Engineering Commons^™

Investigation Into Helmet–Head Shock Wave Interactions At Low Overpressures Through Free-Field Blasts And Schlieren Imagery, C. J.H. Thomas, Catherine E. Johnson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Brain Injuries in Warfighters Due to Low-Level Blasts, Even While Wearing a Helmet, Are Common. Understanding How the Form of a Shock Wave Changes When Impacting a Head Donning a Helmet May Present Solutions to Reducing Shock Loading on the Head, Thereby Reducing the Prevalence of Blast-Induced Traumatic Brain Injury. a Manikin with PCB Piezoelectric Transducers throughout the Head Was Exposed to Low-Pressure Free-Field Blasts using an RDX-Based Explosive Charge Designed to Output a Side-On overpressure of 4 Pounds Per Square Inch (Psi) [27.5 Kilopascals (KPa)] with and Without a Helmet. Orientations of 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 Degrees …

Underground Blast Fragmentation Modeling For Use In The Mine-To-Mill Strategy, Lauren Shields

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

More than 40 years ago, the mine-to-mill concept was introduced in the mining industry by establishing a relationship or link between processing and mining activities. To date, many successful case studies have documented the evident benefits of the mine-to-mill approach. In most cases, the basis of the mine-to-mill approach is to tailor the details of a blast design and its proper execution in order to satisfy specific mineral processing requirements downstream. Most of the available literature and case studies deal with surface mine operations. Due to the relative simplicity of surface mining, the relationship between the powder factor, defined as …

Enhance Effectiveness Of Monitoring Scheme Using Insar On Tailings Storage Facility No. 2, Chatree Gold Mine, Thailand, Shanghai Chea

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Tailings storage facility (TSF) is a critical component of the mining industry, serving to safely contain waste generated during mineral extraction. At Chatree Gold Mine, the largest and only active gold mine in Thailand, TSF No.2 handles approximately 5 million tons of tailings annually. Effective monitoring of the facility is crucial for hazard prevention and regulatory compliance. This study aims to enhance the monitoring scheme of TSF No.2 by employing Small Baseline Subset Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SBAS-InSAR) technique, processed via MintPy software, to analyze ground deformation. Despite traditional monitoring methods, such as in-situ geodetic surveying, offering valuable insights, they …

Recovery Of Tin From Kaolin Mine Tailing, Rangoon, Thailand, Archana Pandit

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study investigates the recovery of tin from kaolin waste using gravity, electrostatic, and magnetic separation techniques. A total of 123.500 kg of sand and 103.200 kg of silt were processed using a shaking table, spiral concentrator, high-tension separator, induced roll magnetic separator, and Frantz magnetic separator. Mineralogical and chemical characterization was conducted using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and microscopic analysis to determine tin distribution and occurrence. Experimental results showed that the silt fractions generally exhibited higher tin content than the sand fractions. In this study, Case A refers to the samples (Sand A and Silt A) processed …

Simulation On Acid Gas Removal From Natural Gas Processing With Membrane And Absorption Process, Ratikorn Sornumpol

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The comparison using simulations of CO₂ removal from natural gas via membrane separation and monoethanolamine (MEA) absorption has been studied. The membrane model is applied with the single- and two-stage configurations over feed pressures 3,000–9,000 kPa, temperatures 10–59 °C, CO₂ concentrations 20–70 mol %, membrane areas 2,500–5,500 m², and flows 331,800–580,600 m³/h. At 10 °C feed temperature, CO₂ permeability is enhanced while CH₄ selectivity improves slightly, increasing CO₂ capture efficiency up to 74 % with only minor methane losses, though at the cost of higher refrigeration duty. The 10 °C operation also leads to stronger driving force across the membrane, …

Experimental Investigation Of A Viscoelastic Liner To Reduce Under Helmet Overpressures And Shock Wave Reflections, Cody J.H. Thomas, Fatih Dogan, Catherine E. Johnson

