Geotech Geol Eng (2011) 29:493–504

DOI 10.1007/s10706-011-9398-9

ORIGINAL PAPER

Productivity Analysis of Draglines Operating in Horizontal

and Vertical Tandem Mode of Operation in a Coal Mine—
A Case Study
Piyush Rai • Umakant Yadav • Ashok Kumar

Received: 6 April 2009 / Accepted: 21 March 2011 / Published online: 3 May 2011
Ó Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011

Abstract The tandem operation of draglines is in Marked discrepancies in the productivity parameters
use in some of the major Indian opencast coalmines as envisaged by the balancing diagram and as
owing to the favourable geo-mining conditions, observed in the field studies, have been investigated
technical suitability, efficiency and economic viabil- and reported. The study also propounds the impor-
ity. In view of the importance of tandem operation, tance of appraisal of dragline productivity parame-
the present study has been undertaken in a large ters, such as, cycle time, swing angle, seating
Indian opencast coalmine in order to critically position, availability, utilization, etc., in the field
investigate the horizontal and vertical tandem oper- scale. Irrespective of the mode of operation (hori-
ation of draglines on moderately strong and high zontal or vertical tandem), the study moots the
sandstone benches (35–42 m), overlying a 15–18 m concept of computation of the weighted cycle time
thick coal seam. The study has revealed that although and overall cycle time vis-à-vis swing angle variation
the preparation of balancing diagram for planning of for the draglines operating in field. The results drawn
dragline operations is the first and the most important from the case study have been discussed in terms of
step, its actual implementation is equally important. cycle time computations, annual output computation
and evaluation of earthmoving efficiency for the
horizontal and vertical tandem modes of operation.
P. Rai (&)
Department of Mining Engineering, Institute
of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Keywords Tandem operation  Dragline balancing
Varanasi 221 005, India diagram  Weighted cycle time  Swing angle  Loose
e-mail: [email protected]; muck  Blasted muck
[email protected]

P. Rai
Department of Energy and Resources Engineering, 1 Introduction
Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
The walking draglines offer several merits in open pit
U. Yadav
Corporate Office, Northern Coalfields Ltd. mining project where long reach, deep digging and
(a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd.), Singrauli, Dist. high output are essential requisites and the volume of
Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh, India overburden (O/B) to be handled is many times in
comparison to the volume of mineable mineral. For
A. Kumar
Pakri Barawdih Project, National Thermal Power instance, a 1 m thick coal seam may have 30 m thick
Corporation, Dist. Ranchi, Jharkhand, India O/B cover which may still be an economic

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proposition with application of draglines. Further, performance parameters of draglines in the HT

