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By Ji-He Wei

Keywords: stainless steel, AOD refining, side and top combined blowing, mixing characteristics, water modeling The fluid mixing characteristics in the bath during the side and top combined blowing AOD (argon-oxygen decarburization) refining process of stainless steel have preliminarily been investigated on a water model unit of a 120 t AOD converter. The geometric similarity ratio between the model and its prototype (including the side tuyeres and the top lances) was 1:4. On the basis of the theoretical calculations for the parameters of the gas streams in the side tuyeres and the top lances, the gas blowing rates used for the model have more reasonably been determined. The influence of the tuyere number and position arrangement, and the gas flow rates for side and top blowing on the characteristics has been examined. The results demonstrated that the liquid in the bath underwent vigorous circulatory motion during gas blowing, without obvious dead zone in the bath, resulting in a well mixing effectiveness. The gas flow rate of the main tuyere had a governing role on the characteristics, a suitable increase in the gas flow rate of the subtuyere could improve mixing efficiency, and the gas jet from top lance could make the mixing time prolong. Corresponding to the oxygen top blowing rate specified by the technology, a roughly equivalent and good mixing effectiveness could be reached by using six side tuyeres with an angle of 27 degrees between each tuyere, and five side tuyeres with an angular separation of 22.5 or 27 degrees between each tuyere. The relationships of the mixing time with the gas blowing rates of main-tuyeres and sub-tuyeres and top lance, the angle between each tuyere, and the tuyere number have been obtained.

Jan 1, 2005

By Ren G. Dong, John Z. Wu, Daniel E. Welcome, Kristine Krajnak

Although the exact mechanisms underlying vibration white finger (VWF) are not clear, it has been speculated that VWF is associated with variations of the blood flow patterns due to the physical damage and/or degeneration in neural and vascular tissue caused by vibration loading [1]. Excessive dynamic deformation of the soft tissues in the fingertip under vibration loading is believed to induce multiple occupation-related hand/finger disorders. However, the in vivo distributions of the dynamic stress/strain of the tissues in the fingertip under vibration conditions have not been studied because they cannot be measured experimentally to date. The goal of this study is to analyze, theoretically, the location and frequency-dependent dynamic deformation of the soft tissue in the fingertip during vibration exposures. [ ] Methods The fingertip considered in the model is the distal phalanx, the portion from the distal end of the fingertip to the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint articulation (Fig. 1). The external shape of the fingertip was determined using a smooth mathematical surface fitting to the observed fingertip shapes. The fingertip surface was then scaled to the dimensions of a typical male index finger: length 25 mm, width 20 mm, and height 18 mm. The fingertip was approximated to be symmetric, such that only a half of the fingertip was considered in the FE modeling. The fingertip was assumed to be composed of outer and inner skin layers, subcutaneous tissue, bone, and nail. The soft tissues (inner skin layer and subcutaneous tissues) were assumed to be nonlinearly elastic and viscoelastic, while the bone, nail, and outer skin layer were considered as linearly elastic. The simulations were conducted using a displacement-controlled protocol in two stages. First, the fingertip was statically pre-compressed. The contact plate was first displaced towards the finger to achieve a predetermined value of tissue deformation (i.e., 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mm). Second, the steady-state dynamics responses of the fingertip were analyzed using a linear perturbation procedure. The fingertip was subjected to a continuous harmonic excitation (magnitude 0.5 mm) from the contact interface. The dynamic analysis was performed in a frequency domain ranging from 16 to 2000 Hz. The frequency-dependent distributions of the vibration magnitude and dynamic strain magnitudes in the soft tissues are investigated. Results Typical simulation results for the frequency-dependent distributions of the vibration magnitude in the soft tissues are shown in Fig. 2 (figures show the results with a pre-compression of 2.0 mm). The vibration magnitude at the contact surface is 0.5 mm (specified) for all frequencies, while the vibration magnitudes in the soft tissues are location- and frequency-dependent. It is clear that the fingertip has a major resonance around 125 Hz, at which the vibration magnitudes in the soft tissues are over four times greater than that of the contact plate (0.5 mm). It is interesting to observe that, at this resonant frequency (125 Hz), the soft tissues at the tip has the maximal vibration magnitude while the regions near the contact

