Analysis and Optimization of Mining Truck Operation Based on the Driver Whole Body Vibration

The present paper studies the whole body vibration of a three-axle dump truck during various operational conditions in Zonuz Kaolin Mine of Iran. At first, the root mean square of vibrations at different speeds, as well as in payloads and distribution qualities of materials in the truck dump body and also on different haul road qualities are experimentally obtained. Then, the vibrational health risk in all operational conditions is statistically analyzed based on ISO 2631-1 standard. As a result of this analysis, an optimization problem is constructed and solved to obtain the optimum operating conditions of the truck. In the proposed problem, at first, regression analysis in terms of RMS of vibrations and truck speed is applied. Then, the total RMS at the consequential working phases of the truck is minimized in the presence of some constraints related to the health risk and productivity levels. Solving the proposed constrained optimization problem determines the optimum payload and truck speed in various conditions to keep materials hauling at the lowest possible vibrational health risk level while the mine productivity at the planned level remains.