Alpu lignite field is an important coal deposit with nearly 2 billion tons of coal resources located in the middle of Turkey. The mine deposit consists of three main seams. The thickness of two of them vary from 4 to 30 m. The surrounding rock mass is very poor in terms of strength. The high clay content and weak rock mass make mechanized mining difficult. In this research, applicability of the longwall top coal caving method was investigated. The very weak strength behavior of the coal and the surrounding strata increases the importance of research in the mine site in terms of ground control. The aim is to design the mechanized longwall mine based on ground control principles. First of all, classification of the roof, coal, inter-burden, and floor strata were classified based on geotechnical aspects. Then, cavability index, shield, and floor bearing capacity were investigated. Different methods were applied to understand the limitations of a mechanized system that is very critical due to the very low strength strata. According to the main results, roof strata was classified as immediately caving while mining height was calculated as 5–6 m. Finally, the relations among geotechnical characterizations of roof and floor strata, cutting and caving heights, and required shield capacity were presented based on analytical and numerical applications. The proposed approach can be used as a ground control method for the applicability as well as the limitations of mechanized longwall mining design in weak strata conditions.

The tensile forces of a drive belt have static and dynamic components. Static forces are related to the steady power transmission, whilst the dynamic forces are dependent on the eccentricity of the pulleys, non-uniformity of the belt and pulley surfaces and the dynamic loading. This study describes a successful endeavour to analyze the effects of variation of tensile forces on the noise emission of the drive system. In belt driven systems, the static tensile forces are dependent on initial tensioning, mean value of power transmission and belt speed. Dynamic tensile forces, which cannot be limited by the elastic extension and contraction of the belt relative to rigid pulley surface, are also considered as one of the major causes of noise emission. Results show that the tensile forces can cause parametric excitation of the transverse flexural vibrations that are dominant at twice the fundamental frequency of the belt span. The variations of static tensile forces and sporadic changes, whose fluctuations cause side peaks of the fundamental frequencies, can be considered in an analytical model by neglecting the inertia of the pulley and bending stiffness of the belt. Tensile forces can lead to further vibration and noise problems in belt driven systems by causing increase of torsional and rectilinear vibrations and amplification of noise emissions.

Slope stability in open-pit mining is not a static condition but evolves continuously as excavation progresses and geomechanical conditions change. In this study, an integrated approach combining ground-based radar monitoring, satellite-based InSAR time-series analysis, and numerical stability modeling was applied to evaluate slope behavior in a large-scale open-pit copper mine with complex geological and structural characteristics. Radar data revealed progressive and episodic deformation concentrated in specific slope sectors, while InSAR observations showed that deformation continued at lower rates after the main movement phase, providing a longer-term perspective of slope response. Stability analyses using limit equilibrium and finite element methods indicate that the slope operates close to a limit equilibrium condition, particularly under saturated scenarios where factors of safety approach critical levels and strain localization becomes more pronounced. The results show a clear link between observed deformation patterns and calculated stability conditions, with structural discontinuities and groundwater playing a dominant role in controlling slope behavior. Based on these findings, an integrated workflow is proposed that links monitoring data with stability assessment, enabling the identification of critical zones and supporting the evaluation of slope conditions during ongoing mining operations. This approach contributes to more reliable decision-making and supports safer and more sustainable open-pit mining practices.

Alpu lignite field is an important coal deposit with nearly 2 billion tons of coal resources located in the middle of Turkey. The mine deposit consists of three main seams. The thickness of two of them vary from 4 m to 30 m. The surrounding rock mass is very poor in terms of strength. The high clay content and weak rock mass make mechanized mining difficult. In this research, applicability of the longwall top coal caving method was investigated. The very weak strength behavior of the coal and the surrounding strata increases the importance of research in the mine site in terms of ground control. The aim is to design the mechanized longwall mine based on ground control principles. First of all, classification of the roof, coal, inter-burden, and floor strata were classified based on geotechnical aspects. Then, cavability index, shield, and floor bearing capacity were investigated. Different methods were applied to understand the limitations of a mechanized system that is very critical due to the very low strength strata. According to the main results, roof strata was classified as immediately caving while mining height was calculated as 5 m to 6 m. Finally, the relations among geotechnical characterizations of roof and floor strata, cutting and caving heights, and required shield capacity were presented based on analytical and numerical applications. The proposed approach can be used as a ground control method for the applicability as well as the limitations of mechanized longwall mining design in weak strata conditions.