Jan 6, 2006

By Keith A. Heasley, John L. Ellenberger

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has continued the research role of the former U. S. Bureau of Mines to develop techniques that will reduce the hazards in the mining work place associated with coal bumps. Current research focuses on both analyzing historical seismic data from bump-prone operations and utilizing a mine-wide seismic network to investigate the exact strata failure mechanics associated with bump-prone geology. The anticipated outcome of this research will be reduced bump incidences through advanced engineering concepts and designs which implement the new understanding of strata behavior. The analysis of the historic seismic data consists of correlating observed mining seismicity with the geologic and geometric parameters at the sites. The primary seismic parameters are the timing, location and magnitude of are corded seismic event. These parameters are correlated with such mining parameters as: the overburden, the size of the immediate gob, the size of the district gob area, etc. This detailed analysis of historical seismic data has provided an informative quantifiable relationship between many of the specific mining parameters and the induced seismicity. The second aspect of the coal bump research is the instrumentation of an appropriate field site to determine the main roof, floor, and gob behavior associated with bump behavior. The chosen field site is a deep-cover longwall mine with competent geology in a historically bump-prone area. The primary field instrumentation is a three-dimensional, full-waveform, seismic array with both surface and underground sensors surrounding an active multi-panel district. The purpose of this seismic array is to determine the timing, the exact location, and the mechanism (tensile fracture, bedding plane slip, etc.) of the failure of the strata surrounding the active and multi-panel gobs. The preliminary results presented in this paper help to define the strata failure areas around the longwall panel.

By Zhiyang Long, Ruiling Xiao

"A mine shaft is one main development method of establishing access in an underground mine. The construction technology of the mine shaft sinking is complicated and large equipment setup on surface and in the mine shaft. The paper briefly reviews a single-line operation method, parallel operation method and mixed operation method as well as the features of the one operation method with the excavation, lining and installation. The special construction technology mainly would include ground freezing methods, full diameter shaft drilling methods, caisson methods, grouting technology and concrete curtain methods as well as other methods. The paper summarizes the shaft sinking numbers and effects by the special construction methods during different periods. The paper states the shaft sinking conditions and the each created record conditions in the coal, metallurgy, non-ferrous metal, hydropower, highway, railway, nonmetallic and other industries. The paper has a prediction on the shaft sinking requirements and development tendency in the future for China.INTRODUCTIONA mine shaft is one main development method of access in an underground mine. In recent years in China the new shaft mines represent 45% of the total number of new mines. With the development of new mining area under construction and the development of deeper mines, the ratio of the mine shaft as access for underground mines will increase. The construction technology of the mine shaft engineering will be complicated, the operation site footprint will be small and the working environment will be more difficult. The mine shaft sinking operation will often be varied by the geological conditions and affected by underground water inflows, seam gas outbursts, geothermal and other natural conditions. The safe construction of the mine shaft sinking will be challenged by all these conditions. Although the mine shaft engineering will only be about 5% of the total mine roadway engineering, the mine shaft construction period often will take over 40% of the total mine construction period. With the progress of modernized mine production technology and the construction of a high production and high efficient mine, the mine transportation roadways mostly would be set in the seam and the engineered amount of the mine rock roadways reduced year by year could cause more prominent long extensions of the mine shaft construction period. Therefore, in order to speed up the construction, to shorten the mine construction period and to realize the investment benefits as early as possible, the technical level of the mine shaft sinking should firstly be improved and the construction speed of the mine shaft engineering and sinking should be speeded up, which would have important significant benefits."

Jan 1, 2019

By Taiping Lou

The effects of slag composition, additive agents, and heat treatment conditions on the perovskite (CaO ? TiO2) crystal morphology, the precipitation behavior, the crystal growth and the volume fraction (VF) in the Ti-bearing blast furnace slags were investigated. The morphology of perovskite is dispersed dendriform in molten slags. The crystal growth mechanism of the remelting of fine dendrites and the coarsening of larger grains exists throughout the solidification of molten slags. With the temperature decrease, the VF was increased and Perovskite transformed from fine dendrites to coarsening ones or equiaxed grains. The lower cooling rate can increase the VF and coarsen the grain obviously, while higher cooling rate will decrease the VF and reduce the average equivalent diameter (AED) of Perovskite. When .increasing the content of CaO and Fe20}, the VF can increase obviosly. However, high basicity will give rise to the increasing of viscosity of slag, which result in the reducing of the AED. The experimental results showed that additive CaF2 and MnO can efficiently decreased the viscosity of the slags, and obviously improved the morphology of perovskite and promote growth.

Jan 1, 2000

By Laszlo Valentyik

The wide scale acceptance of the heavy media separation is due to its simplicity and efficiency. The two most important variables of the process are specific gravity and consistency of the medium. The latter is a function of the settling rate of the media solids. The almost always present clay in the feed and conse¬quently in the medium acts as a stabilizing agent, and its optimum concentration varied between 3-4%.(1,2) Since polymers essentially perform the same function in oil well drilling muds - i.e. to suspend cuttings during drilling - as the fine clay in heavy media separation, this led to the investigation of whether polymers could be used in heavy media separation as supporting agents. During the first phase of the work, it was found that by the controlled addition of polymers, the stability of the heavy media increased without unduly increasing viscosity of the suspensions, thus yielding conditions for more effective and efficient separation. The results of the experiments were reported in a paper at the AIME Centennial Annual Meeting, March 1971.(3) This paper presents the results of the experiment carried out during the second phase of the work.