absence of auxiliary haulage units, higher mineral and VT modes of operation.
recovery, easy maneuverability, low maintenance 5. To assess the possible reasons for variation in
costs and operational advantages under adverse pit the productivity parameters as obtained from the
conditions are also cited as the merits of deploying constructed balancing diagram, vis-à-vis the
draglines (Chugh 1980). actual operation in field.
In the past two decades, draglines have especially
gained vast popularity in India for O/B stripping in
opencast coalmines. At present, Indian coalmines
2 Case Description
have about 43 draglines in operation, which handle
almost 22% of the O/B. The bucket sizes of these
The present case study has been carried out in mine A
draglines range from 5 to 30 m3 (Balamadeswaran
of a major opencast coalmine of Northern Coalfields
et al. 2004). However, it must be clearly understood
Ltd., Singrauli, India. The mine A is divided by a
that dragline is the single most expensive piece of
central entry into two operating sections along the
equipment to be deployed by any opencast mine,
East–West strike of the property. In one of the sections,
hence, it is imperative to keep a strict vigil on the
which will henceforth be named as mine 1, draglines
performance of this equipment under the prevalent
were operating in the HT mode of operation, whereas,
operating conditions.
in another section, which will henceforth be named as
Considering the importance of the dragline oper-
mine 2, draglines were operating in VT mode of
ations and the costs involved therein, the present
operation. Draglines operated on drilled and blasted
work aims at critically investigating the dragline
high O/B benches, which consisted of medium to fine
performance in two different modes of tandem
grained sandstone. The thickness of underlying coal
operation, namely horizontal tandem (HT) and ver-
seam ranged from 15 to 18 m. The draglines casted the
tical tandem (VT) operation (on same O/B strata and
overburden into previously cut void created after
under similar conditions). The study is based on
extraction of the underlying coal seam.
rigorous field monitoring in order to quantitatively
assess the key productivity parameters, while plan-
2.1 Description of Horizontal Tandem Operation
ning the tandem operations.
in Mine 1
1.1 Objectives of the Study
The cross-section and plan view of a typical horizontal
tandem operation is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2
The specific objectives of the present case study are
respectively. As clearly illustrated, both 24/96 drag-
enumerated as follows:
lines were deployed on the same stripping bench (35 m
1. To construct the balancing diagram for HT as high) to work in horizontal tandem. The leading
well as VT modes of operation under given field dragline (dragline no. 1, LeD/L-HT) was deployed on
conditions and to subsequently compute the the highball side to provide the key cut towards the
annual output by using the constructed balancing highball. On completing the key cut this dragline
diagram. excavated the first cut (next to key cut). After
2. To compute some important productivity param- excavating these two cuts, the leading dragline again
eters, through field studies, for cut widths of 90 moved to new key cut position, ready for next stripping
and 85 m, as practiced in field for HT and VT cycle to repeat the sequence. The lagging dragline
modes of operation, respectively. (dragline no. 2, LaD/L-HT), staggered at least 200 m
3. To study and establish the relationship between behind the leading dragline (due to safety reasons), sat
varying swing components and the overall cycle on the spoil side of the extended bench formed by
time of the draglines operating in tandem (HT as leading dragline. Being seated on the extended bench it
well as VT). side casted the O/B to a greater distance. This dragline
4. To investigate the influence of overall cycle time, excavated the first dig (next to first cut) on the
availability, utilization and cut width on the remaining portion of the stripping bench, and also

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Fig. 1 Cross-section
showing draglines in
horizontal tandem

Fig. 2 Plan view of

draglines operating in
horizontal tandem

re-handled the loose overburden to finally expose the respectively. In this mode of operation, the 42 m high
coal seam fully as per the designed balancing diagram bench was divided into two vertical benches, viz,
parameters. Both draglines advanced along the strike upper bench (top bench) and lower bench (main
away from the central entry towards the boundary of bench). The upper bench height was kept 14 m high
the pit to make cuts. A coal rib, of 5 m width and the lower bench height was 28 m. A 15/90
(triangular section) at the bottom, and up to full seam dragline (dragline 1, LeD/L-VT) seated on upper
thickness was left against the spoil heap. bench excavated the O/B and side casted the spoil into
the de-coaled area which extended the main bench.
2.2 Description of Vertical Tandem Operation After sufficient advance of the top dig the same
in Mine 2 dragline came down to main bench for excavating the
key cut and side casting the spoil into the de-coaled
In order to remove very thick overburden cover (in the area to form a level pad to create seating space for
form of 42 m high bench), overlying the coal seam, the lagging dragline after which, it again moved to the top
VT mode of operation was practiced in the mine 2. bench for next striping cycle. The lagging 24/96
The cross-section and plan view of a typical vertical dragline (dragline 2, LaD/L-VT) on the lower bench
tandem operation is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, excavated the first dig portion and subsequently

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Fig. 3 Cross-section
showing draglines in
vertical tandem

Fig. 4 Plan view of draglines operating in vertical tandem

marched towards the spoil side to sit on the level pad using the key field parameters (as tabulated in
(extended bench) to re-handle the spoil finally and Tables 1 and 2). The constructed balancing diagram
fully exposes the coal seam was used to estimate the annual output by the
draglines in HT and VT modes of operation. There-
after, a rigorous field study was undertaken to collect
3 Study Methodology the operational cycle time, sitting position, availabil-
ity and utilization factors for a substantially long
In this study, balancing diagrams for the HT and VT period of time in order that the collected data could
modes of operation was constructed, to the scale, by be used as representative data for projection of annual

