Mining Engineering Commons^™

Enhancing Pillar Stability Assessment In Underground Limestone Mines Using Lamodel: Integrating Empirical Strength Equations For Improved Ground Control, Alim Elibol

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Underground stone mining accounts for approximately 21% of all underground mining operations in the United States, with more than 2,000 workers employed in this sector as of 2019. Ground control failures, particularly those involving massive pillar collapses and roof falls, pose significant safety hazards, contributing to 40% of fatalities and 15% of lost workdays since 2006. Several massive pillar collapses have occurred in active limestone mines from 2015 to 2021, and a fatal incident was reported in January 2022 in a mine operating within the Loyalhanna formation. Given these risks, accurate stability assessment tools are essential for improving mine safety. …

Investigation Of Spalling Effects On The Brittle Behavior Of Rectangular Pillars In Underground Stone Mines, Yolver Yesid Jimenez Ibanez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Recent catastrophic collapses in U.S. limestone mines have exposed the limitations of traditional empirical design formulas for brittle rock masses. These events, especially those involving slender pillars, underscore that traditional methods often fail to account for progressive, spalling-dominated failure, highlighting a crucial gap in our understanding. This research addresses this issue by conducting a comprehensive investigation into the mechanics of spalling in rectangular stone mine pillars, utilizing advanced three-dimensional numerical modeling with FLAC3D combined with LiDAR-based geometric modeling.

The stability of a pillar is governed by a complex interaction between the in-situ stress field, rock mass properties, and pillar geometry. …

Rare Earth Element Recovery From Acid Mine Drainage Using Ion Exchange And Selective Precipitation Processes, Paubla Andrea Gallego Lopez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Rare earth elements (REEs) are used in high-tech applications due to their electromagnetic and optical properties. As global demand for REEs surges, the limitation of primary mineral deposits has increased interest in alternative sources. One such source is acid mine drainage (AMD), which, although typically low in REE concentration, offers a promising avenue for recovery. Among the emerging recovery methods, ion exchange has shown promise due to its effectiveness at low concentrations and lower operational cost than conventional techniques such as acid leaching and solvent extraction.

This research focused on developing a recovery process by combining ion exchange with selective …

Shock Wave And Vortex Ring Dynamics From Explosively Driven Shock Tunnels, Rachel Louise Bauer

Doctoral Dissertations

"Blast and shock tubes are frequently used to create shock waves to study their effects and impacts on structures, humans, and personal protective equipment. These tubes are also found in other industries including wind tunnels for aerodynamic testing, jet engines for propulsion research, spacecraft reentry simulations, and industrial applications such as material testing and high-velocity impact studies. Despite their widespread use, there is no standard design, with variations in geometry, size, and energy sources. Current research only evaluates the peak pressure of the shock wave produced and does not consider the effects of changing the size or geometry of the …

Advancing Refuge Alternatives In Mine Emergencies Using Advanced Numerical Simulation, Kutay Emre Karadeniz

Doctoral Dissertations

"Incidents and emergencies within underground coal mines can result in severe injuries or even loss of life, particularly due to the hazardous nature of mine explosions. One of the options for the miners to protect themselves from these hazards is to be sheltered in a refuge alternative (RA). However, the literature lacks an analysis of survivability constraints and the structural integrity of RAs when exposed to geomechanical changes and the ability to withstand the impact of coal mine explosions. In this study, based on the utilization and survivability constraints, basic human requirements and the required physical specifications of RAs during …

Applying Human System Integration Principles To The Investigation, Design And Validation Of Interventions For Self-Escape In Underground Mines, Eugene Adubofour Gyawu

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the use of human systems integration (HSI) to develop technologies for miners’ self-escape during a mine emergency, addressing barriers that compromise miner safety during emergencies.

Recognizing the inherently hazardous nature of underground mining, this study has three core objectives: (1) assessing miners' perceptions of proposed self-escape interventions, (2) designing interventions based on these insights, and (3) validating their effectiveness using experimental testing. This work evaluates self-escape interventions for both coal and metal/non-metal miners using scenario-based surveys, information design reviews, label designs and experimental testing methods varying across three distinct studies.

Results reveal that miners identified improvements to …

A Century Of Sediment Metal Contamination Of Mar Menor, Europe's Largest Saltwater Lagoon, Irene Alorda-Montiel, Valentí Rodellas, Ariane Arias-Ortiz, Albert Palanques, Andrea G. Bravo, Júlia Rodriguez-Puig, Aaron Alorda-Kleinglass, Carlos Green-Ruiz, Marc Diego-Feliu, Pere Masqué, Javier Gilabert, Jordi Garcia-Orellana

OES Faculty Publications

Coastal enclosed ecosystems, such as lagoons, are vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts because they favor the accumulation of contaminants from the surrounding watersheds, particularly in their sediments. Europe's largest saltwater lagoon, the Mar Menor (SE, Iberian Peninsula), is a highly impacted ecosystem and the first in the continent to be granted personhood rights. Based on a high-resolution spatial and temporal dataset, we present the historical reconstruction of metal contamination in this ecosystem during the last century. Our results highlight that sediment metal contamination has been mainly driven by the development of the mining industry in the nearby Sierra Minera de Cartagena-La …