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Introduction: Shock wave overpressure exposures can result in blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) in warfighters. Although combat helmets provide protection against blunt impacts, the protection against blast waves is limited due to the observed high overpressures occurring underneath the helmet. One route to enhance these helmets is by incorporating viscoelastic materials into the helmet designs, reducing pressures imposed on the head. This study aims to further investigate this mitigation technique against under-helmet overpressures by adding a viscoelastic liner to the inside of a combat helmet. Methods: The liner's effectiveness was evaluated by exposing it to free-field blasts of Composition C-4 …

The Methodology For Integrating Robotic Systems In Undeground Mining Machines, Peter Kolapo

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Roof bolting is a critical operation in ensuring the safety and stability of underground mines by securing the roof strata with bolts. The process involves moving and manipulating heavy tools while being vigilant about the safety of the area. During the installation of roof bolts, operators are exposed to hazardous conditions due to challenging working conditions in underground mines, extensive working hours, and demanding shift schedules leading to personnel fatigue and influencing operators to take shortcuts that may increase the risk of injuries and fatal accidents. The successful completion of roof bolting tasks depends heavily on operator judgment and experience …

Autonomous Shuttle Car Docking To A Continuous Miner Using Rgb-Depth Imagery, Sky Rose

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

A great deal of research is currently being conducted in automating mining equipment to improve worker health and safety and increase mine productivity. Significant progress has been made in some applications, e.g., autonomous haul trucks for surface mining. However, little progress has been made in autonomous face haulage in underground room-and pillar coal mines. Accordingly, this thesis addresses automating the operation of a shuttle car, focusing on positioning the shuttle car under the continuous miner coal-discharge conveyor during cutting and loading operations. The approach uses a stereo depth camera as the sensor, and machine-learning algorithms are used to identify various …

Discrete Element Modeling To Predict Muckpile Profiles From Cast Blasting, Russell Lamont

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Movement of overburden or ore from one location to another may be considered the primary physical process of mining. The means by which it is transported is then of primary concern both to economic production and cost control. The geologic characteristics of some mineral deposits, especially coal and phosphates, lend themselves to overburden transport by means of cast blasting, which when efficiently designed has proven itself to be a cheaper method than traditional truck/shovel, dragline, or even dozer push transport. Simultaneously, this movement of a significant portion of overburden using explosives may enable an operation to increase mineral production, as …

Prediction Of Final Subsidence Under Dipping Seam Conditions, Ernesto Maldonado Esguerra

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

The prediction of ground movements due to underground coal mining and their impacts on the surface are essential considerations that numerous researchers worldwide have studied. Most of these studies have focused on developing different analytical and empirical models for predicting and calculating ground deformation indices for flat or gently dipping seams under variable topography. However, a few studies are available on predicting ground movements under dipping seam conditions. Although most inclined coal seams are in China, India, and a few other countries, dipping seam conditions have been encountered in some cases in the US, where the inclination (dip) may be …

Copper Ammoniacal Recycling Process Development For Leaching Electrolyte, Solvent Extraction, And Electrowinning, Zulqarnain Ahmad Ali

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Electronic waste (e-waste) encompasses waste originating from electronic and electrical equipment. In 2022, 59.4 million metric tons of e-waste were generated, projected to increase to 74.7 million metric tons by 2030. Among the most valuable components within E-Waste are the printed circuit boards (PCBs), primarily composed of metals including copper (Cu), gold (Au), silver (Ag), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), bismuth (Bi), and various other base and precious metals. Notably, copper is the predominant element in PCBs, with concentrations exceeding those in their respective ores. The high demand for copper driven by the ongoing push towards greener technologies and its abundant …

Characterization And Concentration Of Critical Minerals And Rare Earth Elements From Primary And Secondary Silicate Deposits, Muhammed Melih Elseyh

