SpringerLink
Log in

Performance prediction of roadheaders using the rock mass cuttability classification

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Roadheaders are widely used for the excavation of roadways in coal mines. Knowing the performance roadheaders is very important for the planning of roadway projects and cost estimation. This paper is aimed at deriving estimation equations including rock mass cuttability classification (RMCC) index for both axial and transverse type roadheaders used in coal mines. An extensive field study was carried out in six different coal mines to measure the performances of roadheaders during the excavation of roadways. The strength of rock, the volumetric joint count, the strike and dip of joints, joint aperture, the Cerchar abrasivity index, and water ingress were also determined for the calculation of the RMCC index. The field and experimental data were assessed using the stepwise multiple regression analysis, and very strong performance estimation equations were derived for both axial and transverse type roadheaders. The validation of the developed models was done by statistical tests. It was revealed that the models are reasonable. Concluding remark is that the developed equations can be reliably used for the performance prediction of roadheaders used in coal mines.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

The data will be available one year later at https://trdizin.gov.tr/en/.

References

  • Abdolreza YC, Yakhchali SH (2013) A new model to predict roadheader performance using rock mass properties. J Coal Sci Eng 19(1):51–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avunduk E, Tumac D, Atalay AK (2014) Prediction of roadheader performance by artificial neural network. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 44:3–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bilgin N, Seyrek T, Erdinc E, Shahriar K (1990) Roadheaders clean valuable tips for Istanbul Metro. Tunnels Tunnell 22:29–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Copur H, Ozdemir L, Rostami J (1998) Roadheader applications in mining and tunneling industries. Annual Meeting of American Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), Orlando, Florida, March 10–12, Preprint Number: 98–185

  • Ebrahimabadi A, Goshtasbi K, Shahriar K, CheraghiSeifabad M (2011) A model to predict the performance of roadheaders based on rock mass brittleness index. J South Afr Inst Min Metall 111:355–364

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebrahimabadi A, Azimipour M, Bahreini A (2015) Prediction of roadheaders’ performance using artificial neural network approaches (MLP and KOSFM). J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 7:573–583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gehring KH (1989) A cutting comparison. Tunnels Tunnell 21:27–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoek E (2007) Practical rock engineering, https://www.rocscience.com/assets/resources/learning/hoek/Practical-Rock-Engineering-Chapter-3-Rock-Mass-Classification.pdf, 18/01/ 2022

  • ISRM (2007) The complete ISRM suggested methods for rock characterization, testing and monitoring: 1974–2006. Suggested Methods Prepared by the Commission on Testing Methods, International Society for Rock Mechanics, R. Ulusay and J.A. Hudson (eds.), Compilation Arranged by the ISRM Turkish National Group, Ankara, Turkey, Kozan Ofset

  • Kahraman E, Kahraman S (2016) The performance prediction of roadheaders from easy testing methods. Bull Eng Geol Env 75:1585–1596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahraman S, Aloglu AS, Aydın B, Saygin E (2017) The needle penetration test for predicting coal strength. J South Afr Inst Min Metall 117:587–591. https://doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2017/v117n6a9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahraman S, Aloglu AS, Aydın B, Saygın E (2019) The needle penetration index to estimate the performance of an axial type roadheader used in a coal mine. Geomech Geophys Geo-Energ Geo-Resour 5:37–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahraman (2022) A general evaluation of the performance of roadheaders, Research project report, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), Project no. 217M740

  • Ocak I, Bilgin N (2010) Comparative studies on the performance of a roadheader, impact hammer and drilling and blasting method in the excavation of metro station tunnels in Istanbul. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 25:181–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmstrom A (2005) Measurements of and correlations between block size and rock quality designation (RQD). Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 20:362–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rostami J, Ozdemir L, Neil DM (1994) Performance prediction: a key issue in mechanical hard rock mining. Min Eng 11:1263–1267

    Google Scholar 

  • Salsani A, Daneshian J, Shariati S, Chamzini AY, Taheri M (2014) Predicting roadheader performance by using artificial neural network. Neural Comput Appl 24:1823–1831

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seker SE, Ocak I (2019) Performance prediction of roadheaders using ensemble machine learning techniques. Neural Comput & Applic 2019(31):1103–1116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thuro K, Plinninger RJ (1999) Roadheader excavation performance - geological and geotechnical influences. The 9th ISRM Congress, Theme 3: Rock dynamics and tectonophysics / Rock cutting and drilling, Paris, 1241–1244

  • Tumac D, Bilgin N, Feridunoglu C, Ergin H (2007) Estimation of rock cuttability from shore hardness and compressive strength properties. Rock Mech Rock Eng 40(5):477–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulusay R, Aydan O, Erguler ZA, Ngan-Tillard DJM, Seiki T, Verwaal W, Sasaki Y, Sato A (2014) ISRM suggested method for the needle penetration test. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47:1073–1085

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study is a part of PhD thesis of Behnaz Hallaji Dibavar. We would like to thank TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) for supporting the study (Grant No. 217M740). We also would like to thank Park Termik Elektrik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., Hattat Enerji ve Maden Ticaret A.Ş., Polyak Eynez Enerji Üretim Madencilik San. ve Tic. A.Ş., İmbat Madencilik Enerji Turizm San. Tic..A.Ş., Demir Export A.Ş., YS Madencilik San. ve Tic. Ltd. Ş. and Kömür İşletmeleri A.Ş. for allowing the field studies.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mining Engineering Department, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Sair Kahraman

  2. Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Behnaz Dibavar & Masoud Rostami

  3. Geological Engineering Department, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

    Mustafa Fener

Authors
  1. Sair Kahraman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Behnaz Dibavar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Masoud Rostami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mustafa Fener
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sair Kahraman.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Murat Karakus

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kahraman, S., Dibavar, B., Rostami, M. et al. Performance prediction of roadheaders using the rock mass cuttability classification. Arab J Geosci 16, 686 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11807-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11807-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation