Master's Papers and Projects

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Browsing Master's Papers and Projects by Author "Adel, Gregory T."

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    Toxicity analysis of coal mining industry NPDES discharges in Southwest Virginia
    Brendlinger, Robert Lee (Virginia Tech, 1991-12-02)
    Industrial toxicity has become a major environmental subject over the past decade. Although much research and data have been collected and published for the manufacturing type industries, minimal data is currently available concerning the possible toxics that may be associated with coal mining industry NPDES discharges. Thus, in this report, an environmental toxicity assessment with respective data shall be presented on the three major constituent sectors of the coal mining industry in Southwest Virginia of which includes mines, preparation plants and refuse facilities. The mines category shall include both surface and underground facilities. The preparation plants sector will cover the traditional railroad siding loadout type facilities, along with the modern clean coal processing preparation plants. Valley and side fill configuration, coarse and combined refuse fills and coal refuse impoundments shall be presented in the refuse facility categorization. Reference source data and specific information from a Virginia Coal Association Taxies Monitoring Program study are presented to show that the effects of toxicity in the coal mining associated NPDES effluents are minimal and not a serious problem. The conclusions of this report shall show that through enforcement of better management practices within the coal industry in Southwest Virginia that toxicity can be virtually eliminated in NPDES outfalls.
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    Use of fracture mechanics parameters to characterize comminution
    Hao, Bin (Virginia Tech, 1996-02-05)
    This report is to investigate the use of fracture mechanics parameters (fracture toughness, specific work of fracture) to characterize comminution process. Comminution is a very important industrial process and is extremely low in efficiency. Establishment of a crushing index based on fracture mechanics principles is of great significance for improved machine design and enhanced efficiency. Single particle fracture study has been reviewed because it is considered the most elementary process in and provides the basis for comminution. Rock fragmentation can be best described by fracture mechanics principles and concepts. The most fundamental concept in fracture mechanics is fracture toughness. Extensive review has been done on the fracture toughness application to rock fragmentation problems, and has found it has not been successfully used in comminution process. Further study is necessary to investigate the link between comminution and fracture toughens. Interrelation of fracture. toughness with other rock properties has been studied. Loading rate effects on fracture toughness has also been reviewed. Fracture toughness testing for rock materials has also been studied. The SCB (Semi-Circular Bend specimen) method has been selected for its sound analytical background and ease of operation. A experimental proposal is made based upon the survey results. Single particle fracture is proposed to be conducted on the Allis-Chalmers High Energy Crush Test System, which, compared with other test apparatus, more closely simulates the actual crushers. Detailed procedures on how to use the test system has been given in the report.