Abstract

WANG, C. et al. Monte Carlo analytic hierarchy process for selection of the longwall mining method in thin coal seams. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2019, vol.119, n.12, pp.1005-1012. ISSN 2411-9717.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/17/375/2020.

Mining method selection is one of the most important decisions to be made by mining engineers. To solve the decision-making problem regarding selection of the optimal longwall mining method for thin coal seams, we propose an approach that combines Monte Carlo simulation and the conventional analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Economic, technical, and ergonomic factors are taken into consideration in the process. With this approach, the confidence level of each method's score, as calculated by AHP, is determined by Monte Carlo simulation. The proposed approach is applied to a panel in Liangshuijing coal mine in China and the appropriate mining methods for this panel are ranked.

Keywords : mining method selection; thin coal seam; Monte Carlo simulation; AHP; confidence level.

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