Investigation Of Shockwave Behavior To Inform Helmet Design Using Schlieren Imagery And Free-Field Blasts, Cody Jh Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations

"Ballistic resistance of military helmet designs is a prioritized feature to protect warfighters from traumatic brain injury. However, injuries from shock-based threats have not been optimized for warfighter protection and have resulted in the prevalence of blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI). Research gaps were identified in understanding the under wash effect using free field blasts and schlieren imagery. Thus, the following were investigated: (1) overpressure changes on a warfighter’s head due to directionality from a blast, (2) shock wave dampening effects of viscoelastic materials in helmets, and (3) geometric effects of a helmet brim design in the reduction of bTBI. …

Radio Frequency Wave Propagation Modeling Within Obstructed Underground Mining Environments For Effective Miner Localization During Mine Emergencies, Emmanuel Atta Antwi

Doctoral Dissertations

The reliability of underground wireless communication systems remains a significant challenge, particularly during emergencies when the mine environment becomes severely obstructed by debris, dust, and humidity. These environmental and geometric conditions result in significant attenuation of electromagnetic (EM) waves and multipath effects that undermine miner localization and rescue operations. Existing Vector Parabolic Equation (VPE) models are efficient for straight or mildly curved tunnels but fail to account for the random and obstructive conditions typically encountered during underground emergencies. This research develops a novel radio propagation model for EM wave behavior in underground mine drifts under geometrically obstructed conditions. The model …

Viscoelastic Materials Evaluated For Blast-Resistant Designs, M. Sutter, C. Thomas, A. D. Douglas, F. Dogan, C. E. Johnson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Viscoelastic materials have extensive military applications due to their energy absorption capabilities, with the potential to reduce blast energy imposed on buildings, vehicles, and personnel. Based on current literature, limited information is available regarding the mitigation of blast energy related to these uses. The impact of thickness, nanoparticle addition, and layering variation was assessed in this study using commercially available viscoelastic materials in open-air blasts of Composition C4 to determine shock energy mitigation capabilities. Time-pressure waveforms were recorded to identify optimal changes in shock wave characteristics: reduced peak pressure, positive phase duration, and impulse, with increased rise times. Results were …

Cracking The Code: Harnessing Serpentinization-Driven Micro-Crack Networks For Hydrogen Generation And Subsurface Resource Recovery, U. Mutlu, G. Boitnott, A. Lisjak, J. Ha, O. Mahabadi, P. Connolly, B. N. Tunnell, T. Sherizadeh, S. Nowak, J. E. Olson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study focuses on simulating volume-increasing processes caused by natural hydrogen-generating serpentinization, a reaction in which olivine and pyroxene typically transform into serpentine minerals. The volume increase leads to crack propagation along grain interfaces and new crack generation within unreacted crystals (aka grains). The interplay between thermo-hydro-mechanicalchemical (THMC) conditions plays a critical role in the initiation, propagation, and coalescence of various fracture surfaces, which enhances permeability and can accelerate serpentinization and hydrogen production rates. In the scenarios considered, chemical reactions between formation brine and reactive minerals result in volumetric expansion, generating stress and promoting the propagation of micro-cracks. Our results …

Yolo-Based Miner Detection Using Thermal Images In Underground Mines, Cyrus Addy, Venkata Sriram Siddhardh Nadendla, Kwame Awuah-Offei

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Well-designed and effective in-mine robots can expedite miner self-rescue during emergencies and reduce fatalities. These in-mine robots for miner self-rescue can carry out diverse tasks such as scouting (including object detection and autonomous navigation), and payload delivery. However, robots that can effectively detect humans in a dark underground mine do not yet exist. This paper investigates challenges in the design of object detection algorithms for in-mine robots using thermal images, especially to detect people in real-time, in low-light conditions. The research team collected 500 thermal images in the Missouri University of Science & Technology Experimental Mine with the help of …

Delineating Underground Geological Formations: An Integrated Lidar And Camera-Based Approach For Enhanced Feature Identification In Poorly Lit Mining Environments, Timothy James Batchler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Underground mining environments present challenges in accurately identifying geological formations and potential hazards due to poor lighting conditions and confined spaces. Traditional imaging methods often fall short, making it difficult to detect critical geological features such as limestone, shale, and other rock formations. This research addresses these challenges by integrating camera imagery with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data to improve geological formation detection in poorly lit mining settings.