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Critical materials (CMs) are crucial for sustainable energy. This investigation explored the extraction of rare earth elements (REEs) from the Halleck Creek deposit in Wyoming, and CMs from a construction sand deposit in Missouri. The Halleck Creek deposit is REE enriched (0.32%) as the mineral allanite within silicious host rock. Density fractionation tests revealed that 70% of the gangue can be rejected while recovering 90% of the REEs with an upgrading ratio of 4.5:1. By exploiting allanite’s paramagnetic properties, magnetic separations achieved a TREE upgrade ratio of 3:1 with 87% TREE recovery. Based on the density fractionation results, a rougher-scavenger-cleaner …

Performance And Field Testing Of Geotextiles For Dewatering Rare Earth Element Hydraulic Preconcentrate From Hardrock Amd, Ian R. Bird

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As part of ongoing efforts to develop a domestic Rare Earth Elements (REE) supply chain the Hydraulic Preconcentrate (HPC) produced at the Horseshoe bend treatment plant (HsB) was manufactured and evaluated as a potential source for feedstock. After the existing clarifiers on the site were flipped to the desired pH set points, HPC was manufactured and pumped to 24 geobags. The geobags were then passively dewatered to increase the total solids percentage. The geobags evaluated were comprised of: Woven geotextiles, composite (woven and non- woven), and geobags augmented with Capillary Channel Fiber (CCF). Column Filtration Tests (CFTs) were performed onsite …

Forecasting Of The Next Three (3) Decades Global Lithium Demand And Pricing Using Multivariate Stochastic Model., Enoch Nii- Okai

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is pivotal in achieving global climate goals, with nations aiming to integrate a significant portion of new passenger vehicles as electric by 2030. This shift towards electric mobility includes a notable rise in battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel-cell electric vehicles to curb carbon emissions and foster sustainable transportation. Central to this transition is the critical role of lithium, often referred to as the "white gold of the 21st century," in electric vehicle batteries, especially rechargeable lithium-ion batteries renowned for their high energy efficiency, density, and durability. While lithium has historically found extensive use across …

Preliminary Remote Identification Of Unstable Zone On Large-Scale Waste Dump At Mae Moh Mine Using Insar Technique, Chitra Buth

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Mae Moh Mine is one of the largest lignite mine in Southeast Asia, operated by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). It is located in the northern part of Thailand, in Mae Moh district, Lampang province. In March 2018, a significant sliding incidence occurred at a waste dump site with sliding area of 1.56 km2 approximately, highlighting the pressing issue of instability within this large-scale waste dump area. This study aims to address this concern in the future and demonstrate an innovative method for investigating the failure by employing Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technology. The methodology involves the …

The Mechanism And Effect Of Seismic Source Location Using Double Waves In Three-Dimensional Microseismic Monitoring, Zhigang Wang, Xiaoqing Wang, Shunlin Yin, Maochen Ge

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Accurate seismic source location has always been the most important purpose of micro seismic and seismic monitoring. The location accuracy inside the existing monitoring networks is generally high, whereas the accuracy in the external area and sensor accessories area tends to be low. This scenario contributes to an overall limitation in the effective monitoring area. The seismic source location was performed in this study using P waves and S waves to improve the location accuracy outside the monitoring networks and in the adjacent area and enlarge the high-accuracy control area of the monitoring networks. Moreover, the mechanism of seismic source …

Spatiotemporal Variance Image Reconstruction For Thermographic Inspections, Logan M. Wilcox, Emily M. Johnson, Emma T. Bohannon, Catherine E. Johnson, Kristen M. Donnell

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Active microwave thermography (AMT) is a nondestructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E) technique that utilizes a radiating antenna to induce a thermal increase on or within a specimen under test (SUT). The radiated power density is spatially nonuniform and therefore results in a spatially nonuniform thermal excitation, which may result in missed or false indications of defects. To this end, this work proposes a novel image reconstruction technique for nonuniform excitation/heating and is referred to as Spatiotemporal Variance Reconstruction (STVR). STVR utilizes the spatial and temporal variance of the surface thermal profile. STVR is advantageous in that it does not require …

