Geotechnical and Geological Engineering | Article | Published 2020
The large deep pit of Muruntau Navoi mining and metallurgical combine (Uzbekistan) is characterized by continuous growth of production capacity, which is achieved mainly due to increased production intensity, which leads to a high rate of decline in mining operations. Thus, the rate of reduction of mining operations in local areas of the Muruntau quarry is 60-90 meters per year. Currently, the maximum depth of the Muruntau quarry is more than 600m, and the prospective depth is estimated at 950-1000m, which further exacerbates the economic problems of transportation due to the long distances of transporting rock mass. The use of cyclical-flow technology with a multi-link transport system requires rhythmic operation of the quarry, which excludes unproductive downtime of conveyor complexes. However, the use of cars in the system of loading and transport complex, as shown by the experience of both the Krivbass and Muruntau quarries, determines a significant variation in the parameters of cargo flows. This leads to uneven cargo flow entering continuous transport, and, as a result, to a significant decrease in the design performance of complexes with a corresponding deterioration in technical and economic performance indicators. Analysis of the study of dynamic characteristics of cargo flow shows that this process is generally carried out in two modes: stationary and transient (the beginning and end of the shift and the lunch break), which indicates a significant unevenness of cargo flow during the shift.