LiDAR, with its ability to generate high-resolution three-dimensional models in low-light or dark conditions, offers a promising solution to these limitations. By combining LiDAR’s precise 3D models with camera imagery, the …

Mid-Field Shock And Impulse Estimation Methods For Blast Loading On Tall Targets, Ethan Allan Steward

Doctoral Dissertations

Blast resistant structural design continues to be a major research area for governments around the world due to explosive threats from both state and non-state actors. Many of the typical targets of explosive attacks, such as government buildings, commercial high rise office buildings, and apartment complexes are mid to high-occupancy buildings that present a tall profile relative to the charge size and are often clad in curtain walls. In blast resistant structural design, the origin of a shock wave is typically assumed to be in the far-field, creating a wave that is nearly planar and parallel to at least one …

Empirical Study Of Far-Field Radio Frequency Wireless Power Transfer Testbed For Underground Mines Based On 1.8 Ghz, Anabi Hilary Kelechi, Samuel Frimpong

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel 1.8 GHz far-field wireless power transfer (WPT) testbed was designed to achieve long-distance energy harvesting in underground mine (UM). Prior experimental studies confirm that underground mines experience 50 dB radio frequency (RF) signal attenuation compared to a typical wireless environment. Due to this severe signal attenuation, the currently proposed radio frequency energy harvesting (RF-EH) testbed cannot be deployed in underground mines. In this study, we proposed, designed and performed an empirical study with a military-grade class A radio frequency wireless power transfer (RF-WPT) testbed. The various digital modulation schemes experimented with included: BPSK, DBPSK, QPSK, OQPSK, Pi4DQPSK, 8PSK, …

Exploring The Link Between Hy Wet Ball Mill Work Index And Grinding Energy Consumption, Chen Peng, Hou Ying, Lv Hongxu, Sobhy Ahmed

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In evaluating ore grinding energy consumption using the Bond ball mill work index, discrepancies were identified. As a result, an investigation into the determination method of Hou Ying (HY) wet ball milling work index (WHY) for Gongchangling magnetite ore was conducted to determine the correlation between WHY and grinding energy consumption at varying particle sizes. The research results indicated that WHY had an error less than 3.33%, which is closely aligned with on-site grinding energy consumption. This surpassed the numerical error of 15.9% in the Bond ball grinding power index and demonstrated superior accuracy in representing ore grinding energy consumption, …

Enhancing Safety In U.S. Coal Mines Through A Rib Support Recommendation Tool, Alper Kirmaci, Dakshith Ruvin Wijesinghe, Dogukan Guner, Kutay E. Karadeniz, Cameron Mitchell, Taghi Sherizadeh

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Despite ongoing efforts to enhance coal rib stability, the underground coal mining sector continues to face incidents of rib failure, leading to injuries and fatalities. The development and validation of effective rib support systems are crucial for mitigating these risks. Unfortunately, a standardized design methodology that accommodates the diverse geological conditions of U.S. coal mines is missing. Current practices are often based on trial-and-error or outdated methods, yielding unreliable outcomes. This research aims to fill this gap by creating a comprehensive methodology for designing rib support systems suitable for U.S. underground mines. It encompasses in situ pull-out tests of coal …

Application Of Gurney And Flight Of Fragment Calculations For Water Jet Velocities In Explosive Applications, Rachel L. Bauer, Tate B. Friedrich, Catherine E. Johnson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study investigates the application of Gurney and flight of fragment equations, typically used to predict metal fragment velocities, in modeling the water jet behavior. Three shotgun cartridge sizes were used as the energy source: 2.59 g, 5.83 g, and 7.13 g. Two configurations were tested: standard (full-barrel water load) and "negative 8" (partial water load). High-speed footage captured water column velocities, and Gurney models, including infinitely tamped and open-faced configurations, combined with the flight of fragment model were used to assess prediction accuracy. Results showed charge strength significantly affects water column velocity, with higher strengths yielding greater stability and …

Optimizing Hy Wet Ball Mill Efficiency Using Response Surface Methodology, Peng Chen, Ying Hou, Hongxu Lv, Ahmed Sobhy

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study uses response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite design to optimize the HY wet ball mill work index. Key operational parameters—ore quantity, water addition, and media proportion—were systematically investigated. Variance analysis identified these factors as statistically significant (p < 0.0001), with ore quantity exhibiting the strongest influence (F value = 82.67). Optimal conditions (water addition: 1083.880 mL, media filling rate: 40.362%, ore quantity: 1827.130 g) achieved a minimum work index of 10.195 kW h t⁻¹. Validation tests confirmed the model's accuracy, yielding an average work index of 10.168 kW h t⁻¹ (deviation: 0.027 kW h t⁻¹). Compared to single-factor tests, RSM optimization reduced energy consumption by 3.76% (0.3975 kW h t⁻¹), translating to annual savings of $214,000 for a mid-sized processing plant. This demonstrates RSM's efficacy in …

Using Telemetry To Assess Operator Effects On Hydraulic Shovel Energy Efficiency. Part Ii: Assessing Operator Effects, Noah Adekunle Aluko, Kwame Awuah-Offei

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this second part of a two-part series, this study investigates whether operator practices significantly affect the energy efficiency of hydraulic shovels, using detailed telemetry data. Rather than assuming this relationship, the research systematically tests it through a combination of statistical and regression analyses. First, Welch's and Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA confirm that operators differ significantly in their energy efficiency (p = 0.0000). Next, correlation analysis links parameters identified in Part I to energy per unit loading rate, and difference regression analysis determines which parameters most strongly influence efficiency variations. The results show that differences in payloads are the primary driver of …