A mathematical model for open pit mine production scheduling with Grade Engineering® and stockpiling

This paper presents the development and implementation of an innovative mixed integer programming based mathematical model for an open pit mining operation with Grade Engineering framework. Grade Engineering comprises a range of coarse-separation based pre-processing techniques that separate the desirable (i.e. high-grade) and undesirable (i.e. low-grade or uneconomic) materials and ensure the delivery of only selected quantity of high quality (or high-grade) material to energy, water, and cost-intensive processing plant. The model maximizes the net present value under a range of operational and processing constraints. Given that the proposed model is computationally complex, the authors employ a data pre-processing procedure and then evaluate the performance of the model at several practical instances using computation time, optimality gap, and the net present value as valid measures. In addition, a comparison of the proposed and traditional (without Grade Engineering) models reflects that the proposed model outperforms the traditional formulation.     

中国大气田科学开发的内涵

大气田是指天然气探明地质储量超过300×10~8 m~3、天然气峰值年产量在10×10~8 m~3以上且具有一定稳产期的气田。其是中国天然气储产量快速增长和未来长期稳定发展的重要基础,也是保障我国供气安全的关键。通过对国内外260余个大气田开发实践的系统分析和典型气田的解剖模拟,综合研究了大气田科学开发的内涵、核心技术以及全生命周期指标体系。大气田科学开发的内涵包括:①提出以"识别水、控制水、治理水"为技术体系的天然气开发理念,即常规气田"控水开发"、非常规气田人工压裂"注水开发",根据气藏类型和气藏特征,确定合理的采气速度;②综合评价气田开发经济效益和社会效益,保障气田长期稳产;③根据气井生产特征和储层发育特征,选取适用的气田稳产方式;④依据对常规与非常规气藏不同开发阶段的精细描述、气藏开发特征和生产动态的监测,确定气田可采储量、气田水与人工注水开发规律、气田提高采收率技术对策、气田效益稳产期与发展战略。大气田科学开发的核心技术包括:规模优化技术、科学布井技术、均衡开采技术和深度挖潜技术。进而综合优选出产量、压降、采出程度、单位压降产量等多个参数作为评价大气田科学开发的关键指标,建立了高压、低渗透—致密、裂缝—孔隙型和页岩气等4类气藏的全生命周期指标体系。结论认为,该研究成果有助于指导不同类型大气田的科学开发,进一步促进我国天然气产业的快速发展。     

云南省澜沧老厂—孟连茶场地区成矿规律及找矿方向探讨

澜沧老厂—孟连茶场地区位于昌宁—孟连多金属成矿带，研究区域成矿规律对找矿突破有着重要指导意义。在综合分析研究地质背景、化探异常、矿产分布等特征的基础上，将该地区划分为老厂、拉巴、孟连矿（化）集区。老厂铅锌矿床是区域上的典型矿床，其在化探异常、矿床空间分布具有明显的低中高温成矿分带的特征。以该矿床分带特征入手，指出老厂矿（化）集区在地表以低温成矿元素为主，而拉巴、孟连矿（化）集区在化探异常、矿化特征均以低中温成矿元素为主，空间上分带特征不明显。该地区化探异常、矿（化）体分布特征，均表明区域上成矿温度、成矿标高由北至南均具从高到低的降低趋势，认为其可能与燕山期岩浆活动的差异性有关，指出老厂外围、拉巴深部是找矿的有利靶区。     

谈淤泥质复杂基坑地基处理及支护技术

淤泥质地形在施工过程中可能因地基强度不够而发生事故,施工难度高,对此类地基处理及支护技术的研究较为重要。     

Recent activities in the field of Nuclear Operational Management and Nuclear Safety Engineering

Recent activities in the field of Nuclear Operational Management and Nuclear Safety Engineering, the studies related to risk analysis methodology, design, and operational management, physical phenomena, and emergency preparedness and nuclear security, have been progressed. Especially, ‘risk analysis methodology’ and ‘design and operational management’ are the main categories of the field, in which more than half of published articles on Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology are related to these categories.     