Jan 1, 1975

By Jagdish C. Agarwal

Although copper ranks very low in the order of abundance of elements in the crust of the earth, it has been one of the first metals utilized by mar, at his emergence from the Stone Age, about 10,000 years ago. Use of copper for weapons, tools, utensils and ornaments dates back to the twilight of history, 6,000-5,000 B.C. Native copper outcrops and the malleability of the metal explain its very early use by the cave-dwellers. The working, melting and extraction of copper from its minerals are among the oldest metallurgical achievements of the human race. The oldest complete smelting installations for the extraction of copper from its minerals, dated about the fourth millenium B.C., were recently discovered in the Timna Valley, Wadi Arabah, Israel. (1) The history of the developments of the extractive metallurgy of copper has been adequately reviewed recently. (2,3) The center of copper production migrated from the Eastern Mediterranean to Northern Europe (Mansfeld, Germany, Swansea, Wales) towards the end of the Middle Ages (1500 A.D.). The production of the metal was boosted tremendously in North America since the end of the nineteenth century (Fig. 1).

Jan 1, 1976

By Daniel Vargas Quispe, Yorhinio León Robles, Marco Jauregui Vargas, Helen Espinoza Bailon, Oshin Quispe Luya

This project describes the methodology applied during the execution of tests to determine the multiple controls that mitigate damage to the final walls of the pit. The different tests were executed on production pattern, which considered: modification of the angle of pre-split drill line, damage evaluation in individual drills with different load designs, varied detonation sequences, capture and analysis of elementary waves. After the evaluation and analysis of the results obtained in the tests, we are in process to standardize various damage controls such as; the combination of pre-split drill line angles at 80° and 90°; charge design in buffer drills that reduce the angle of action of the explosive and a detonation sequence that involves the creation of a relief filter that is made up of the detonation of two rows next to the pre-split drill line, which will have the function of filtering the waves of vibrations produced by the detonation of the production drills and at the same time it modifies the direction of damage towards the blasted material. The analysis of the different controls, as well as their combination, will allow us to improve the compliance results of the formation of benches.

Jan 21, 2025

By A. J. Williams

THE province of Saskatchewan, situated in the center of the Great Plains region of Canada, has, like most prairie areas, an essentially agricultural economy. Most of its population of about 860,000 is located in the southern half of the province in the farming and ranching areas. To the north of the prairie is a broad forested belt supporting a considerable timbering industry, and the northern one third of the province is glaciated pre-Cambrian rock formation. This latter area is, relatively barren of vegetation, but the presence within it of a considerable variety of radioactive, noble and base metals, and industrial minerals has been shown by prospecting in recent years.1 Glacial Geology The Keewatin ice sheet, considered to have accumulated in the country to the west of Hudson Bay in Pleistocene time, covered at its maximum advancement almost all of Saskatchewan and extended south of the international boundary. Only in the Cypress Hills in the southwest and around Wood Mountain in the south central portion of the province did the preglacial formations escape the action for this glacial period. The bedrock of the plains and forest areas therefore is overlain by moraines and modified glacial drift, which vary in thickness from a few feet to 400 or 500 ft.2 Glacial action in the pre-Cambrian area of the province was largely erosional, most of the more recent formations and some of the pre-Cambrian rock being transported out of the area to the south and west. It has been estimated that about 13 pct of this area is composed of lakes and rivers not too adaptable to rail or water transportation, so that until the use of aviation for exploration purposes became general; development of the area was slow. To the south, the heavy. mantle of glacial drift has to some extent deterred the discovery of industrial minerals in the bedrock underlying the forest and prairie regions.3 At the same time, this drift contains numerous deposits of those most elementary and necessary industrial minerals, sand and gravel. Sedimentary Basin The major feature of the sedimentary deposits underlying the plains regions is the basinal structure known as the Moose Jaw syncline, which runs from the southeast corner of the province in a northwesterly direction. To the west. of this syncline the formations curve upward, then have been faulted and further upthrust to appear at the surface in the foothills of-the Rockies in Alberta; to the east and north they curve upward into Manitoba and northern Saskatchewan, but the surface contacts are covered mostly with glacial drift.2,3 The axis of the syncline dips to thee southeast, so that there is also an upward trend of the formations along the axis to the northwest. In illustration of the regional structure underlying the province, the pre-Cambrian basement has been logged in drillholes at the following depths in several locations: Ogema (south central), 9390 ft; Gronlid (northeast), 2599 ft; Vera (northwest), 4422 ft; Big River (north northwest), 2348 ft. Fig. 1 indicates the general surface geology of the province, ignoring such glacial overburden as may overlie many of the bedrock formations. Also indicated is the approximate location of the axis of the Moose Jaw syncline.4 Industrial Minerals Clays: The province is fortunate in possessing a widespread distribution of clays of ceramic value, ranging from those used for heavy structural products to the high grade pottery and china clays. Shales suitable for brick and tile production are found in the Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary formations across the south of the province where the glacial drift is thin or nonexistent. Many deposits of glacial lake clays suitable for such wares are found scattered over the rest of the province south of the pre-Cambrian area. The Whitemud formation of the Upper Cretaceous is a narrow sedimentary, band of secondary clays found intermittently, at points, across the, south of the province where glacial action did not disturb or remove them.8 In the southwest corner of the province, around Eastend in the Frenchman River valley, the refractory clays of this formation are contaminated somewhat with iron compounds or other alteration products of basaltic rocks. This eliminates the use of those clays in true whitewares, as they fire to creamy buff shades at the lower temperatures and to a blue-specked grey at cone 8 to 12, (2280°F to. 2390°F), the range commonly used in firing whiteware. However, for use in the production of colored artware, caneware, stoneware or crockery, and sewerpipe, this type of clay makes an excellent body that requires little or no addition of flint, feldspar, or other fluxing materials such as are required in the higher class of ware.9 It is not a grade of clay that can be shipped great distances to the manufacturing centers, but a market for considerable tonnages has developed at nearby Medicine Hat, where cheap natural gas is available for the firing of the ware. Farther east in the south central portion of the province, the clays of the Whitemud formation are generally more refractory and white burning. The formation is divided into three zones, consisting of white clays, brown shale, and white sandy clays.