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Table 1 Key field

Sl. No. Parameters Details
parameters and machine
parameters for construction 1 Draglines
of balancing diagram in
horizontal tandem (HT) D/L-1(LeDL-HT) 24/96 with max. horizontal reach of 88 m
mode of operation in mine 1 D/L-2(LaDL-HT) 24/96 with max. horizontal reach of 88 m
2 Bench height Approx. 35 m
3 Cut width 90 m
4 Strip length 1,700 m
5 Highwall slope 70°
6 Bench slope 60°
7 Key cut width (at top) 38 m
8 Key cut width (at bottom) 5m
9 Coal rib Left for full seam height (triangular
section)
10 Angle of repose 38°

Table 2 Key field

Sl. No. Parameters Details
parameters and machine
parameters for construction 1 Draglines
of balancing diagram in
vertical tandems (VT) mode D/L-1(LeDL-VT) 15/90 with max. horizontal reach of 82 m (top portion)
of operation in mine 2 D/L-2(LaDL-VT) 24/96 with max. horizontal reach of 88 m (bottom portion)
2 Bench height Approx. 42 m (14 m as top portion and 28 m as bottom
portion)
3 Cut width 85 m
4 Strip length 2,000 m
5 Highwall slope 70°
6 Bench slope 60°
7 Key cut width at top 38 m
8 Key cut width at bottom 5m
9 Coal rib Left for full height (triangular section)
10 Angle of repose 38°

output, and, consequently for computing the earth These constructed balancing diagrams were used
moving efficiencies in HT and VT modes of as a tool for computation of the desired annual O/B
operation. output, annual coal exposure, linear advance and the
re-handling percentage for the respective modes of
operation.
4 Construction of Balancing Diagram

Based on the standard procedures as suggested by Lal 5 Field Observations

et al. (1988), Rai (1997) and CMPDIL Report (1998),
the balancing diagram for draglines operating in HT Present case study was undertaken on pilot scale in
and VT modes of operation was constructed to the mine 1 for HT mode and mine 2 for VT mode of
scale, by using the given key field parameters, as dragline operation to gather a sound representative
tabulated in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. The con- field data for ensuing investigations. Field data
structed balancing diagrams are illustrated in Figs. 5 collection procedure is enumerated and discussed
and 6 for HT and VT modes of operation, respectively. step-by-step as follows.

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Fig. 5 Balancing diagram

and related computations
for draglines operating in
vertical tandem

5.1 Collection of Data for Cycle Time, course of collection of cycle time data for both the
Availability and Utilization Results draglines operating in HT mode of operation, it
was observed that being seated at one position, the
A typical dragline operation cycle can be distinctly draglines operated at swing angles varying between
splitted into four discrete segments namely, digging 90° and 180° to cast the muck (blasted overbur-
segment, swing forward segment, unloading seg- den). The percentages of the muck removed, from
ment, and swing back and bucket re-positioning one sitting position by the draglines, were almost
segment. Stopwatch was used to record the cycle 50% at swing angle of 90°, 25% in between 90°
times for all the four draglines. Actual work hours and 120° swing, 15% in between 120° and 150°
(WH), idle hours (IH), maintenance hours (MH) swing and 10% in between 150° and 180° swing.
and breakdown hours (BH) were registered, for all Almost similar trends were observed on both the
the draglines during the study period, to evaluate draglines operating in the VT mode of operation,
the representative data for availability (A) and wherein, it was observed that being seated at one
utilization (U). These representative field data on position, the draglines again operated at swing angles
cycle time, A and U were used for projecting the varying between 90° and 180°. The percentages of
annual output of the draglines. the blasted muck removed from one sitting position
were almost 50% at swing angle up to 90°, 26% in
5.2 Computations of Weighted and Overall between 90° and 120°, 14% in between 120° and
Cycle Time 150° and 10% in between 150° and 180°.
Looking at the percentages of material removed by
The well established method of time and motion the draglines, irrespective of the operational modes,
study was adopted for data collection. During the Eq. 1 was developed by the authors to compute the

