Lost production costs of the overburden excavation system caused by rubber belt failure

Abstract

In this paper the average malfunction costs (lost production) of the overburden excavation system on the Tamnava - East field open-pit mine caused by the failure of belt conveyor rubber belts which work on the bucket wheel excavator, belt wagon and spreader are determined, i.e. the unit cost of system malfunction per hour of belt conveyor work during belt lifetime. The basis for the calculation of malfunction costs is presented by the proposed methodology for the analysis of rubber belt working time to failure based on the fact that working time until sudden failure (tear, breakthrough) can be described by exponential distribution while working time until gradual failure can be described by normal distribution. The proposed methodology as well as the expression for malfunction cost determination can be used, with appropriate adoptions, in the analysis of the functioning of other open-pit mines for better planning of malfunctions, requirements for spare rubber belts as well reductions in working costs, i.e. they can indicate better (optimal) maintenance strategy.