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Abstract This article reports the results of experimental tests conducted on built-up cold-formed steel (CFS) stub columns, composed of double lipped channel members connected with self-drilling screws, which will be applied as the chord members of laced columns. These experiments aim to quantify the effect of four distinct web fastener layouts on the composite action, including the ultimate strength, buckling modes and collapse mechanism for built-up CFS members. The tested stub columns are of 480mm length, double 88x86x40x42x12mm lipped channel cross-section and 0.8mm thickness. The built-up CFS lipped channel members were analyzed with help of the Generalized Beam Theory in order to identify their buckling loads and modes. The Direct Strength Method (DSM) was adopted to obtain the analytical strength of the built-up members, to be compared with the experimental results. The axially compressed built-up members displayed local and distortional buckling, negligible composite behavior and minor effect of number and distribution of the screws. The results indicate (i) inefficient behavior of the self-drilling screws for composite condition purposes and (ii) the DSM rules for non-composite CFS are able to estimate the ultimate strength of this type of built-up lipped channel section.Resumo em Inglês:
Abstract A great variety of silica and alumina-rich materials have been investigated in the production of alkaline activated binders (or geopolymers) with low environment impact, e.g. low CO2 emissions. Geopolymer mortars and concretes may be more environmentally friendly if not only Portland cement but also natural aggregates (sand, gravel) are replaced with waste materials. This article presents results of geopolymers made with tailings from the iron mining industry. The geopolymer matrices are composed of metakaolin (MK) activated with a sodium silicate + sodium hydroxide solution. Two different iron ore tailings replaced a natural quartz aggregate in the geopolymers’ formulation. The hardened properties assessed were compressive strength, water absorption, apparent density and porosity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray micro computed tomography (µ-CT) were used to assess the changes in the microstructure when the tailings were incorporated into the geopolymers. Results show that the employment of iron ore tailings is not detrimental to the mechanical strength of geopolymers; however, geopolymers containing those alternative aggregates may present higher water absorption and porosity, and durability studies are required.Resumo em Inglês:
Abstract The first order reliability method (FORM) efficiently performs first order structural reliability analysis, but with limited accuracy. On the other hand, the traditional second order reliability method (SORM) was established to improve the results of FORM, but with a supplementary computational process. Proposed herein, is a new SORM, based on differential geometry making SORM more efficient without hindering accuracy. It can be used to perform the second order structural reliability analysis in engineering. A case in the geotechnical engineering field obtained from literature was solved aiming to demonstrate the ability of the analytical procedure via differential geometry. The advantages of the newly proposed approach whereby the reliability method by differential geometry (SORM DG) over the traditional SORM are discussed. The results show that the SORM DG optimizes the outcomes from FORM and achieves the accuracy of the traditional SORM, more efficiently.Resumo em Inglês:
Abstract This article addresses an analysis of the Load Equivalency Factor (LEF) for off-road trucks. A new LEF curve for single axles with dual wheels covering trucks from 6.0 to 151.42 tons per axle is proposed, converting various magnitudes of damage from wheel loads to damage caused by the standard axle load of 8.2 tons. Then, this damage ratio was raised to the exponent proposed by Pereira (1992), and LEF for the considered loads was obtained. In the determination of LEF from the structural response of the subgrade, it was confirmed that LEF values did not suffer significant variations with the various parameters adopted, encompassing variations in the axle loads between 6 and 151.42 tons, tire pressures of 80.0, 100.0 and 120.0 psi, as well as five different pavement structures. In the study, LEF remained stable even in pavement structures with low and high axle capacities. In order to validate the results, the resulting factors were then compared with those proposed by DNIT (2006), displaying a coefficient of determination of 0.99. The conclusion is that pavements for off-roads trucks can be designed using the procedure recommended by DNIT (2006) for flexible pavement, without extrapolation of the respective LEF curve.Resumo em Inglês:
