Article: Selection of an optimal electric monorail loading technique in underground mining using analytic hierarchy process and Yager's technique Journal: International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering (IJMME) 2019 Vol.10 No.2/3/4 pp.338 - 353 Abstract: The electric monorail transport system has found wide application in decline development. However, the loading mechanism in this haulage system still possesses a great challenge to its overall optimal efficiency. It has been demonstrated that high loading time is the main pitfall to high advance rates in monorail application. In this paper, the analytic hierarchy process and Yager's multiple criteria decision making techniques were used to select the optimal loading mechanism in the electric monorail transport system among three loading alternatives, namely, electric loader, conventional load-haul-dump unit and pneumatic loading system. Results of the two methods show that the electric loading technique is the optimal monorail loading system for efficient decline development in narrow vein deposits. Additionally, sensitivity analyses under the two techniques show that the electric loader system is always selected as the optimal solution to ±40% changes in the weight of criteria. It was also deduced that the solution under both methods is most sensitive to changes in the weight of the loading rate criterion. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Selection of an optimal electric monorail loading technique in underground mining using analytic hierarchy process and Yager's technique

Authors: Webby Banda; Bunda Besa; Eugie Kabwe; Emmanuel K. Chanda

Addresses: Mining Engineering Department, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia ' Mining Engineering Department, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia ' School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia ' Mining Engineering Department, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract: The electric monorail transport system has found wide application in decline development. However, the loading mechanism in this haulage system still possesses a great challenge to its overall optimal efficiency. It has been demonstrated that high loading time is the main pitfall to high advance rates in monorail application. In this paper, the analytic hierarchy process and Yager's multiple criteria decision making techniques were used to select the optimal loading mechanism in the electric monorail transport system among three loading alternatives, namely, electric loader, conventional load-haul-dump unit and pneumatic loading system. Results of the two methods show that the electric loading technique is the optimal monorail loading system for efficient decline development in narrow vein deposits. Additionally, sensitivity analyses under the two techniques show that the electric loader system is always selected as the optimal solution to ±40% changes in the weight of criteria. It was also deduced that the solution under both methods is most sensitive to changes in the weight of the loading rate criterion.

Keywords: monorail; analytic hierarchy process; AHP; Yager's; decline; narrow vein deposits.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMME.2019.104457

International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering, 2019 Vol.10 No.2/3/4, pp.338 - 353

Accepted: 18 Aug 2019
Published online: 12 Jan 2020 *

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Title: Selection of an optimal electric monorail loading technique in underground mining using analytic hierarchy process and Yager's technique

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