Jan 1, 1952

By Ji-He Wei

Keywords: stainless steel, AOD refining, side and top combined blowing, mixing characteristics, water modeling The fluid mixing characteristics in the bath during the side and top combined blowing AOD (argon-oxygen decarburization) refining process of stainless steel have preliminarily been studied on a water model unit of a 120 t AOD converter. The geometric similarity ratio between the model and its prototype (including the side tuyeres and the top lances) was 1:4. On the basis of the theoretical calculations for the parameters of the gas streams in the side tuyeres and the top lances, the gas blowing rates used for the model have more reasonably been determined. The influence of the tuyere number and position arrangement, and the gas flow rates for side and top blowing on the characteristics has been examined. The results demonstrated that the liquid in the bath underwent vigorous circulatory motion during gas blowing, without obvious dead zone in the bath, resulting in a well mixing effectiveness. The gas flow rate of the main tuyere had a governing role on the characteristics, a suitable increase in the gas flow rate of the subtuyere could improve mixing efficiency, and the gas jet from top lance could make the mixing time prolong. Corresponding to the oxygen top blowing rate specified by the technology, a roughly equivalent and good mixing effectiveness could be reached by using six side tuyeres with an angle of 27° between each tuyere, and five side tuyeres with an angular separation of 22.5° or 27° between each tuyere. The relationships of the mixing time with the gas blowing rates of main-tuyeres and sub-tuyeres and top lance, the angle between each tuyere, and the tuyere number have been obtained.

Jan 1, 2005

By K. A. Jackson, J. D. Hunt

A general theory for the growth of lamellar and rod eutectics is presented. These modes of growth depend on the interplay between the diffusion required for phase separation and the formation of interphase boundaries. The present analysis of these factors provides a justification for earlier approximate theovies. The conditions for stability of rod and Lanlellar structures are consitleved in terms of the mechanisms by which the structure can change. The mechanisms considered include both small adjustments to the lnnzellar spacing due to the motion of lamellar faults, and catastrophic changes due to instabilities. It is concluded that stable growth occurs at or near the minimum interface undevcooling for a gizierz growth rate. The conseqrlences of the existence of a diffusion boundary layer at the interface are discussed. The experimental results for the variation of growth rate, undercooling, and Lanzellar spacing are cornpared with the theory. We believe that the theory presented in this paper provides an adequate basis for understanding the complex phenomena of lanzellar and rod eutectic growth. The growth of lamellar eutectics has been the subject of several theoretical and many experimental studies. The foundations for the theoretical work were laid by zenerl and Brandt2 in their analyses of the growth of pearlite. Zener estimated the effect cf diffusion, and took into account the surface energy of the lamellar structure. He found that the lamellar structure could grow in a range of growth rates at a given undercooling provided the lamellar spacing was appropriate for the growth rate. Since pearlite grows with only one growth rate and one lamellar spacing at a given undercooling, there is clearly an ambiguity in the theory. Zener removed this ambiguity by postulating that the growth rate was the maximum possible at the given undercooling. He predicted then that the product of the growth velocity v and the square of the lamellar spacing A should be constant, i.e., A2v = const. Brandt2 started out by assuming that the interface between the lamellae and austenite was sinusoidal. Because of this, the ambiguity encountered by Zener did not arise. Brandt was able to obtain an approximate solution to the diffusion equation, but, since he did not take into account the surface energy, his considerations are incomplete. Tiller3 applied some of these ideas to the growth of eutectics, and proposed a minimum undercooling condition to replace the maximum velocity condition used by Zener. These conditions are formally identical. Hillert4 extended the work of Zener. He found a solution to the diffusion equation assuming the interface to be plane. Taking surface energy into account, and applying Zener's maximum condition, he was able to calculate an approximate shape of the interface. Jackson et al.5 used an iterative method employing an electric analog to the diffusion problem to refine the calculation of interface shape. It was found that the interface shape calculated from a plane-interface solution to the diffusion equation was negligibly different from the exact solution. The method provided an analog only for eutectics for which the volumes of the two phases are equal, growing from a melt of exactly eu-tectic composition. There has also been considerable experimental work on eutectics, Several experimenters8-10 found that A2v is constant as predicted by Zener.1 Hunt and chilton10 demonstrated that ?T/v1/2 is also a constant for the Pb-Sn system as predicted. Lemkey et al.11have recently found A2v to be constant for a rod eutectic. In the present paper, we present the steady-state solution for the diffusion equation for a lamellar eutectic growing with a plane interface, for the general case, that is, with no restriction on the relative volumes of the two phases, and with the melt on or off eutectic composition. A similar solution is also found for a rod-type eutectic. Expressions are obtained for the average composition at the interface and the average curvature of the interface. These equations for the average composition and curvature are similar in form to those derived by Zener1 and Tiller,3 and provide a justification for some of the approximations made by these authors. The mechanisms by which the spacing in a lamellar structure can change are considered. The important mechanism for small changes in lamellar spacing involves a lamellar fault. Examination of the stability of lamellar faults leads to the conclusion that the growth occurs at or near the extremum.* The insta- bilities which can develop in a rodlike structure are also discussed, resulting in the conclusion that this structure also grows at or near the extremum. Comparison of the conditions for rod and lamellar growth permits a prediction of the surface-energy anisotropy required to produce rods or lamellae for various volume-fraction ratios. The diffusion equation predicts the existence of a diffusion boundary layer at the eutectic interface unless the eutectic has 0.5 volume fraction of each phase and is growing into a liquid of eutectic composition. This boundary layer is such as to make the composition in the liquid at the interface approximately equal to the eutectic composition. This boundary layer permits changes in composition during the zone refining of eutectics. Photographs of the eutectic interface of a growing transparent organic eutectic system have been made. Both the components of this eutectic are transparent organic compounds that freeze as metals do.12 The in-