Abstract Wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WDXRF) is a suitable technique for the characterization of contaminated mining sites, providing a quick and reliable screening for areas of significant contamination. This study established and validated a non-destructive methodology for quantitative simultaneous determination of major and minor constituents in soil and sediments by WDXRF, which was further applied to quantify soil and sediment samples from Osamu Utsumi uranium mine (Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil). Elements such as Ce, La, Nd, Mn and U were found in more concentrated levels in the calcium diuranate deposit (DUCA), whereas Fe and Al were found at higher levels in the soil samples corresponding to sites where accentuated leaching processes have occurred. Comparatively, the levels of U and rare-earth elements were found in significantly higher levels in the sediments retrieved from the mine’s pit as a result of acid mine drainage. These findings are believed to be useful as an initial environmental assessment for the decommissioning process of the mine.Resumo em Inglês:
Abstract The flotation of low-grade oxidized zinc ores has been commonly used to produce marketable concentrates for many years. Several flotation routes are being successfully used: cationic, anionic and a mixture of anionic and cationic. The choice of the route taken is dependent on the major zinc-bearing minerals in the deposit of interest and its associated gangue. Since both the mineralogical composition of zinc ores and the chemical composition of smithsonite and dolomite vary between deposits, the physico-chemical conditions under which selective flotation processes are determined must be established for each unique case. In this study, cationic flotation tests were performed using smithsonite and dolomite samples from an unstudied oxidized zinc deposit in Brazil, using Na2S as the sulfidizing agent, sodium silicate as the depressant and amine as the collector. The surface charges of both minerals were investigated with and without reagents. These tests showed that the optimum conditions of flotation were reached at pH 11. Na2S allowed a significant increase in the recovery of smithsonite, which implies lower amine consumption. Sodium silicate functioned as a dolomite depressant at concentrations up to 6.0 mg/L. The results for both flotation and the zeta potential of the minerals were analyzed using specimen diagrams of the reagents and compared with studies published in previous literature.Resumo em Inglês:
Abstract The production rate of a mining operation has an important effect on the operational cycle and gross profit, which are often evaluated based on engineering practices. Assessment of the economic performance of mine operations in mining engineering is of great importance because an incorrect production rate can result in significant financial losses. The production rate is composed of two bases: the cost estimation and the price scenario. Bureau of Mines studies performed on American mines indicated that processing costs can be estimated through the production rate. This article proposes to connect the model presented by the Bureau of Mines and queuing theory to describe the operational costs, which are used to develop a production optimization methodology. The proposed cost composition describes a production system to verify the law of diminishing returns and the economy of scale. Between these regions of the production curve, the optimum point was determined with mathematical precision.Resumo em Inglês:
Abstract This study aims to assess methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the ventilation systems of two coal mines (A and B) in the Santa Catarina coal deposit in southern Brazil (Paraná Basin, Bonito Formation), and estimate their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The highest CH4 levels (1.8%) were recorded in strong methane emanation areas in mine A, below the lower explosive limit (5%). The IPCC-recommended methods significantly overestimated the methane emission (up to 80%) when compared to the experimental data measured for each mine. Application of an alternative method made it possible to estimate direct CO2 emissions, indicating that CO2 accounted for 22 to 77% of total GHG emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions are generally not included in GHG emission inventories, indicating that the coal industry underestimates the contribution of this gas. As such, it is recommended that the methodology used for these calculations be revised and that specific emission factors be applied for each mine. In order to improve the accuracy of inventories, more sampling needs to be carried out in all operational and abandoned mines.Resumo em Inglês:
Abstract Evaluating mineral resources requires the prior delimitation of geologically homogeneous stationary domains. The knowledge about the ore genesis and geological processes involved are translated into three dimensional models, essential for planning the production and decision-making. The mineral industry usually considers grade uncertainty for resource evaluation; however, uncertainty related to the geological boundaries are often neglected. This uncertainty, related to the location of the boundary between distinct geological domains can be one of the major sources of uncertainty in a mineral project, and should be assessed due to its potential impact on the ore tonnage, and consequently, on enterprise profitability. This study aims at presenting three different methodologies capable of generating multiple geomodel realizations and thus, assessing uncertainty. A real dataset with high geological complexity is used to illustrate the methodology. The results are compared to a deterministic model used as a reference scenario.Resumo em Inglês:
