CAREER EPISODE 1
A) Introduction:
[CE 1.1]
This episode is the elucidation of the academic project, which was carried out to fulfil the requirement of the MINE6035-Rock and Soil slope Engineering course. It was named “Design and Study of Slope Stabilization”. I was selected by my supervisor (Dr Mostafa Sharifzadeh) as a team leader for my communication skills, competencies, and a fundamental understanding of slope stabilisation theories.
The time allocated to commence and complete this project was from September 2020 to November 2020. The research work was conducted in the engineering department of Curtin University,
B) Background:
[CE 1.2]
The prime focus of this project was to consider different cases which can significantly affect the stability of the concerned footwall and derive relevant outcomes. Therefore, in this case, the project was divided into three categories; the first step involved entering all three material properties of the footwall, along with secure outputs such as UCS, cohesion, etc. Afterwards, the given dip and dip directions for the location mentioned were added to the stereo net analysis, and it was found that direct toppling failure is the only collapse occurring.
Then, in the second step, the provided values were entered into the rock topple software to obtain the factor of safety. Next, in the third step, Wedge analysis was conducted to find out the presence of any wedge failure, and it was observed that no wedge formation was present.
[CE 1.3]
My duties as a team leader are as follows:
- Underwent a study on soil stabilisation of the open pit to enhance my understanding of the project.
- Determined stability parameters like cohesion, friction angle, and uniaxial strength to analyse and compare the stability difference seen in the case of each material.
- Performing a Stereo net analysis determines the type of failure present.
- Analysed Roc Topple failure dimensionally and determined the factor of safety.
- Performed Swedge analysis by adding the appropriate input parameters.
- Carried out design and analysis of the footwall.
- Analysed maximum displacement and factor of safety for impact due to shear strength on slope stability, friable zone upon slope stability, dewatering upon slope stability, and ground support upon rock stability.
- Arranged team meetings to discuss project working strategies and developed a timeline to manage the project work.
- Attended technical meetings and prepared reports, including all details.
CAREER EPISODE 2
A) Introduction:
[CE 2.1]
The project presented in this episode was performed to fulfil the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Engineering Science (Mining Engineering) from Curtin University. It was termed “Real-Time Rock Strength Monitoring Through Internet of Things (IoT)”.
The project began in March 2020 and was completed in November 2020. All activities were carried out in the Department of Mining Engineering & Metallurgical Engineering under the supervision of the supervisor (Dr. Mostafa Sharifzadeh.
B) Background:
[CE 2.2]
No doubt, sudden roof failures keep the lives of workers underground and the whole mining crew at risk. Also, certain seismic events can cause installed rock bolts to fail unpredictably. To eliminate this, a spontaneous action or a predictive working environment is a lifesaver, especially in underground mines. In this project, the Rock bolt and its arrangement in a Mine in Goldfields were analysed.
Initially, the required rock bolt was analysed, and the sensor layout was determined to cover all the necessary areas of the rock bolt. This indicated an accurate result of a force acting. Since it is not economical or feasible to add a sensor to every rock bolt, a detailed analysis of the excavation area was performed, with high- and low-stress locations determined. Then, based on this analysis, the bolt layout was chosen.
After adding the sensor, the data obtained through the sensor was connected further to an Arduino Nano chip. Furthermore, an online coding required was added to the chip. This provided a warning by an outbreak of sound from the adjacent connected alarm when the force acting on exceeds the threshold limit acting upon. Bluetooth then sent this data to the developed Android application, which triggered a warning.
[CE 2.3]
In this project, I was accountable for working on the following tasks:
- Conducted background research on rock bolting, which is used as a support for rock from rock failures.
- Understood the project’s problem statement and then brainstormed to find a feasible solution to overcome the current problem.
- Proposed research methodology and experimental/analytical design.
- Collected components required to develop a system as per technical specifications.
- Desi Rockbolt and connection, and prepared the experimental setup.
- Observed the working of the sensor in the system.
- Analysed types of failures that can affect the strength of the rock bolt.
- Performed stress calculations and software coding (JAVA) & execution.
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CAREER EPISODE 3
A) Introduction:
[CE 3.1]
The episode mentioned above is the description of a group project called “Advanced Resource Modelling and Estimation”, where I performed my engineering duties and demonstrated project management skills as a group leader. In this project, a real case study was proposed to estimate orebody resources using a software tool.
The supervisor was instructed to complete the research work within a Month/Year. Based on this timeline, I commenced project work in Month/Year and finished it in June 2020. This core project was conducted in the Mining Engineering Department of Curtin University to fulfil the course/subject requirement.
B) Background:
[CE 3.2]
A real deposit was considered located on the eastern margin of the Laverton Tectonic Belt in the North-Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. A north-south striking granodiorite/syenite intrusion through the andesite host rock hosts it.
Gold mineralisation is majority hosted in a granodiorite/syenite intrusion, with lower-grade mineralisation being present in the andesite country rock. Mineralisation strikes north-north-west with a -40-degree dip to the west. Mineralisation is represented as strong hematite alteration through the intrusions with coarse pyrite.
The mineralised zone consists of multiple mineralised zones over ~100m of thickness, 250m of north-south strike length, and 250m of dip length. Most zones display moderate continuity, with individual zones being up to 40m thick and 100m of dip length. Mineralisation is dominantly hosted within a granodiorite zone, with a syenite intrusive on the western margin, and extends into the andesite country rock; it is generally of lower grade and continuity.
[CE 3.3]
Being a team leader, I was involved in the following major tasks:
- Studied the required tasks provided by the supervisor and reviewed data files compiled from the exploration process by a geologist.
- Carried out estimation of the ore body using Vulcan software by determining the drill hole database.
- Viewed the load and drillhole database both graphically and in database format
- Developed 10 horizontal sections and created a polygon model for each section.
- Performed orebody modelling by designing a block model and assigning grades using the inverse distance grade estimation method.
- Calculated the reserve for the interpolation method.
- Developed a Grade-Tonnage Curve.
- Prepared a report and submitted it to the supervisor.
- Arranged meetings to discuss work strategies. Investigate complimentary samples offered by AustraliaCDRHelp.Com.