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Fig. 6 Balancing diagram

and related computations
for draglines operating in
horizontal tandem

weighted cycle time. Nevertheless, Eq. 1 is case where k1, k2, k3 and k4 are observed percentages of
specific, depending on various factors such as drag- occurrence of average total cycle time for a specified
line sitting positions, design parameters for balancing range of swing angle such that k1 ? k2 ? k3 ?
diagram, rock characteristics, blasting efficiency and k4 = 100.
the operator’s skill. As such, it may be consequential The overall cycle time was then computed for each
to mention here that religious time and motion study dragline on the basis of computed weighted cycle
need to be carried for generation of such equations on time for draglines operating in blasted muck and in
case-to-case basis. re-handled muck (loose O/B).
The re-handling operation, as also evident from the
Weighted cycle time ðCW Þ
dragline balancing diagrams (Figs. 5, 6), is done only
¼ ð50 C1 þ 25 C2 þ 15 C3 þ 10 C4 Þ=100 ð1Þ
by the lagging draglines. During the field studies it
where C1 is the average total cycle time up to 90° was estimated that approximately 40% of the total
swing, C2 the average total cycle time for 90–120° muck handling time was spent on re-handling the
swing, C3 the average total cycle time for 120–150° loose O/B (muck). The lagging dragline spent almost
swing, and C4 is the average total cycle time for 60% of the total muck handling time on handling the
150–180° swing. A generalized equation can be put blasted muck. Since the total cycle time for excavat-
into simple form as: ing the loose O/B (re-handling) was always less than
the total cycle time for excavating the blasted muck,
Weighted cycle time ðCW Þ the concept of overall cycle time (COA) for lagging
¼ k1 C1 þ k2 C2 þ k3 C3 þ k4 C4 =100


ð1aÞ draglines has been quantified to take care of

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fractional cycle time in the loose and the blasted where B is the bucket capacity of dragline (m3), C the
muck portions. The COA as quantified by Eq. 2, is overall cycle time of dragline (s), K the availability-
case specific. cum-utilization factor, S the swell factor for loose, easy
digging sandstone (0.719), F the fill factor for loose,
Overall cycle time ðCOA Þ ¼ ð0:4 CWL Þ þ ð0:6 CWB Þ
easy digging sandstone (0.933), M the machine travel-
ð2Þ ling and positioning factor (0.8), Nh the number of hours
where CWL is the weighted cycle time for re-handled in a shift (8 h), Ns the number of shifts in a day (3 shifts),
muck (loose O/B) and CWB is the weighted cycle and Nd is the number of days in a year (365 days).
time for blasted muck. A generalized equation can be In order to compute the annual outputs for the
put into simple form as: draglines under study, the individual values of overall
cycle time (COA), A and U were substituted for each
Overall cycle time ðCOA Þ ¼ kCWL þ ð1  kÞCWB dragline as per the recorded field observations. Remain-
ð2bÞ ing factors in Eq. 6 were substituted as per the Central
Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd. (CMPDIL)
where k is fraction of time spent for re-handling the
norms as given above within the parentheses.
loose muck by lagging draglines. Further, since the
leading dragline always operated on the blasted muck
5.5 Computation of Efficiency for Draglines
only, the overall cycle time for leading draglines COA
will always equal to CW.
The computation of earthmoving efficiency for each
dragline was done by using Eq. 7, as suggested by
5.3 Evaluation of Availability and Utilization
Rai (1997).
After collection of field data on WH, BH and IH, the Efficiency of draglineðgÞ
availability, utilization and availability-cum-utiliza- Computed annual outputðP1 Þ  100
tion factor, for all the draglines under study, were ¼
Annual output as per the balancing diagram ðP2 Þ
evaluated by using the standard equations given
ð7Þ
below:
SSH  ðMH þ BHÞ The determination of annual output as per the balanc-
Availability factor ð AÞ ¼ ð3Þ ing diagram (P2) was done from the prepared balancing
SSH
diagram as per the balancing results given in Figs. 5
SSH  ðMH þ BH þ IHÞ and 6 for HT and VT modes of operation, respectively.
Utilization factor ðU Þ ¼
SSH
ð4Þ 5.6 Computation of Coal Exposure
Availability - cum - utilization factor ðK Þ ¼ A  U
ð5Þ The coal exposed by the draglines working in tandem
operation was estimated by using the generalized
where SSH is the scheduled shift hour (in a specified Eq. 8 as per the balancing diagram concept.
period, where 1 shift = 8 h), MH the maintenance
CE ¼ ðPFD =AÞ  W  T  D  RðM teÞ ð8Þ
hour, IH the idle hour and BH is the breakdown hour.
where CE is the coal exposure (M te), PFD the annual
5.4 Projection of Annual Output output of the lagging dragline from the first dig (M
m3), A the area of first dig (m2), W the cut width (m),
On the basis of the collected field data, the projected T the thickness of coal seam (m), D the specific
annual output (P1) for each dragline was computed by gravity of coal, and R is the recovery factor.
using the standard Eq. 6 as given below (CMPDIL In Eq. 8 the term (PFD/A) represents the annual
norms 1998). linear advance of the draglines (more specifically
lagging draglines). In the above equation, the value of
P1 ¼ ðB=C Þ K  S F  M  Nh Ns Nd 60 60 M m3