Jan 1, 1967

By Flávio Túlio Busatto, João Bosco Mendes, Marcio de Souza Lana, Raphael Dias de Medeiros, Gabriel Nazareth G. Alcoforado

The sintering process begins at the ignition stage of the surface layer of the mixture to be sintered. This ignition is performed through the heat supplied by a furnace, called "Ignition Furnace", and this burn must have sufficient heat potential to start the agglomeration process. As a result of the horizontal movement and the flow of air passing through the material, this surface firing front is transported until reaching the lower zones of the bed, thus producing the sinter. The higher the calorific value of the fuel used, the more efficient (lower fuel consumption and higher temperature) is the surface burning, thus raising the mechanical strength of the product during the process. Due to variations in fuel quality, keeping the ignition temperature controlled becomes a challenge, so, in this work, a study on the combustion of coke oven gas (COG) was carried out, evaluating not only its stoichiometric but also the most adequate control strategy, in order to maintain the working temperature and still optimize the yield and quality of the sinter produced. Mathematical knowledge, automation, control and industrial combustion were used in order to achieve the expected results.

Oct 1, 2019

The Institute is custodian of funds for support of numerous gold medals and prizes and has representatives on boards awarding still others. Details regarding the Institute Awards are given below. The Institute is represented on the boards of the John Fritz Medal, the Hoover Medal and the Washington Award, in connection with the three national societies of Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineering; and, also, in the case of the Washington Award, with the Western Society of Engineers. Robert W. Hunt Medal and Prize THE partners of Robert W. Hunt established a fund which was presented to the Institute at a fitting ceremony on May 27, 1920, to establish an annual medal and a sum of money to be awarded under the following rules: 1. The award shall consist of two prizes: first of a gold medal, second of a sum of money; a certificate to accompany each prize. The money prize shall not be awarded to a member over 40 years of age, but under unusual circumstances, both prizes may be allotted to one person provided that he is not over 40 years of age. In general it will be understood that the Committee shall award the money prize to the younger men, rather than the medal. 2. The awards shall be made not oftener than once a year to that person or persons contributing to the Institute the best original paper or papers on iron and steel. The scope of the term "iron and steel" shall be determined by the subcommittee considering the awards. In general, papers dealing with the practical side of the subject have preference over those dealing with the theoretical side in recognition of the fact that Captain Hunt's main contributions to the industry have been in the improvement of production and quality of material. 3. A subcommittee of three to five, including the Chairman of the Iron and Steel Division, shall be appointed by the Iron and Steel Division annually to adjudge the award subject to approval. 4. The awarding committee shall submit its report to the Iron and Steel Committee at its October meeting, and the award shall be certified to the Secretary of the Institute in time to permit the presentation to be made at the Annual Meeting of .the Institute. 5. The recipient of the award shall be designated "The Hunt Medalist." Awards of the medal have been made as follows: 1920—-Robert Woolston Hunt. 192G—John A. Mathews. 1926—Charles Lewis Kinney, Jr. 1929—Edgar Collins Bain. 193G—James Aston. Awards of the prize have been made as follows: 1928—C. H. Herty, Jr. 1929—William E. Griffiths.

