Reliability analysis of underground mining equipment using genetic algorithms: A case study of two mine hoists

Purpose – While increased mechanization and automation make considerable contributions to mine productivity, unexpected equipment failures and imperfect planned or routine maintenance prohibit the maximum possible utilization of sophisticated mining equipment and require significant amount of extra capital investment. Traditional preventive/planned maintenance is usually scheduled at a fixed interval based on maintenance personnel's experience and it can result in decreasing reliability. This paper deals with reliability analysis and prediction for mining machinery. A software tool called GenRel is discussed with its theoretical background, applied algorithms and its current improvements. In GenRel, it is assumed that failures of mining equipment caused by an array of factors (e.g. age of equipment, operating environment) follow the biological evolution theory. GenRel then simulates the failure occurrences during a time period of interest based on Genetic Algorithms (GAs) combined with a number of statist...

[1]  Nick Vayenas,et al.  Maintenance and reliability analysis of a fleet of load-haul-dump vehicles in an underground hard rock mine , 2009 .

[2]  Xiaojun Zhou,et al.  Reliability-centered predictive maintenance scheduling for a continuously monitored system subject to degradation , 2007, Reliab. Eng. Syst. Saf..

[3]  A. K. S. Jardine,et al.  Maintenance, Replacement, and Reliability , 2021 .

[4]  Uday Kumar,et al.  Reliability-based maintenance scheduling of haulage system of drum shearer , 2011 .

[5]  Randy L. Haupt,et al.  Practical Genetic Algorithms , 1998 .

[6]  Nick Vayenas,et al.  Discrete-event simulation of mine equipment systems combined with a reliability assessment model based on genetic algorithms , 2008 .

[7]  R. Larsen,et al.  An introduction to mathematical statistics and its applications (2nd edition) , by R. J. Larsen and M. L. Marx. Pp 630. £17·95. 1987. ISBN 13-487166-9 (Prentice-Hall) , 1987, The Mathematical Gazette.

[8]  Melinda Hodkiewicz,et al.  Challenges and Opportunities for Simulation Modelling Integrating Mine Haulage and Truck Shop Operations , 2005 .

[9]  Nick Vagenas,et al.  Genetic algorithms for reliability assessment of mining equipment , 2001 .

[10]  R. V. Canfield,et al.  Cost Optimization of Periodic Preventive Maintenance , 1986, IEEE Transactions on Reliability.

[11]  T. Nakagawa,et al.  Extended optimal replacement model with random minimal repair costs , 1995 .

[12]  Gopal Kanji,et al.  100 Statistical Tests , 1994 .

[13]  T. Nakagawa.  Optimal policy of continuous and discrete replacement with minimal repair at failure , 1984 .

[14]  Nick Vayenas,et al.  GenRel: A computerised model for reliability prediction of mining machinery , 2009 .

[15]  Zbigniew Michalewicz,et al.  Genetic Algorithms + Data Structures = Evolution Programs , 2000, Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

[16]  M. Ataei,et al.  Using a Combination of Genetic Algorithm and the Grid Search Method to Determine Optimum Cutoff Grades of Multiple Metal Deposits , 2004 .

[17]  Lawrence. Davis,et al.  Handbook Of Genetic Algorithms , 1990 .

[18]  Balbir S. Dhillon,et al.  Mining Equipment Reliability, Maintainability, and Safety , 2008 .

[19]  Parag C. Pendharkar,et al.  Nonlinear programming and genetic search application for production scheduling in coal mines , 2000, Ann. Oper. Res..

[20]  Larry A. Rendell.  Genetic Plans and the Probabilistic Learning System: Synthesis and Results , 1985, ICGA.

[21]  N C Proudlove,et al.  Intelligent management systems in operations: a review , 1998, J. Oper. Res. Soc..

[22]  Nick Vagenas,et al.  A methodology for maintenance analysis of mining equipment , 1997 .

[23]  Nick Vagenas,et al.  Use of genetic algorithms in a mining problem , 1994 .

[24]  Mitsuo Gen,et al.  A tutorial survey of job-shop scheduling problems using genetic algorithms—I: representation , 1996 .

[25]  Nick Vayenas,et al.  Using GenRel for reliability assessment of mining equipment , 2007 .

[26]  Goldberg,et al.  Genetic algorithms , 1993, Robust Control Systems with Genetic Algorithms.

[27]  Jacek Paraszczak.  Understanding and assessment of mining equipment effectiveness , 2005 .

[28]  Chang Wook Ahn,et al.  Advances in Evolutionary Algorithms: Theory, Design and Practice , 2006, Studies in Computational Intelligence.

[29]  Haldun Aytug,et al.  Use of genetic algorithms to solve production and operations management problems: A review , 2003 .