Abstract The use of biosurfactants as reagents represents a promising alternative to the conventional surfactants used in the mineral industry because they may present low toxicity and high biodegradability. Therefore, this research studied the hematite and quartz flotation kinetics using surfactant produced by Rhodococcus erythropolis as bioreagent. The flotation kinetics of both minerals were evaluated under established conditions: biosurfactant concentration of 10 mg/L and solution pH of 3. The maximum floatability values were of 99.98% and 17.53% for hematite and quartz, respectively, after 2 minutes of flotation. Finally, the kinetics study indicated that the experimental data of hematite floatability was better fitted to both the first and non-integral order kinetics, while the experimental data of quartz floatability was better fitted to the non-integral order kinetic.Resumo em Inglês:
Abstract Mining Scheduling is the one that maximizes profit from mining over time. By means of computational methods, the deposit is discretized in blocks and algorithms are used to consummate this objective. The methods that are widely known nowadays for mining scheduling optimization of a discrete block model were based on graph theory, and among those most used by the mining industry is a solution found by Lerchs and Grossmann (1965) which, together with other methods, was consolidated as the process of traditional mining planning. For both supply and multi-destination models, there is a limitation of the current methodology, since it consists of the optimization of each mine separately which may not be a global optimization solution. This article proposes an optimization of the benefit in a stochastic model through the DBS (Direct Block Scheduling) for a copper mining complex with two mines, a pre-existing copper stockpile and two treatment streams, comparing several scenarios and analyzing the best alternative for the proposed problem.Resumo em Inglês:
Abstract Waste rock dump reclamation includes re-grading the banks to flatten the overall slope followed by re-vegetation. These measures are required to reduce surface erosion, provide physical stability, and meet future use goals. In some cases, the presence of trees can cause localized shear zones in a waste rock dump by the load of the tree mass and the action of wind, the presence of roots in the soil and the death of some species. In geotechnical assessment, however, the influence of trees on slope stability of waste rock dumps is only qualitative. This article assesses the effects of trees on slope stability of a reclaimed waste rock dump of an iron ore mine. Historic data of construction, laboratory tests, and stability analysis were evaluated. Slope stability assessments were performed after an extensive geotechnical and forest campaign, considering two scenarios - the final waste rock dump without the vegetational cover and the final waste rock with vegetational cover. Tree vegetation in slopes produces both positive and negative effects on slope stability. For scenario 1, the lowest factor of safety occurs for a potential failure surface near the bottom of the waste dump, passing by a layer 6 m depth from the surface. In scenario 2 the factor of safety is increased by 10%. For deeper failure surface, the smallest factor of safety occurs 30 m deep. However, very tall trees at the top of the waste dump are subject to wind action, which has a negative impact on slope stability.Resumo em Inglês:
Abstract Drilling operations must be preceded by adequate planning, fulfilling the path to produce hydrocarbons at low and competitive costs. Conventional well planning is based on the personal experience of project engineers, which use information from offset wells to estimate the performances in future wells. This article reviews and discusses a published statistical methodology for planning upcoming oil wells. The statistical approach incorporates uncertainties of the process, reducing the relevance of personal decisions and supporting the staff with more realistic cost estimations. A reliable project can reduce unexpected expenditures in a long-term campaign and shorten the learning time, resulting in improved cost prediction and a better-fitted calendar. An expressive database, containing information from an onshore field in Brazil, yields a case study to demonstrate the benefits of this approach for the development of new drilling projects. The solution presented supports a more precise planning of costs, the improvement of technical limits and the development of different technologies in drilling operations in future wells.