Project Overview
NM Engineering developed the mechanical design for a mining bolter machine used in underground drilling and bolting operations. The design, analysis, and calculations were performed in accordance with CSA standards to ensure safety and reliability in harsh mining environments.
Design and Analysis
- Bolt/Weld Connection Design: All bolt and weld connections were designed following the guidelines of the AISC 9th edition, ensuring structural integrity and durability.
- Fatigue and Fracture Design: The machine’s components were analyzed for fatigue and fracture resistance in accordance with CSA W59 standards, ensuring long-term performance under repeated loading conditions.
- Falling Object/Rolling Over Nonlinear Analysis: A nonlinear analysis was conducted to assess the machine’s stability and performance during falling object and rollover scenarios, based on CSA B352 standards.
- Stability Calculation: Stability calculations were performed based on EN 791 standards to ensure the machine’s operational safety and prevent tipping or instability during use.
Challenges and Limitations
- Structural Integrity: The design required careful consideration of the welding and bolt connections to ensure the machine could withstand the extreme stresses and vibrations encountered during underground drilling and bolting.
- Fatigue Resistance: Ensuring the machine’s components could withstand the cyclical stresses of drilling and bolting without failing due to fatigue required advanced fatigue and fracture analysis.
- Operational Safety: The machine’s design had to meet strict stability requirements to prevent accidents such as rollovers or falling objects, which are common in underground mining environments.
Key Benefits
- Enhanced Safety: The design prioritizes safety, with a focus on structural integrity and stability, ensuring safe operation in challenging underground conditions.
- Durability: The fatigue and fracture-resistant design ensures long-term performance, even under high-stress, repetitive operations typical in mining environments.
- Compliance with Standards: All calculations and designs were performed in full compliance with CSA, AISC, and EN standards, guaranteeing the machine’s safety and reliability.