Jan 1, 1930

By J. Roufagalas

Sustainable development requires that exploitation of environmental resources is such that it does not result in permanent damage to the environment. In many instances environmental damage is an external cost of the entity exploiting the resource. Ideally, the entity should be forced to internalize this cost. Various financial assurance schemes have been proposed to ensure that the entities fulfill their financial responsibility to restore the environmental dam-age. Prominent among these schemes are ?environmental bonding requirements?. A main issue with these financial assurance schemes is that many times the amount and duration of environmental damage is uncertain. That is, the cost of restoring the environment in the future may be unknown (or unknowable), and, furthermore, the extent of the damage may not be known for many years into the future. Nevertheless, bonding requirements have to be set in advance and the rules for returning the bond and absolving the entity of responsibility have to be specified ex ante. In practice, a problem of allocation of resources arises. To make sure that all external costs are internalized, in the face of uncertainty, will require a sufficiently (arbitrarily) large bond for a sufficiently (arbitrarily) long period of time. But such a requirement may prove too expensive and may result in not undertaking a project (even if, under certainty, the project may be profitable after internalizing all costs). This will result in a reduction in total welfare. Under present bonding requirements, firms are responsible up to the value of the bond. This results in an asymmetry: if environmental restoration is less than the bond amount, the firm has an incentive to restore and reclaim the bond; if the cost of the environmental restoration is above the value of the bond, the incentive is to forfeit the bond, imposing on the government/ society the excess cost. This also may reduce social welfare, at least on distributional grounds since the firm owners pocket the profits and the taxpayers foot the bill. The presence of uncertainty suggests that a fee based reclamation fund may be welfare enhancing. The thinking can be sketched as follows: All firms undertaking environmentally sensitive projects pay into the proposed fund. The fund examines the risks and sets the premiums at the level of the expected restoration costs (not the maximum!) plus administrative expenses. One advantage of the scheme is that this eliminates the asymmetry. Firms with restoration costs below expected end up subsidizing firms whose restoration costs were underestimated. In other words, the industry ends up internalizing the costs not internalized by the individual firms, instead of the taxpayers.

Jan 1, 2007

By Qing Wang, Xiaochuan Xu, Jianping Liu, Xiaowei Gu, Qingyu Zhu

"The ecological costs related to the various optimized production schemes were calculated based on the designed ultimate pit. Moreover, the influence of the ecological costs on the selection of production schemes was discussed. In one designed pit, a series of geologically optimum pushbacks with sufficiently small increment were produced using the floating cone method founded on the principle of the highest metal content. Then all the pushbacks were reordered by the dynamic network diagram. The production scheme with the maximum NPV route was considered as the optimum one. The ecological impacts produced by mining were quantified and the ecological cost calculation models, which contain the direct eco-value loss, the indirect eco-value loss, the eco-restoration cost and the carbon emission cost were proposed. In one big open pit mine case, various production schemes were optimized and the one with maximum NPV was selected without taking into account the eco-costs. The scheme with the maximum comprehensive profit was obtained by calculating the eco-cost of each scheme. The results showed that the best scheme considered with the eco-cost was not the scheme with the maximum NPV. Therefore, the eco-cost presents the effect on the selection of the best production scheme.Introduction Optimizing production scheme is to determine the mining quantities of ore and rock, the pushing position of stope each year, and maximize the NPV of mine. In the theory, production scheming optimization has gone through trial and error (Pana and Carlson 1966), linear programming method (Johnson 1968), mixed integer programming (Gershon 1983), integer mapping (Kim and Cai 1990), dynamic programming et al (Gu et al 2014). In recent years, the study on production scheduling optimization has been focused on two aspects. On the one hand, the study is to solve the investment risk caused by the uncertainties of economic and geological environment (Ramazan and Dimitrakopoulos 2013, Marcotte and Caron 2010, Lamghari and Dimitrakopoulos 2012, Godoy and Dimitrakopoulos 2004, Benndorf and Shishvan 2014). On the other hand, the emphasis of the study was on reducing the problems for the optimization algorithm, to make it more efficient and practical (Cullenbine et al 2011, Shishvan and Sattarvand 2015, Askari-Nasab et al 2011, Nasab et al 2010). However, different production schemes cause different damage of mine land and pollutant emission, thus triggering environment problem. With the improvement of people’s consciousness of environment protection, the environmental issue of mining has been attracting more and more attention."