W was fixed as per the mode of operation (90 and
ð6Þ 85 m for HT and VT operation, respectively) and the

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value of T was taken as 18 m for HT operation and swing angles for blasted muck and re-handled muck
15 m for VT mode. D was taken as 1.52 for the given (loose O/B), by using Eqs. 1 and 2, respectively. The
field conditions, whereas, the value of R was assumed cycle time results are tabulated in Tables 3, 4, 5, 6.
as 0.9. Thereby, on substituting the values of the Cycle time results, as tabulated in Tables 3, 4, 5, 6,
linear advance (PFD/A), as obtained from the balanc- reveal that, irrespective of the operational mode of
ing diagram the coal exposure value was obtained draglines, weighted cycle time on re-handled muck is
(refer to balancing results as given in Figs. 5 and 6). less than weighted cycle time on blasted muck. This
is due to the easier diggability in the re-handled muck
owing to its looseness. Hence, it implies that a greater
6 Results and Discussion volume of muck can be handled by lagging draglines
as besides operating on the blasted muck in the first
6.1 Cycle Time Results dig area, they operate on the loose muck also.
Further, overall cycle time results, as seen in above
Overall cycle time (COA) for individual draglines was tables, also clearly indicate that the leading draglines
computed on the basis of weighted values at different have higher overall cycle time in comparison to

Table 3 Weighted and overall cycle time results for 24/96 leading dragline (LeHT-D/L) working in HT mode in the blasted muck of
mine 1
Sl. No. Mode of Swing angle (°) Observed cycle time Weighted cycle Overall cycle time (COA)
operation for 24/96 (LeHT-D/L) (s) time (CW) (s) for 24/96 (LeHT-D/L) (s)a

1 HT Up to 90 74.58 81.48 81.48

2 HT [90–120 81.80
3 HT [120–150 91.89
4 HT [150–180 99.53
a
In the HT as well as the VT modes of operation since the leading draglines (Le D/L) operate on the blasted muck hence, CW = COA
(since k = 0)

Table 4 Weighted and overall cycle time for 24/96 lagging dragline (LaHT-D/L) working in HT mode in the blasted muck and re-
handled muck (loose O/B) for mine 1
Sl. No. Mode of Swing Observed cycle Observed cycle Weighted Weighted Overall cycle
operation angle (°) time for 24/96 time for 24/96 cycle time cycle time time (COA)
(LaHT-D/L) for (LaHTD/L) for for blasted for re-handled for 24/96
blasted muck (s) re-handled muck (s) muck (s) muck (s) (LaHT-D/L) (s)

