dynamic brittle failure of pristine rocks with a unique experimental methodology under high-pressure-temperature condition. It is anticipated that a new micromechanics-based damage model for brittle rocks will be developed from this. Implementation of the new coupled thermo-mechanical damage model into a finite element should result in realistic simulation of deep mining operations to identify rock-burst prone areas and allow mining managers to avoid potential hazards.Read moreRead less
Avoiding catastrophic failure of cable bolts in underground mines. This work aims to identify the factors responsible for the emerging problem of catastrophic failure of high-load cable bolts in underground mines and develop strategies for resisting their failure. The work is of high importance since failure of cable bolts is now being reported in several mines across Australia and is expected to become a problem world-wide. The work is novel as it intends to be the very first study of catastrop ....Avoiding catastrophic failure of cable bolts in underground mines. This work aims to identify the factors responsible for the emerging problem of catastrophic failure of high-load cable bolts in underground mines and develop strategies for resisting their failure. The work is of high importance since failure of cable bolts is now being reported in several mines across Australia and is expected to become a problem world-wide. The work is novel as it intends to be the very first study of catastrophic cable bolt failure. The expected outcome is the development of economically viable solutions for avoiding catastrophic cable bolt failure. It is anticipated that the findings will also be relevant to the civil engineering sector.Read moreRead less
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
Behaviour of a cementing slurry in a full-scale mining stope. Any mining technique that allows improved extraction of ore from underground workings results in improved financial viability of the mining process concerned. Such improved extraction rates are being achieved by backfilling previously mined voids with cemented mine waste, which also improves stability of the underground workings. This research will further improve the financial viability of mines using this technique by reducing the a ....Behaviour of a cementing slurry in a full-scale mining stope. Any mining technique that allows improved extraction of ore from underground workings results in improved financial viability of the mining process concerned. Such improved extraction rates are being achieved by backfilling previously mined voids with cemented mine waste, which also improves stability of the underground workings. This research will further improve the financial viability of mines using this technique by reducing the amount of cement used, without compromising the safety of workers. In some otherwise marginal mines, these savings could be the difference between the mine staying open and being placed on care-and-maintenance, with the potential loss of jobs in mainly remote parts of the country.Read moreRead less
A benign alkaline process for scarce metal extraction and reagent recycle. A benign alkaline process for scarce metal extraction and reagent recycle.. This project aims to selectively extract base and precious metals from their ores in saline and non-saline environments, building upon a patented process utilising edible glycine under oxidising and mildly alkaline solutions. Extraction processes of metals from primary resources mostly use harsh, toxic and/or non-recyclable reagents. Exploratory r ....A benign alkaline process for scarce metal extraction and reagent recycle. A benign alkaline process for scarce metal extraction and reagent recycle.. This project aims to selectively extract base and precious metals from their ores in saline and non-saline environments, building upon a patented process utilising edible glycine under oxidising and mildly alkaline solutions. Extraction processes of metals from primary resources mostly use harsh, toxic and/or non-recyclable reagents. Exploratory research has already indicated the potential for easy metal recovery from their alkaline glycinate solutions and recycling of the lixiviant (glycine). Anticipated outcomes are a safe, non-toxic process for extracting metals from primary resources.Read moreRead less
Integrated processes for fine coal treatment. This project is concerned with new processes for the treatment of fine coal which forms an export market in excess of A$2 billion a year. The aim is to improve the separation of fine coal from silt and clay, and especially the recovery of larger particles in the flotation process. Further aims are to increase the ease of filtration and dewatering of fine coal, and to reduce the dust that is generated when fine coal is handled during transportation on ....Integrated processes for fine coal treatment. This project is concerned with new processes for the treatment of fine coal which forms an export market in excess of A$2 billion a year. The aim is to improve the separation of fine coal from silt and clay, and especially the recovery of larger particles in the flotation process. Further aims are to increase the ease of filtration and dewatering of fine coal, and to reduce the dust that is generated when fine coal is handled during transportation on land and sea. A laboratory-scale process will be developed and tested at a larger scale. The new knowledge that is gained will be essential for the successful introduction of the new technology into the Australian coal industry.Read moreRead less
Avoiding catastrophic failure of rock bolts in underground coal mines. This project will examine the factors responsible for the emerging problem of catastrophic failure of rock bolts in underground mines in order to develop strategies for resisting such failures. The consequences of rock bolt failure are potentially enormous from both a mine safety and economic standpoint. The strategies developed are expected to not only reduce the likelihood of injury and death from rock falls but to also red ....Avoiding catastrophic failure of rock bolts in underground coal mines. This project will examine the factors responsible for the emerging problem of catastrophic failure of rock bolts in underground mines in order to develop strategies for resisting such failures. The consequences of rock bolt failure are potentially enormous from both a mine safety and economic standpoint. The strategies developed are expected to not only reduce the likelihood of injury and death from rock falls but to also reduce very expensive mine downtime and avoid costly replacement of broken rock bolts. Australian Rock Bolting Technology is now used internationally and the work will be of substantial significance both nationally and internationally. It will help maintain Australia's international prominence in this field.Read moreRead less
Optimising non-explosive rock breaking technology. Non-explosive rock breaking technology has the potential to significantly improve safety and production in mining and construction industries. This project will quantify a non-explosive hydraulic rock breaking technology through innovative theoretical and numerical investigations. The influences of all the key factors on the efficiency of this technology will the examined. It is envisaged that the outcomes from this proposal will optimise the no ....Optimising non-explosive rock breaking technology. Non-explosive rock breaking technology has the potential to significantly improve safety and production in mining and construction industries. This project will quantify a non-explosive hydraulic rock breaking technology through innovative theoretical and numerical investigations. The influences of all the key factors on the efficiency of this technology will the examined. It is envisaged that the outcomes from this proposal will optimise the non-explosive rock breaking technology, greatly improve its application and guide our industry partner to develop reliable equipment.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