Jan 1, 2017

By Lucien Eaton

THE accuracy with which detachable bits can be sharpened and gauged by grinding has made possible refinements in design that cannot be attained by forging. This applies particularly to gauging, where accuracy is of the greatest importance. Gauge changes of 1/32 in., and even 1/16 in., are now feasible, whereas 1/16 -in. changes are about the limit in accuracy for forged bits. These small changes in gauge are feasible, however, only with certain fundamental principles of design. Within reasonable limits the depth to which a hole can be drilled is dependent primarily upon the loss in gauge, or diameter, of the bit. In drilling there is always a certain amount of " overdrilling "-the bouncing of the bit in the hole and its rotation wear away the walls-so that the actual diameter of the hole is greater than the diameter of the bit. The amount of this overdrilling depends upon the kind of rock being drilled, and is sometimes sufficient to permit the use of the same diameter of bit for the full depth of the hole. If, for instance, a 1 ¾ -in. diameter bit overdrills 1/32 in. in diameter, and loses 1/64 in. in gauge in drilling 2 ft. of hole, the bottom of the hole is still 1/64 in. larger than the original diameter of the bit, and a new 1 3/4-in. bit can be used to drill the next 2 ft. If, however, the overdrill is less than the loss in gauge, the next bit must be of smaller diameter. The first requisite in reducing loss of gauge in drilling is to have the points and corners of the wings of the bit cut circles of the same diameter, thus producing a reaming surface with continuous bearing on the wall of the hole. The greater the reaming surface, the less the gauge loss that is to be expected. If the reaming surface, however, is too large, it may impede the rotation of the bit through excessive friction. This principle was probably first recognized in the design of the Carr bit (Fig. 1)) a bit with a single cutting edge of wide angle, a definite reaming edge, and a large center hole. The same idea was followed in designing the double-taper cross bits, which are now standard almost everywhere Fig. 2 illustrates a typical double-taper cross bit. The taper from the point of the wing A to a little behind the corner B is 5° and from

Jan 1, 1939

By D. Gu, B. Lin

Discussion of concept Breakage of rock by machine is one of the major methods of excavation. With the development of modern engineering techniques, the advantages of using this method have become even greater. Improving efficiency and reducing the cost of rock breakage is the main goal of mechanizing the rock-breaking operation. For a given stratum, the efficiency of a machine excavation depends, to a large extent, on the design and method of application of the tools used. In a planetary cutter head, the subcutter heads move like planets around the main drive shaft. The general structure of the cutter head is shown in Fig. 1. As shown in this illustration, the main drive shaft (1-1) is connected to the tie bar (1) and, thereby, to a gear (5) that meshes with a fixed-gear ring (2). The subcutter head (4) is rigidly connected to the gear (5) by the subcutter-head axis (2-2). When the main drive shaft (1-1) rotates, the subcutter head (4) rotates around the axis (2-2), under the action of the tie bar and with the help of sleeve pipe (3). At the same time, axis (2-2) also rotates around the main shaft (1-1). As shown in Fig 1, [a] is the angle between the main shaft and the subcutter-head axis. This angle determines the shape of the drilling face. If [a] equals zero, the drilling face will be a flat surface (Fig.1 (a) ), and if [a] is greater than zero, the drilling face will be a spherical surface (Fig. I (b)). For a planetary cutter head, the most important design parameter is the transmission ratio (i), which is defined as [i = (0210)1(1)] Where [(a] is the angular speed of rotation of the subcutter heads around their individual axes, and [o] is the angular speed of rotation of the subcutter-head axes around the main shaft. In Eq. (1), i is positive if the direction of rotation of a subcutter head around its axes is the same as the direction of rotation of the subcutter-head axes around the main shaft (see Fig. 1(b)). Conversely, i is negative when the two directions are opposite (see Fig. 1(a)). When i is positive, the cutters on the subcutter heads form epicycloid paths on the drilling face, as shown in Fig. 2(a). Conversely, if i is negative, the paths will be hypocycloid, as shown in Fig. 2(b). It should be noted

