Shovel Productivity
Estimate tonnes/pass and scheduled shovel throughput using loose density and fill; no bank/loose conversion is silently assumed.
Description
Shovel output depends on loose bucket volume, fill, loose bulk density and cycle duration.
Shovel output depends on loose bucket volume, fill, loose bulk density and cycle duration. Efficiency converts ideal cycling to scheduled output.
The tool returns tonnesPerPass (tonnes per pass); scheduledTonnesPerHour (scheduled tonnes per hour). Input measurements and model parameters are supplied by the caller; the tool computes the stated summary rather than acquiring those measurements.
When to use Shovel Productivity
Use Shovel Productivity when you already have bucketLooseVolumeM3, bucketFillFraction, looseDensityTonnesPerM3, passCycleSeconds, operatingEfficiency and want tonnesPerPass, scheduledTonnesPerHour. This is useful for checking a supplied calculation, documenting a measurement convention, or comparing observations prepared on the same basis.
How to use Shovel Productivity and understand its results
- Enter bucketLooseVolumeM3, bucketFillFraction, looseDensityTonnesPerM3, passCycleSeconds, operatingEfficiency using the field table below. Match the units, ordering and data boundaries described in the calculation.
- Run the tool after checking the stated bounds and matching paired observations or categories. A malformed request gives a tool error rather than a usable measurement.
- Read tonnesPerPass, scheduledTonnesPerHour. Use the calculation and interpretation below to distinguish amounts, ratios, signs and decision flags where applicable.
- Review the supplied parameters and assumptions before using the result in a report or comparing it with another observation.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type and bounds | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| bucketLooseVolumeM3 | Bucket loose volume m3 | number | Required |
| bucketFillFraction | Bucket fill fraction | number | Required |
| looseDensityTonnesPerM3 | Loose density tonnes per m3 | number | Required |
| passCycleSeconds | Pass cycle seconds | number | Required |
| operatingEfficiency | Operating efficiency | number | Required |
Use positive volume, density and cycle time with fill and efficiency in [0,1].
tonnes/pass = volume×fill×looseDensity; tonnes/hour = tonnes/pass×3600/cycleSeconds×efficiency The symbols refer to the supplied quantities or generated values described above; unit conversions and comparison boundaries follow the stated implementation.
{
"input": {
"bucketLooseVolumeM3": 10,
"bucketFillFraction": 0.8,
"looseDensityTonnesPerM3": 1.5,
"passCycleSeconds": 30,
"operatingEfficiency": 0.5
},
"output": {
"tonnesPerPass": 12,
"scheduledTonnesPerHour": 720
}
}Limitations and assumptions
Bank density must not replace loose density without a swell correction. Truck matching, queues and material variation are not modelled.
Numerical inputs must be finite. The tool checks its declared input shape and calculation constraints; those checks do not verify the quality, calibration or representativeness of the supplied observations.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Truck Productivity: Estimate scheduled truck throughput with utilization conditional on availability; cycle times include operating delays and fleet dispatch interactions are external. Truck Cycle Time: Sum loaded/empty segment travel and service/queue times; speed profiles are inputs, not traction predictions.
Methodological background: Design of Surface Mine Haulage Roads: A Manual.1
References
-
Design of Surface Mine Haulage Roads: A Manual — U.S. Bureau of Mines, Information Circular 8758
Similar or alternative tools
- Truck Productivity
Estimate scheduled truck throughput with utilization conditional on availability; cycle times include operating delays and fleet dispatch interactions are external.
- Truck Cycle Time
Sum loaded/empty segment travel and service/queue times; speed profiles are inputs, not traction predictions.