1 HT Up to 90 74.96 65.11 81.16 71.25 77.20

2 HT [90–120 81.68 73.93
3 HT [120–150 89.45 78.57
4 HT [150–180 98.40 84.29

Table 5 Weighted and overall cycle time for 15/90 leading dragline (LeVT-D/L) working in VT mode in the blasted muck of mine 2
Sl. No. Mode of Swing angle (°) Observed cycle time Weighted cycle Overall cycle time (COA)
operation for 15/90 (LeVT-D/L) (s) time (CW) (s) for 15/90 (LeVT-D/L) (s)a

1 VT Up to 90 74.58 80.58 80.58

2 VT [90–120 81.03
3 VT [120–150 89.38
4 VT [150–180 96.26
a
In the HT as well as the VT modes of operation since the leading draglines (Le D/L) operate on the blasted muck hence, CW = COA
(since k = 0)

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Table 6 Weighted and overall cycle time for 24/96 lagging dragline (LaVT-D/L) in the blasted muck and re-handled muck (Loose
O/B) of mine 2
Sl. No. Mode of Swing Observed cycle Observed cycle Weighted Weighted Overall cycle
operation angle (°) time for 24/96 time for 24/96 cycle time cycle time time (COA)
(LaVT-D/L) for (LaVT-D/L) for for blasted for re-handled for 24/96
blasted muck (s) re-handled muck (s) muck (s) muck (s) (LaVTD/L) (s)

1 VT Up to 90 76.67 65.11 83.06 70.70 78.12

2 VT [90–120 83.26 73.07
3 VT [120–150 94.97 76.27
4 VT [150–180 96.69 84.35

Table 7 Computed availability, utilization and availability-cum-utilization factor for draglines in mine 1
Equipment Mode of Availability Utilization Availability-cum-utilization
operation factor (A) factor (U) factor (K) under field study

24/96 (LeHT-D/L) HT 0.8883 0.8288 0.7318

24/96 (LaHT-D/L) HT 0.8913 0.8134 0.7249

lagging draglines. This is again attributable to the fact Gupta (1981), Mathur (1999), Naganna and Rai
that leading draglines always operate only on the (2003), Rai (2004) and Kishore (2004) reported the
blasted muck which is always harder to dig in swing angle variation from 90° to 180° in the
comparison to the re-handled muck. The looseness opencast mines. Higher swing angle inordinately
factor enables the handling of muck in less time. increases the cycle time of the draglines, which is
Though swell factor is being taken into consideration counter productive to its productivity. During the
for conversion of removed material in terms of solid field studies, it was experienced that in order to
volume of muck and all the material handled is handle maximum amount of blasted O/B from one
expressed in terms of solid volume, the increased seating location, the dragline marching was compro-
operational efficiency achieved due to decrease in mised with the increase in the swing angle and swing
weighted cycle time in loose muck re-handling needs time, which, in turn, increased the cycle time
due consideration. It may be essential to consider this exorbitantly. To this end, a judicious approach is
feature while planning the tandem balancing opera- necessitated to strike a balance between seating
tions, which only considers the ratio of bucket location and loss of time in marching and re-
capacities for the workload distribution on respective positioning of dragline, after considering the site-
draglines irrespective of their seating locations (on specific constraints.
blasted or loose O/B).
Another important feature, which is noteworthy 6.2 Availability and Utilization Results
from the cycle time results, is the increased weighted
and overall cycle times, for the draglines under study, The field observations pertaining to the break up of
in comparison to the standard norm of 60 s, which is scheduled shift hours were analyzed, and the com-
used for estimating the dragline output by the putations for actual A, U and K were done by using
balancing diagram concept. During the field moni- Eqs. 3, 4 and 5. The results for A, U and K are
toring, it was observed that from one seating position, presented in Tables 7 and 8.
the draglines in the HT as well as VT modes operated The results of Tables 7 and 8 indicate that the
at swing angles varying from 90° to 180°. Although values of A and U are low for all the draglines in
swing angles up to 90° is standard norm, the variation comparison to the desirable standards. It is conse-
up to 120° has been cited, and it has been reported quential to mention at this stage that, the draglines
that increase in swing angle obviously lead to have been reported to perform at availability as well
increase in swing time. Earlier research works by as utilization levels of 0.90–0.95 (Chironis 1986).