Anaerobic Reductive Bioleaching Of Manganese Ores, Neha Sharma

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Manganese extraction by biological methods is a green and economical way to produce manganese from low as well as high grade manganese ores. This is especially important for US ores, which are primarily either small in extent, low-grade with a high iron content, or both. They are therefore not suitable for conventional mining, which is very capital-intensive and requires a large up-front investment and are therefore imported at high costs. The goal is therefore to develop a process that can be applied at small scales, with minimal startup costs, and low equipment and labor requirements. It is also critical to …

Novel Uses Of Distributed Optical Fiber Sensing For Geo-Mechanical Monitoring, Samuel Vincent Nowak

Doctoral Dissertations

"Rock mass monitoring in underground excavations is crucial for ensuring workplace safety and efficiency. As mines become deeper and more complex, the need to monitor larger volumes of rock during mining becomes impractical with existing instruments due to high costs. Distributed Optical Fiber Sensing (DOFS) is a powerful technology with advantages like long sensor length, real-time measurement capabilities, ease of installation, low cost, and distributed measurement. However, its application in rock mass monitoring is limited, especially in the mining industry. This study addresses a major gap in DOFS technology, specifically the inability of long-range distributed optical fiber strain sensors to …

Monitoring And Control Of Coal Dust Exposure Using Low-Cost Pm Sensors And Computational Fluid Dynamics, Nana Kobina Amoako Amoah

Doctoral Dissertations

"Overexposure to respirable coal mine dust has been linked to causing serious health problems including coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP) and chronic massive fibrosis. The prevalence of these health problems has been on the increase since the 2000s due to increased exposure levels with roof bolter operators having the highest exposure levels. The currently used PDM3700 is too expensive, heavy and bulky which limits their use only for regulatory monitoring failing to measure miners’ personal exposure levels. Also, since roof bolter operators are more prone to elevated coal dust levels, the canopy air curtain (CAC) was developed to protect then high …

Optimization Of Fire Emergency Preparedness In Underground Mining Environments: An Agent-Based Evacuation Approach, Oluwafemi Babatunde Salami

Doctoral Dissertations

"Underground mining environments present a complex interplay of thermal and non-thermal hazards, with fires constituting a significant risk due to the release of heat smoke from incomplete combustion. The propagation of these hazards through the ventilation networks underscores the critical need for understanding fire scenarios and their interaction with the underground environment. Existing knowledge regarding past mine fire disasters, and quantification of associated hazards and risks are insufficient for optimizing emergency evacuation strategies in the event of an underground fire emergency.

This research endeavors to bridge this gap by developing advanced quantitative risk assessment and evacuation models tailored specifically for …

Investigating Detonation Parameters Through The Plate Dent Test: A Novel Approach For Characterizing Detonation Curvature And Thickness, Emily Michelle Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations

Detonation is the driving factor behind how an explosive, used in an array of applications, performs. Understanding and measuring detonation parameters of an explosive is key in explosive charge design and application. Currently, determining parameters is costly as the instrumentation needed is expensive in terms of price, maintenance, and personnel. This research examines two methods of determining detonation parameters through measurement of secondary material response to the detonation wave in an effort to provide an alternate, simple, and inexpensive method of measurement. The first of these studies focuses on the Gurney Model and demonstrates that the model's accuracy was diminished …

The Effects Of Uv-Radiation On The Removal Of Microplastics In Water Using Agglomeration-Micro-Flotation, Palot Srichonphaisarn

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Microplastics, plastic particles with diameter 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters, can disturb marine ecosystems due to their small size and surface properties which can be a carrier for hazardous matters. While wastewater treatment plants could remove some microplastics but some of them remain. Among the various removal techniques, flotation is a potential method due to the hydrophobic nature of microplastics. This study investigates the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the surface wettability of microplastics and removal efficiency of microplastics. The 6 types of microplastics were prepared from plastic boards. After the ultraviolet radiation, the results showed that ultraviolet radiation could …

Characterization And Evaluation Of Various Biochar Types As Green Adsorbents For Rare Earth Element Recovery From Aqueous Solutions, Oluwaseun Victor Famobuwa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Rare earth elements (REEs) are members of the lanthanide family (atomic number 57 – 71). They are significantly important to the global economy due to their applications in renewable energy, defense, and medical industries. REEs are primarily derived from bastnaesite and monazite but may also be present in xenotime, cerite, alanite, and many other types of mineralization in lesser amounts. Due to the increasing demand for REEs and their criticality in the supply chain, the need to explore secondary sources of REEs has gained tremendous importance.

