Browsing by Author "Qacha, Bohlajana"
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- ItemImproving mine haul road performance through innovative material treatment using Nano-Modified Emulsions (NME’s)(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04) Qacha, Bohlajana; Jenkins, Kim; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mine haul roads require reliable riding quality for optimally low transport costs and truck mainte nance. This is part of functional, structural, and pavement management systems. The extremely heavy traffic, environment (heavy rains), spillage of ore all contribute to the need of improving the design life of haul roads. Soil mineral phase analysis is a necessary test to understand the contribu tion of minerals within the aggregates to withstand the load-bearing requirements. More recently nanotechnology related to the stabilization of the load-bearing layers e.g., NME’s (Nano-Modified Emulsions) have improved the strength and durability of haul road layers. The efficiency of the NME’s depends on the mineralogy and requires chemical testing to evaluate the efficiency of the existing aggregate. This study determines the effectiveness of organosilane compounds to improve mechanical prop erties, strength, hydrophobicity, and load-load bearing capacity of haul road base construction materials. Mechanical tests are key to understanding the performance of nano modified materi als. For this project, mineralogy test samples include untreated and treated materials of both the crushed stone and Laterite aggregates from the Zambian Copperbelt. The expectation is to identify both primary and secondary minerals present in the aggregates and their composition. To evaluate shear strength and permeability of treated and untreated materials. This will enable the prediction of the aggregates’ behaviour. The selected additives include nano silanes and modified bitumen and need to be benchmarked against untreated materials. Research results indicate that organosilane compounds influence strength and water ingress in un bound granular materials particularly crushed stone. Small amounts of organosilane compounds offer optimum mix performance. Lime addition results in a decrease in tensile strength in all material mix designs. Mix components compatibility influences the effectiveness of stabilisation. Blending organosilane compounds into bitumen emulsion is an optimum incorporation mechanism, although this may depend on available equipment and aggregate types. There is decreased moisture ingress or hydrophobic properties on nano modified granular materials. In dry conditions natural aggregates and crushed stone show high strength.