1st Edition

Discrete Simulation and Animation for Mining Engineers

By John Sturgul Copyright 2016
    600 Pages
    by CRC Press

    600 Pages 608 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    General Purpose Simulation System (GPSS) is a special computer programming language primarily used to simulate what can be classified as discrete systems. A discrete system is one where, at any given instant in time, a countable number of things can take place. The basic operation of a mine itself can be considered such a system.

    Discrete Simulation and Animation for Mining Engineers explains how to model mining systems using GPSS/H® and PROOF® by Wolverine Software Corporation. Employing a unique approach that encourages engagement from the start, the text discusses animation first, and then slowly introduces simulation language. As each new topic is covered, an animation is provided to illustrate the key concepts.

    Leveraging valuable insight gained from the author’s extensive experience modeling mines around the world, the book:

    • Describes how to apply discrete system simulation to mines
    • Shows how to make those simulations come alive with animation
    • Includes real-world examples and exercises that hone practical problem-solving skills

    Written by a mining engineer for mining engineers and students of mining, Discrete Simulation and Animation for Mining Engineers offers a comprehensive yet accessible treatment of mine simulation and animation useful in increasing the efficiency of industrial mining processes.

    What Is PROOF Animation?
    PROOF Animation
    Further Work
    Exercises
    Drawing a Layout
    Making a CLASS
    Making a Path
    Making the .ATF file
    The CREATE Command
    The PLACE Command
    The MOVE Command
    Study of TIME and SPEED
    Exercises
    More on Layouts I
    More on Layouts
    Making Curves
    Making Circles
    Moving the Grid Coordinates
    Changing the Colours of Objects
    Exercises
    More on Layouts II
    More on Paths
    Non-Closed Circular Paths
    The Snap to Option
    The DESTROY Command in PROOF
    Exercises
    Some PROOF Icons
    The SET Command and More PROOF Icons
    Other forms of the SET Command
    SET CLASS
    SET OBJECT
    More PROOF Icons: Navigating the Top Menu Bar
    Exercises
    More PROOF Icons
    More PROOF Icons: Navigating the Lower Menu Bar
    Exercises
    Introduction to the GPSS/H Simulation Language
    Introduction to GPSS/H
    Rules for Writing Code in GPSS/H
    Continuing a Line of Code
    Running a GPSS/H Program
    What You Will Need
    Running Programs Using the Command Prompt—Up to Windows
    Running Programs from Windows 7 and Higher
    Making Changes to a GPSS/H Program
    Giving Names in GPSS/H
    Another Example
    Free Format
    The SIMULATE Statement
    The END Statement
    Further Example
    Exercises
    The GENERATE Block and Transactions
    The GENERATE Block
    The Internal GPSS/H Clock
    Creating Transactions
    The B Operand
    A Word about Random Numbers
    Results of Simulation Programs
    More General Cases of the GENERATE Block
    The PRIORITY Block
    The TERMINATE Block
    The START Statement
    The CLEAR Statement
    The RMULT Statement
    Exercises
    ADVANCE and TRANSFER Blocks
    The ADVANCE Block
    A Caution in Writing Programs
    The TRANSFER Block
    Unconditional TRANSFER Mode
    The Conditional TRANSFER Block
    Exercises
    Making .ATF Files
    Making .ATF Files, PUTSTRING, BPUTSTRING, BPUTPIC, PUTPIC and Standard Numerical Attributes
    Exercises
    QUEUE/DEPART Blocks
    QUEUE/DEPART Blocks—Another PROOF Icon
    Another PROOF Icon
    Exercises
    SEIZE/RELEASE Blocks
    SEIZE and RELEASE Blocks
    Exercises
    Arithmetic in GPSS/H
    Ampervariables in GPSS/H
    Arithmetic in GPSS/H
    The LET Statement and the BLET Block
    Another Important SNA
    Exercises
    ENTER/LEAVE Blocks
    The ENTER and LEAVE Blocks
    Exercises
    Other Forms of the TRANSFER Block
    Several Other Forms of the TRANSFER Block
    Exercises
    The TEST Block
    The TEST Block
    The TEST Block in Refusal Mode
    TEST Block in Normal Mode
    Exercises
    Standard Numerical Attributes
    More on Standard Numerical Attributes
    Other SNAs
    Exercises
    Functions
    Functions
    Exercises
    Parameters
    Parameters
    The ASSIGN Block
    A Caution in Using the ADVANCE Block
    The ASSIGN Block in Increment or Decrement Mode
    The TRANSFER ,FN(label) Block
    General Form of the ASSIGN Block
    Exercises
    More on Parameters
    More on Parameters: The LOOP Block EQU Statement
    Exercises
    TABLES
    TABLES in GPSS/H
    The TABLE Statement
    The TABULATE Block
    Standard Numerical Attributes Associated with Tables
    The MARK Block
    Additional Tables
    Exercises
    LOGIC Switches and the GATE Block
    LOGIC Switches and the GATE Block
    Another Form of the TRANSFER Block
    Exercises
    Miscellaneous Statements
    DO LOOPS, IF, GOTO and LET Statements
    Exercises
    The SELECT and COUNT Blocks
    The SELECT and COUNT Blocks
    The COUNT Block
    Other forms of the SELECT and COUNT Blocks
    Exercises
    Variables and Expressions
    Variables and Expressions, Boolean Variables
    Exercises
    The BUFFER Block
    The BUFFER Block and the SPLIT Block
    Exercises
    The ASSEMBLY Block
    Assembly Sets and the ASSEMBLE Block
    The ASSEMBLE Block
    Exercises
    MATCH, GATHER, and PREEMPT Blocks
    MATCH, GATHER, and PREEMPT Blocks
    Exercises
    MACROs
    MACROs in GPSS/H Subroutines
    Exercises
    A Few More PROOF Icons
    A Few More PROOF Icons
    Exercises
    SAVEVALUES
    SAVEVALUES
    The SAVEVALUE Block
    The FIX and FLT Mode Conversion
    The INITIAL Statement
    Effect of RESET and CLEAR on SAVEVALUES

