TY - BOOK

T1 - Real-Time Material Analysis and Development of a Collaboration and Trading Platform for Mineral Resources from Underground Construction Projects

AU - Erben, Hartmut

N1 - no embargo

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - The present dissertation, created in the course of the European DRAGON research project, deals with the efficient characterisation and economic marketing of tunnel excavation material. These goals are to be accomplished by selection and evaluation of real-time material analysis technologies in combination with the development of a web-based collaboration and trading platform called MineralBay. One of the key objectives for achievement of enhanced utilisation rates for excavated material from underground construction activities is the comprehensive collection and digital processing of available material, mass and time related data on tunnel spoil, wherein selected information should be accessible for a wide audience. MineralBay, as a new collaboration tool, connects owners and customers of mineral resources over the internet, thus combining supply and demand, to simplify the exchange and trade of excavated materials. Consequently, a new value chain is initialised, reaching far beyond the construction industry and enabling successful upcycling. The foundation for such a model to work is access to thorough analyses of the raw material – as far as possible – in real-time and directly from the tunnel drive. Tunnel projects, already created during the design phase in MineralBay, are then supplemented with the generated data. This improves quality management of already placed excavation material tremendously, by providing (potential) customers constantly with information on the demanded raw material. Furthermore, the material stream is continuously documented throughout the whole construction project. The research on a total of seven chemical and mineralogical analysis methods, with respect to prevailing boundary and environmental conditions, as well as frequently encountered rock types, was conducted in the form of a round robin test. The development of an evaluation process, by applying principal component analysis and multivariate regression methods, ensures an objective comparison of different technologies, in terms of differentiation, recognition, and assigning of rocks, and quantitative prediction of elemental and mineral contents. During this process, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for chemical, and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) for mineralogical analyses proved to be the most powerful and application-oriented systems under the given constraints. Grain size distribution, which is of importance for processing and utilisation of excavation material, was measured by real-time photo-optical methods. For determination of the phyllosilicate content in aggregate sands, which has a decisive influence on fresh and hardened concrete properties, the existing shape separation table procedure was refined and a new photo-optical technique developed. Based on all available online analysis results, a complex data evaluation regarding chemical, mineralogical, physical, temporal, spatial and quantitative parameters of the tunnel excavation material is carried out within MineralBay, in order to take decisions with respect to utilisation or landfilling as fast as possible. For that purpose, four material classes were defined during this research, to which the material might be assigned depending on its properties and suitability. The positive economic impact of utilisation of tunnel excavation material is illustrated by a parameter study and three realistic scenarios, taking processing for concrete production on site, selling or provision to an external customer, and landfilling into account.

AB - The present dissertation, created in the course of the European DRAGON research project, deals with the efficient characterisation and economic marketing of tunnel excavation material. These goals are to be accomplished by selection and evaluation of real-time material analysis technologies in combination with the development of a web-based collaboration and trading platform called MineralBay. One of the key objectives for achievement of enhanced utilisation rates for excavated material from underground construction activities is the comprehensive collection and digital processing of available material, mass and time related data on tunnel spoil, wherein selected information should be accessible for a wide audience. MineralBay, as a new collaboration tool, connects owners and customers of mineral resources over the internet, thus combining supply and demand, to simplify the exchange and trade of excavated materials. Consequently, a new value chain is initialised, reaching far beyond the construction industry and enabling successful upcycling. The foundation for such a model to work is access to thorough analyses of the raw material – as far as possible – in real-time and directly from the tunnel drive. Tunnel projects, already created during the design phase in MineralBay, are then supplemented with the generated data. This improves quality management of already placed excavation material tremendously, by providing (potential) customers constantly with information on the demanded raw material. Furthermore, the material stream is continuously documented throughout the whole construction project. The research on a total of seven chemical and mineralogical analysis methods, with respect to prevailing boundary and environmental conditions, as well as frequently encountered rock types, was conducted in the form of a round robin test. The development of an evaluation process, by applying principal component analysis and multivariate regression methods, ensures an objective comparison of different technologies, in terms of differentiation, recognition, and assigning of rocks, and quantitative prediction of elemental and mineral contents. During this process, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for chemical, and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) for mineralogical analyses proved to be the most powerful and application-oriented systems under the given constraints. Grain size distribution, which is of importance for processing and utilisation of excavation material, was measured by real-time photo-optical methods. For determination of the phyllosilicate content in aggregate sands, which has a decisive influence on fresh and hardened concrete properties, the existing shape separation table procedure was refined and a new photo-optical technique developed. Based on all available online analysis results, a complex data evaluation regarding chemical, mineralogical, physical, temporal, spatial and quantitative parameters of the tunnel excavation material is carried out within MineralBay, in order to take decisions with respect to utilisation or landfilling as fast as possible. For that purpose, four material classes were defined during this research, to which the material might be assigned depending on its properties and suitability. The positive economic impact of utilisation of tunnel excavation material is illustrated by a parameter study and three realistic scenarios, taking processing for concrete production on site, selling or provision to an external customer, and landfilling into account.

KW - Tunnelbau

KW - Materialanalyse

KW - Untertagebau

KW - Tunnelausbruch

KW - mineralische Rohstoffe

KW - Verwertung

KW - Tunnelling

KW - material analysis

KW - underground construction

KW - tunnel excavation material

KW - mineral resources

KW - utilisation

M3 - Doctoral Thesis

ER -