Simulation of Haulage Truck Loading Techniques in an Underground Mine Using WITNESS

Abstract

This paper discusses the application of discrete-event simulation with animation to solve a haulage system problem in an underground hardrock mine in the Sudbury mining region in Ontario, Canada. The PC simulation software WITNESS, by the Lanner Group, was used to create the simulation models of the mine haulage systems. The simulation study is applied to determine if a chute system could be used in place of the current Load-Haul-Dump (LHD) loading system to load the haulage trucks. The current haulage system operates using a single LHD to load up to two trucks in a loading area near the stopes. The simulation models were also used to determine if a truck fleet which is loaded by a chute could exceed the throughput of the current haulage system and meet future production demands of the mine. Data collected from the mine was used to validate the simulation model of the current hauling practices on the 2400 foot level of the mine. Analysis of the results indicated that the chute system could provide an increase in the system throughput when one or two trucks operate in the system.