Secondary sources of REEs include but are not limited to acid mine drainage (AMD), …

Investigating Critical Mineral Recovery And Carbon Mineralization Potential In Coal Fly Ash, Syabilla Cardosh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Coal fly ash (CFA), a byproduct of coal combustion, represents an innovative opportunity to address the rising demand for critical minerals and the need to reduce CO2 emissions due to its significant concentrations of calcium and magnesium. By providing insights and preliminary data, this study aims to contribute to the foundational understanding necessary for future development.

A multidisciplinary approach was employed to assess CFA’s potential, including detailed chemical and mineralogical characterization using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD analysis revealed crystalline phases in the CFA samples. At the …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

Critical Links And Development Trends Of Research On Active Tectonics, Yuan Daoyang, Wang Youlin, Li Shuwu, Wang Wanhe, Li Linyuan, Zou Xiaobo, Wen Yameng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Following a brief introduction of the general characteristics of active tectonics in China, this study analyzed two new features of large earthquakes with M_s ≥ 7 that have struck continental China since the beginning of the 21st century: (1) Large earthquakes occur primarily in clusters along the boundary fault zone of the Bayanhar active tectonic block—part of the Qinghai-Tibet ateau active tectonic block. (2) Reverse fault-fold earthquakes have occurred multiple times within active basins or at basin-mountain boundaries. In response to the new seismic activity features and the new demand for disaster prevention and mitigation of engineering construction and …

Application Of Integrated Geophysical Surveys In The Identification Of Hidden Fire Sources In Spontaneous Combustion Zones In Coal Seams, Ma Zijun, Yang Haiyan, Li Wenyu, Xu Yunlei, He Yunlan, Liu Zhuoming, Li Peng, Huang Jiu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Spontaneous combustion in coal seams, a factor influencing the development of many mining areas in China, can cause severe coal resource loss and environmental pollution. The positioning and distribution identification of hidden fire sources can provide an important basis for coal mine enterprises to prepare prevention and control measures. They are also a hot research topic and challenge in the field of coal fire disasters. Suitable channels for ventilation and oxygen supply are necessary for spontaneous combustion in coal seams. When the oxidative heat release rate of coals exceeds the heat dissipation rate, coal temperature will rise until the occurrence …

Chromium-Contaminated Sites: Migration Characteristics And Monitoring Using Dual-Frequency Ip Method, Wei Kaiyao, Liu Zhimin, Liang Chen, Zhang Jie, Ma Qiang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Given that the migration process of chromium-contaminated sites is subjected to various uncertainties, it is difficult to investigate the migration characteristics and explore the monitoring process using experiments. Based on the basic law of groundwater flow and the migration mechanisms of pollutants, this study conducted a simulation analysis of the migration characteristics of static chromium contamination sources and the law of changes in the migration characteristics using the COMSOL software. Then, this study verified the reliability and accuracy of numerical forward simulations through physical simulation experiments on a static soil bin. Specifically, using the model of chromium contamination source migration …

Dual-Frequency Transmission Radio Wave-Based Exploration Method And Its Application, Fu Xianjie, Hu Ze'an, Wu Rongxin, Li Peng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Coal seams can act as the guided wave layers of high-frequency electromagnetic waves, and radio wave perspective technology can be used to detect geological structures within coal seams of a working face. Presently, radio wave perspective methods usually use a single frequency, leading to some problems such as improper frequency selection and limited detection accuracy in the exploration of mining faces. In response, this study developed a dual-frequency transmission radio wave-based exploration method. Based on theoretical analysis, as well as the field strength of dual-frequency perspective and attenuation coefficient, this study derived the calculation formula for the absorption factor γ …