Advances in statistical mechanics of rock masses and its engineering applications

To efficiently link the continuum mechanics for rocks with the structural statistics of rock masses,a theoretical and methodological system called the statistical mechanics of rock masses(SMRM)was developed in the past three decades.In SMRM,equivalent continuum models of stressestrain relationship,strength and failure probability for jointed rock masses were established,which were based on the geometric probability models characterising the rock mass structure.This follows the statistical physics,the continuum mechanics,the fracture mechanics and the weakest link hypothesis.A general constitutive model and complete stressestrain models under compressive and shear conditions were also developed as the derivatives of the SMRM theory.An SMRM calculation system was then developed to provide fast and precise solutions for parameter estimations of rock masses,such as full-direction rock quality designation(RQD),elastic modulus,Coulomb compressive strength,rock mass quality rating,and Poisson’s ratio and shear strength.The constitutive equations involved in SMRM were integrated into a FLAC3D based numerical module to apply for engineering rock masses.It is also capable of analysing the complete deformation of rock masses and active reinforcement of engineering rock masses.Examples of engineering applications of SMRM were presented,including a rock mass at QBT hydropower station in northwestern China,a dam slope of Zongo II hydropower station in D.R.Congo,an open-pit mine in Dexing,China,an underground powerhouse of Jinping I hydropower station in southwestern China,and a typical circular tunnel in Lanzhou-Chongqing railway,China.These applications verified the reliability of the SMRM and demonstrated its applicability to broad engineering issues associated with jointed rock masses.     

Influence of lanthanum on enhancement of mechanical and electrical properties of Cu-Al_2O_3 composites

Two kinds of Cu-Al_2O_3 composites(with and without La) were prepared via mechanical alloying-spark plasma sintering(MA-SPS) method. Microstructure, mechanical properties and electrical resistivity were investigated systematically using metallography, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, mechanical and electrical properties testing. The results indicate that an appropriate amount of La can homogenize the distribution of Al_2O_3. As such, yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation of Cu-Al_2O_3-La are greatly increased. Some semi-coherent interface between Cu and Al_2O_3 is found, which means a low interface energy. The grain shape of Cu changes to irregular band with the addition of La. This change results in a density decrease of grain boundary and reduces electrical resistance. Lanthanum may exist in the form of La_2O_3.     

Drilling machinability of engineering ceramics under low-frequency axial vibration processing by sintering/brazing composite diamond trepanning bit

Thin-wall diamond trepanning bits are extensively used for processing hard and brittle materials such as engineering ceramics. However, it is difficult to achieve high-efficiency processing of engineering ceramics at a constant feed speed, because of high dynamic compressive strength, high hardness, and low density of engineering ceramics. In this study, a novel composite diamond bit combining sintering and brazing has been designed, along with the low-frequency axial vibration technology, to realize the continuous hole processing of engineering ceramics. Drilling experiments have been conducted on Al₂O₃ and SiC engineering ceramics with a constant feed speed. The variation of axial force, micromorphology of hole wall surface drilled, as well as the method of removing nesting during the drilling process were analyzed. According to the results, the novel composite diamond bit fabricated by combining sintering and brazing, can achieve the continuous hole processing of engineering ceramics at a constant feed speed, including Al₂O₃ and SiC. Compared to the conventional drilling (CD), the low-frequency axial vibration drilling (LFVD) can significantly reduce the axial force, and produce fewer plastic scratches on the hole wall surface drilled. In particular, the automatic blanking ratio approaches to 100% by LFVD, and only about 73.58% by CD. It can be concluded that LFVD technology can be used to realize continuous hole processing of engineering ceramics. The research results achieved in this study show that the drilling machinability of engineering ceramics by LFVD and novel composite diamond bit is good. Accordingly, this study provides a useful reference for continuous processing or batch production of engineering ceramics at a constant feed speed.     

Development of a void ratio-moisture ratio-net stress framework for the prediction of the volumetric behavior of unsaturated granular materials

Despite extensive research on the behavior of unsaturated fine-grained materials, there is still a lack of understanding of the volumetric behavior of unsaturated granular materials. In this research, a model has been developed to predict the fundamental volumetric behavior of unsaturated granular materials through loading and wetting state paths. In this regard, a loading-wetting surface was developed in a space of void ratio-moisture ratio-net stress. A distinctive feature of the proposed model is the relative simplicity in obtaining the model parameters using conventional geotechnical testing equipment. Two types of recycled granular materials, commonly applied in unbound pavements were used, namely, recycled crushed brick (CB) and excavation waste rock (WR). The uniqueness of the developed surface was evaluated by employing a number of loading and wetting state paths. The results indicate that the developed surface is unique in its loading state paths; however, it only shows uniqueness in its wetting state paths for stress levels greater than 2000 kPa. The proposed model seeks to introduce the application of the unsaturated soil mechanics theory, for predicting the behavior of granular materials in the field, by providing a practical and cost-effective methodology.     

基于GIS技术的工程地质环境系统构建及治理分析

针对传统的工程地质环境系统存在的收集图像与原始图像同向性较低的问题,以下开展了基于GIS技术的工程地质环境系统的构建研究。采用设计对比实验的方式验证该系统在实际应用过程中,可提升收集图像与原始图像的同向程度。