Browsing by Author "Heyns, P. S."

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    Data for indirect load case estimation of ice-induced moments from shaft line torque measurements
    (Elsevier, 2018) De Waal, R. J. O.; Bekker, A.; Heyns, P. S.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During ice navigation, blade measurements of ice-induced moments on ship propellers, are challenged by the harsh operating environment. To overcome this problem, shaft line measurements are performed inboard, and the required propeller loads are subsequently estimated using a dynamic model and the solution of an inverse problem. The inverse problem is mathematically ill-posed and requires the determination of the ice-induced moment on the propeller blades from shaft line measurements. Full-scale torsional response data is presented as calculated from indirect strain measurements on the shaft line of a polar supply and research vessel. The vessel operated on a 68-day voyage between Cape Town and Antarctica and spent almost 11 days in sea ice with observed concentrations above 90% and a maximum thickness of 3 m. Data for five ice-induced load cases are presented, including the shaft torque from indirect measurements and the estimated ice-induced moment, which is obtained by solving an ill-posed inverse problem. The ice-induced moments on the propeller are obtained by approximating the drive-train as a viscously damped, elastic lumped mass model. The ice-induced moment is then determined through existing approaches to solving the ill-conditioned inverse problem. The lumped mass model is presented along with algorithms to solve the inverse problem, including truncated singular value decomposition, truncated generalized singular value decomposition and Tikhonov׳s method. The resulting time series data for the inversely calculated ice-induced moments is published to provide industry with load cases for ice-going propulsion design.
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    Development of a vibration-absorbing handle for rock drills
    (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2002) Strydom, J. P. D.; Heyns, P. S.; Van Niekerk, J. L.
    The transmission of excessive vibration to the human body can cause physical stress that may result in crippling pain or permanent disability. Rock drills are known to transmit high levels of vibration that are difficult to attenuate through conventional approaches to vibration isolation. However, it can be shown that once the ISO frequency weighting has been applied, most of the vibratory effect of the rock drill�s motion is concentrated at the drill�s operating frequency. This observation opens the way for utilizing a concept known as vibration absorption, aimed at attenuating the rock drill�s vibration. In essence this entails using the inertia of a secondary vibratory system to counteract the motion of the handle. This article documents an investigation into the use of such an absorber for attenuating rock drill vibration and demonstrates the feasibility of such an approach. A mathematical model of such an absorbing handle was developed and used for design studies. Based on these investigations an experimental prototype model was manufactured and tested. A significant reduction in vibration levels could be achieved.
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    Human vibration levels in the South African mining industry
    (South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2000) Van Niekerk, J. L.; Heyns, P. S.; Heyns, M.
    The research project reported on represents the first comprehensive attempt to measure the vibration levels of a variety of tools and equipment in the South African mining industry to determine the effect thereof on the health of workers and operators. Although human vibration has been studied extensively internationally only one reference pertaining to the South African mining industry could be found. From studies conducted in Canada and elsewhere it was evident that rock drills do have potentially hazardous levels of vibration. The scope of the research included measurements on a broad spectrum of tools, machines and vehicles used in the South African mining industry. Both hand-arm vibration, where the majority of the vibration enter the body through the hands, and whole body vibration, where the whole body is exposed to vibration through contact by the buttocks or feet, were investigated and measured. More than 700 sets of vibration data measured on 70 machines at 15 mines and workshops were obtained. Data were obtained for at least 24 different types of equipment and machines that were previously judged to have medium to high levels of vibration. All measurements were conducted in accordance with the international standards: ISO 5349, on hand-arm vibration, and ISO 2631-1, for whole body vibration. The equipment with the highest vibration levels in the handarm category was: rock drills, both pneumatic and hydraulic; pavement breakers and jackhammers; hand-held compactors; pneumatic wrenches and electrical hammer drills. Of these the rock drills had weighted vibration levels in excess of 20 m/s2. As far as whole body vibration was concerned the highest values were measured on earth-moving equipment. The major conclusion from this study is that the measured vibration levels are sufficiently high to create an enhanced level of risk of vibration-induced disorders in a significant proportion of the operators of hand-held equipment. The most notable examples are hand-held rock drills, pavement breakers, jackhammers and certain selected workshop tools. The results of the study indicate that a comprehensive epidemiological study should be undertaken on present and past workers to determine the prevalence of vibration-induced disorders.