And for as long as humans have sought the bounty of the Earth’s depths, mining has been an exceptionally dangerous endeavor.
A University of Arizona scientist thinks he has devised a process to make mining a much safer prospect.
“We’re applying new ideas to practical problems,” said Pinnaduwa H.S.W. “Kumar” Kulatilake, Ph.D., a professor of geotechnical engineering at the UA Department of Mining and Geological Engineering.
Kulatilake’s research analyzes rock structures and predicts how and under what conditions those structures could fail.
Soon he’ll have the opportunity to put the research and theories to test,air jordon. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has awarded Kulatilake a $1.25 million five-year grant to conduct practical research in the field.
The grant will fund research at a pair of open-pit mines in the United States and two underground mines in China.
Mining deaths in the U.S. have consistently declined over the past several decades, with fewer than 100 workers dying annually on average, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
That’s not the case in many parts of the world, however.
In China alone, thousands of miners die every year, even according to the country’s official figures.
In 2009, for example, more than 2,600 miners were killed in mining accidents in China.
Through the NIOSH research grant, Kulatilake hopes to help mines become safer for workers.
In the world of mining, this research could help to prevent deaths and,Chanel Outlet, in the long term, help make mines more productive by minimizing lost time that result from cave-ins and other disasters.
“It could have an impact on people and equipment,masenv.com, as well as the economics of the operation,” Kulatilake said.
Originally from Sri Lanka,Gucci Outlet, Kulatilake has a master’s degree from the Asian Institute of Technology and a doctorate from The Ohio State University. He has been with the University of Arizona since 1981.
As many as seven of Kulatilake’s students will be able to apply their work on the grant to complete doctoral dissertations.
Because fissures and discontinuities in large rock structures form in infinite combinations, coming up with accurate predictions is a complicated process.
Kulatilake has developed a process of analysis that uses laser-scan imaging of rock surfaces, manual mapping of rock discontinuities, CT scanning, rock-strength tests and other processes to create three-dimensional models.
The models, Kulatilake said, can help predict where and how rock structures will fail under various conditions.
“We have now come up with a way of quantifying and predicting,” he said. “Many mine companies continue to use the old technologies, which in my opinion is like guesswork.”
Kulatilake said the analysis he does should be able to better predict how rock structures will respond to mining activity.
In underground mining for example, tunneling and excavating rock to reach the desired mineral content creates weaknesses and increases the possibility for cave-ins.
In open pit mining similar failures can occur as more material is taken from Earth. In these mines, the stepped,Toms Shoes Sale, terrace-like sides can collapse.
“We want to predict before they go in and work what kind of a rock mass they are working with,” Kulatilake said.
He described the work he will do under the grant as the culmination of decades of professional research.
Plus, he said,longchamp, the same methodologies can be applied to civil engineering projects like bridges, buildings and tunnels.
“As far as the technology is concerned, it’s the same,” Kulatilake said,Hogan.
There is one big difference between mining and civil engineering projects, he said. Civil projects are designed to last forever whereas mines are temporary.
“The difference is a factor of safety,” Kulatilake said.
Next Generation is a monthly feature of Inside Tucson Business profiling Southern Arizonans on the cutting edge of developing their ideas. If you’ve got an idea or someone you think should be profiled, contact reporter Patrick McNamara at or (520) 295-4259.
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