    Biography

    John R. Sturgul holds a BS in mining engineering (with honors) from Michigan Technological University, Houghton, USA; an MS in mathematics from the University of Arizona, Tucson, USA; and a Ph.D in mining engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. He also holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Petrosani, Romania. Recognized as the world’s leading authority on the application of discrete system simulation to mines, Dr. Sturgul is currently a professor of mining engineering at the University of Adelaide, Australia. He has been actively engaged in mine simulation and animation for more than 30 years. His work in this field has taken him to more than 60 countries and earned him numerous awards in Chile, Romania, the United States, Spain, Argentina, Peru, South Africa, Greece, and Australia, where he received the Ray Page Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Simulation Society. His model of the Lihir gold mine, located on an island northeast of Papua New Guinea, was the first example of a mine initially designed using a simulation model. He published the first textbook on the subject in 2000, and now this new textbook explains the details of constructing such models.

    "… essential reading for those mining companies thinking of improving, innovating and generally increasing their production – or at least finding where the bottlenecks are. … very detailed and lays out the methodology for developing solutions to typical mining problems – truck/shovel interactions, truck haul cycles, queuing at dumps/hoppers/shovels – the bread and butter of cost reduction in mining."
    —Shane Bennett, PT Kaltim Prima Coal

    The book has the perfectly recognizable "Sturgul style". … very well written book, specially entertaining and educational, but complete and professional at the same time. Anyone who wants to learn about simulation in mining should read this book. It is fantastic for students, but professional mining engineers at work will also find "precious ore" in the book to solve their real life problems."
    —Marcelino Cortina, COO at Treelogic (Spain)

    "… an interesting book to introduce new users in the computer simulation word. It clearly states the benefits of computer simulation and how it helps to answer questions about how different parameters values or small/big changes in the system can affect the final performance."
    —Veronica Gil-Costa, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Argentina

    "Easy to read and understand. … presented in the style that Dr. Sturgul would use in any of his Mining classes. … step-by-step instructions are easy to follow."
    —Allen Cooper

    "… aimed at giving the reader profound insights into the simulation of discrete mining systems. Having many years of experience, Sturgul uses an entertaining and interactive approach to teaching simulation. Readers will enjoy solving real-life problems using the knowledge gained from reading this book."
    —Vladimir Borissenko, Commissioning Process Engineer, Bozshakol Mine, KAZ Minerals PLC

    "Highly applicable in the real world, very descriptive, easy to follow, and peaks the interest of the user yielding a double benefit. With this book the student is likely to both become interested in the industrial mining process while at the same time learn about it. … an excellent tool to get students to understand and apply simulation in the mining process."
    —Mario Candia, Independent Consultant for Mining and Soil Mechanics

    "… knowledge worthy for all mining industry students and professionals. The presentation is flawless and exhaustive for both students, beginners, and practitioners of mining simulation and has a place in the history of cutting edge mining applications."
    —Paul Appiah

    "I would recommend current and future mining engineering students to read the book and try out the exercises, even if your university does not have a dedicated course on the subject. These skills will only enhance your presentations and skills base. For more experienced engineers, these tools can be a great help, even at later stages within a mineral industry career."
    The AusIMM Bulletin Magazine, June 2016