Mining Publication: Design Analysis of Underground Mine Ore Passes: Current Research Approaches

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has identified ore pass hazards as a significant safety problem in underground metal mines in the United States. Injury and fatality data show that many injuries are related to pulling or freeing ore pass chutes and structural failures of control gates and ore pass walls. Researchers at the Spokane Research Laboratory of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health are investigating these hazards and developing methods to improve safety during transport of ore and waste. Particle flow analysis methods were used to simulate chute and control ate response to various material loading scenarios. Results from computer models indicate that dynamic impacts from ore and waste rock might be considerably greater than theory predicts. Static and dynamic loads were measured in a laboratory setting using scaled ore pass mock-ups. Field tests were initiated in an active ore pass to determine actual static and dynamic loads. Fields data were compared to computer results and indicated that impact and total static loads were substantially less than the computer model results suggested. Damping factors, normal and shear stiffness, and mass frictional characteristics have a significant effect on particle flow and resulting impact loads.