Current areas of research in the School of Mining Engineering include:
Underground Mine Geomechanics
B Hebblewhite, J Galvin, Y Cai, V Pareek, C Fowler, P Hagan, J Watson
Underground excavation design using various stress analysis modelling packages including boundary element, finite element, finite difference and displacement discontinuity. Rock mass classification; strata control, ground support and pillar design application in both soft and hard rock environments; surface subsidence control. Application of fundamental rock and soil mechanics principles to mechanics of ground; geotechnical monitoring and back analyses of in situ stresses and deformations in underground mines. Boundary element numerical methods for the computation of stress near underground openings; boundary element methods for the prediction of crack propagation in rock, as applied in rock cutting technology, blasting technology and hydro fracturing; finite element methods for the analysis of wind blast in underground coal mines due to goaf collapse, finite element modelling of coal pillars and finite element modelling of rock bolts.
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Numerical Modelling in Mining Geomechanics
G Sharrock
Simulating flow with greater accuracy.
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Mine Ventilation
R Moreby, J Galvin, D Chalmers, C Fowler
Mine ventilation principles and design for both hard rock and coal mining operations; gas management in mines; gas drainage; heat in mines; mine air conditioning; spontaneous combustion; mine atmosphere emergency management. Underground mine environmental management expertise. Mine ventilation simulation and monitoring; fan performance. Engineering principles of windblasts and airblasts in mining operations; monitoring of windblast effects; instrumentation development; gas and dust in mine atmospheres.
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Mining Systems and Methods
J Galvin, B Hebblewhite, C Daly, D Laurence
Application of computing to mining engineering, operations research and computer simulation of mining processes. Computer visualisation of mining systems. Mine lighting. Mining techniques and practices, mine planning and mining methods, mine management, mining legislation, health and safety; systems safety assessments. All aspects of open cut hard rock mining - operations and planning; mechanical cutting of rock; tunnelling; mineral economics.
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Mine Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
D Laurence
Mining environmental management; mine rehabilitation & closure; mine safety & health; mining law; mining in developing countries; institutional strengthening in developing countries; social impact of mining on indigenous communities.
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Mine geophysics
V Pareek
Mine geology and geophysics; design, development and application of geophysical and other instrumentation for mine geotechnical assessment. Application of geophysical tools in mine monitoring; study of induced and triggered seismicity in mining regions.
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Virtual Reality Systems for Training and Simulation (more info...)
P Stothard
Development of simulation systems for mining operations and equipment; training.
Commissioning of new VR training facility at the Newcastle Mines Rescue Station.
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Seabed Mining
B Hebblewhite, D Laurence
Evaluation of seabed deposits for potential sustainable mining development; seabed massive sulphides; undersea terrain, potential mining systems technology and economics; environmental impact of mining systems; environmental modelling and simulation.
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