Jan 1, 1996

By Paul B. Crawford, Bobby L. Landrum

Electrical model studies have been made of the effect of unsymmetrical vertical fractures on production cnpacity. The study war restricted to the case of two vertical fractures originating at the well and extending out into the reservoir for various distances and orientations. The ratio of the short fracture length to the long fracture length was varied from 0.1 to 1.0 in successive studies. The angle separating the two fractures was varied from 0 to 180 degrees. The most effective fractured patterns were obtained when the fractures were oriented 180 degrees. It was found that when the total fracture length was equal to 0.2 of the drainage radius, the increase in production capacity may vary from approximately 1.55 to 1.95. depending upon the ratio of the short fracture length to the long fracture length and the angle separating the two fractures. If the total fracture length were 0.5 of the drainape- radius. poroduction cavacitv., increases varving 1.95 to 2.65 were observed, depending on the angle between the fractures and the ratio of the .short fracture length to the long fracture length. The fractured well production capacity decreased aPproxin?ately I to 10 per cent as the angle separating the fractures was varied from 180 to 90 degrees. It was dependent on the particular fracture. The commercial application of reservoir fracturing techniques has caused an interest to be expressed in the effect of vertical and horizontal fractures on production capacities. Some data have indicated that substantially vertical fractures may be created in some reservoirs. It is believed that the fractures are possibly unsymmetrical, that is, one fracture may extend due north 100 ft and a second fracture on the opposite side of the well may extend south or southeast only 50 ft. The total fracture length, ratios of the lengths and angles of separation may vary considerably. For this reason variations in these factors were considered. The study was restricted to the case of two vertical fractures originating at the well and extending out into the reservoir. It is not known that such will occur in a reservoir, but the results may be of value in interpreting or studying fracturing applications. PROCEDURE An electrical model was used in this study of the effect of unsymmetrical vertical fractures on production capacity, A wooden tank 30 in. in diameter and approximately 2 in deep was coated with paraffin wax. A copper band was situated at the periphery and a single wire electrode was positioned at the center of the tank. The ratio of the reservoir radius divided by the

Jan 1, 1956

Book Review Mexico, TODAY AND Tomorrow. By E. D. Trowbridge, Detroit. The McMillan Co., New York, 1919, 353 pp., 7;2 X 5 in. $2.00. The first eight chapters are devoted to an historical narrative of the Mexican peoples from the earliest times to the close of the war with the United States in 1345. "In dealing with events antedating what may be termed modern Mexico" the author has "made no attempt at original research, and so far as concerns anything prior to 1900, the work here presented is a repetition, a reflection, of the findings of opinions of Fiske, Prescott, Bancroft, Luis Perez Verdia and other authorities." The remainder of the hook deals with Mexico during and since the Diaz regime. It is interesting throughout but is not always convincing or consistent. Social conditions are described in a way illuminating and possible only to one who is familiar with the peon and his hitherto seemingly hopeless position in reference to the wage system and church oppression. In fact, the author makes the hold accusation that the "primitive rather than immoral" condition of the peons in the matter of their marital relations is due to the disregard of the church for their welfare and capabilities. The true accounts of the Madero revolution and the Huerta regime read like fascinating medieval fiction. The reason given for men remaining in the Madero army is still the controlling one regarding any of the armies there. "They had horses, arms, all the food they wanted, money to spend and no work." The discussion of Mexican financial schemes is wholly from the Carranza viewpoint. To meet a monthly deficit of ten million pesos the author says "the government forced loans from the National Bank, and Bank of London and Mexico, and repeated the operation several times, finally practically exhausting their bullion and cash reserves. Hostile foreigners refer to this operation as the looting of the hanks! Drastic as this action was, there was good ground on which to justify it." However, that necessity knows no law is never an acceptable tenet except to him who applies the screws. The discussion of the economic problems and their solution is rather chimerical and presupposes a civil and national virtue in the present government not discernible except to one ultra friendly. The book is an interesting exposition of the very much involved situation from the viewpoint of approval of both the Carranza government and the attitude of the United States in its dealings with him. The editing of the book leaves something to he desired. P. E. B.

Jan 9, 1919

By R. A. Matuszak

This paper discusses the major portion of the hoist (drag or crowd) system and it shows how static control accomplishes its major aims. In 1959, the first truly static control for Ward-Leonard equipped electric excavators was designed, developed and placed in service. The control system, originally intended only as a more modern electronic type of alternate to the proven rotating amplifier control system has since proven to be much more. When they conceived the original system, the designers had much more in mind than simply replacing the rotating amplifier with one that had no moving parts. The long range plan, which started with the initial system consisting of an SCR (silicon controlled rectifier) preamplifier and magnetic amplifier power amplifier, called for eventually, a control system low in cost and maintenance, relatively simple in design and extremely reliable. The plan also included the elimination of as many of the shortcomings of the rotating system as possible. No small accomplishment, when it is considered that the rotating control system had been, with only minor modifications, the standard of the industry for 20 years. The final step in the original design plan called for the eventual development of an amplifier that could be used as one of the basic building blocks of the future. DEVELOPMENT RESULTS Since the successful unveiling of the first static control system, continuous development has resulted in a slow, but sure progression along the path described by the original plan. The first version of the new control corrected one of the shortcomings of the rotating system by removing the necessity of operator anticipation. This was accomplished by making the system faster in response so that the operator noticed virtually no delay between his movement of the master controller and that of the machine. Thus, after the operator became familiar with the operating characteristics of the machine, he was able to become more relaxed while digging. The natural result of this accomplishment was higher production. All of the subsequent versions of this new control were even faster than the initial design. Although it was not distinguishable by the operator, the further increase in response resulted in large gains in the limiting of transient torque peaks applied to the machine while digging. Also, a more effective control of the torque and power peaks was obtained when plugging the motion being controlled to a stop. (Plugging is the use of the Ward-Leonard ability to regenerate power and absorb energy from the load to

Jan 1, 1964