MAD 432 - Mechanization in Mining and Tunneling Excavations

Course Objectives

1. Basic principles of mine and tunnel mechanization
2. Application areas of different mechanical miners and mechanical miner selection
3. Performance prediction methods for different mechanical miners

Course Description

Mechanization pre-requirements for mines and tunnels, planning. Site investigations and applied
laboratory. Conventional tunneling method (NATM), impact hammers, flexible support systems.
Cutters, cutting mechanics, specific energy, performance prediction. Continuous miners, ploughs,
shearers, roadheaders. Mechanization of longwall, shortwall, room and pillar, metallic mines.
TBMs, EPB TBMs, SPB TBMs, microtunneling methods. Backup equipment. Shaft and raise
boring machines. Mechanization of metro excavations. Latest developments and applications in
mechanical excavation for mining and tunnelling.