Computational Mechanics and Digital Applications in the Mineral Resources Sector
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Earth Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 2112
Special Issue Editors
Interests: mining engineering; mine design and optimisation; mineral economics; critical minerals; rock mechanics
Interests: rock mechanics; fracture mechanics; mining engineering; rock cutting; underground stability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: rock mechanics; fracture mechanics; tunnelling engineering; mining engineering; rock fragmentation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Computational mechanics and digital applications are constantly growing fields that impact science and industry in all engineering fields, including the mineral resources sector. In the modern era, the automation, electrification, and digitalisation of the minerals industry; the rising implementation of artificial intelligence and machine learning; and the challenges of big data management deem the use of computational mechanics and digital tools more important than ever.
Solving mining, mineral processing, geotechnical, and rock mechanics problems using numerical and analytical methods and computational power is essential for improving the mineral industry's efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
The areas of application are numerous. Computational mechanics aid in the simulation and modelling of geological structures; optimising mine layouts, extraction sequences, and scheduling; and helping researchers and engineers understand the microstructure of materials before processing or using them in applications.
Furthermore, digital simulations enable the assessment of the stability of mine structures, such as slopes, tunnels, and waste dumps. This information is vital for ensuring the safety of mining operations and preventing accidents. Digital applications enable the real-time monitoring of environmental parameters (for instance, the volume and stability of waste dumps), allowing mining companies to respond quickly to any issues and minimise their impact on ecosystems.
The data gathered can also be used to optimise mine closure plans, restoration, and post-mining land use. Furthermore, they provide realistic training simulations for miners, which improves their skills and preparedness for various scenarios and ultimately enhances safety.
Accordingly, this Special Issue investigates the importance and efficiency of computational mechanics and digital applications in several disciplines of the mineral resources sector, like mining, post-mining, mineral processing, geotechnical engineering, and rock mechanics. The focus is on introducing innovative developments, addressing advantages and bottlenecks, and demonstrating tangible outcomes through case studies worldwide.
The expected outcome of this Special Issue is to demonstrate how computational power has evolved in the mineral resources sector, how applications are optimising operations throughout a mine’s life cycle, and how this impacts the education and training of future engineers.
Please do forward this call for papers to your team members and colleagues who may also be interested in the topic.
Dr. George Barakos
Dr. George Xiroudakis
Prof. Dr. Diyuan Li
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- mining automation
- machine learning
- Internet of Things
- environmental monitoring
- safety and risk management
- big data analytics
- mine planning optimisation
- predictive maintenance
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