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Table 8 Computed availability, utilization and availability-cum-utilization factor for draglines in mine 2
Equipment Mode of Availability Utilization Availability-cum-utilization
operation factor (A) factor (U) factor (K) under field study

15/90 (Le VT-D/L) VT 0.877 0.81 0.7104

24/96 (La VT-D/L) VT 0.85 0.7916 0.6730

Table 9 Computed annual output vis-à-vis annual output proposed by the designed balancing diagram (HT and VT mode)
Mine Mode of Output as per balancing Computed output from the Earthmoving efficiency
operation diagram (M m3) field observations (M m3) using Eq. 6 (P1/P2) 9 100 (%)
Total (P2) Total (P1)

Mine 1 HT 7.94 6.92 87.15

Mine 2 VT 6.26 5.37 85.78

Further, it is also evident from the above tables that planning the production and productivity issues for
the significant discrepancy between the A and U levels draglines operating in tandem. Such studies are the
is due to unnecessary idling and large swing angles of need of the hour to improve upon the dragline
the draglines in the field. The down time, delays, and productivity. Although it is beyond the scope of the
thus the performance statistics need careful planning present paper, it may be of consequence to mention
for increasing dragline productivity. here that in order to improve the productivity levels
and patch up the prevalent discrepancies, a three-
6.3 Results of Annual Output and Earthmoving dimensional balancing diagram may be contemplated
Efficiencies to be more precise and pragmatic under the given
field conditions. The futuristic researches may con-
On the basis of designed balancing diagram, field- sider this viewpoint.
work and related computations using Eqs. 6 and 7,
results of annual output and the earthmoving effi-
ciencies for the draglines are tabulated in Table 9. 7 Conclusions
From the results given in Table 9, the computed
annual output on the basis of field observations for The study presents following conclusions:
HT operation is 6.92 M m3 whereas output as per the Balancing diagram is a very important tool to plan
balancing diagram comes out to 7.94 M m3 the ratio and analyze the key performance parameters for
of these two outputs provides the earthmoving draglines. It must be used as a useful tool for
efficiency for the dragline in HT mode, which is evaluation of dragline performance. The discrepan-
87.15%. Similarly, from the results of Table 9, the cies between the balancing diagram results and the
computed annual output on the basis of field obser- results obtained from actual field performance study
vations for VT operation is 5.37 M m3 whereas must be thoroughly examined in order to improve the
output as per the balancing diagram comes out to productivity. In the present case, through the rigorous
6.26 M m3, hence, the earthmoving efficiency is field monitoring the discrepancies were examined in
85.78% in the VT mode. From the output and swing angle, overall cycle time, availability, utiliza-
efficiency results, it is quite evident that irrespective tion and differential overall cycle time in blasted and
of mode of operation, there is substantial gap between re-handled mucks.
the actual performances of the dragline in the field The study focuses on the concept of assigning due
against its planned performance as per the balancing weightings to varying swing component in order to
diagram. develop the governing equation for computation of
The aforementioned results and discussions call overall cycle time. The governing equations for the
for serious thinking and suitable modification in computation of overall cycle time are very likely to

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be case specific as they depend on the geo-mining References

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Acknowledgments The author wishes to convey immense mines. Indian J Eng Mater Sci 11:493–498
gratitude towards the staff and management of the Northern
Coalfields Ltd. (NCL), Singrauli, Dist. (MP), India, for
providing their permission and excellent support during the
fieldwork.

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