Publications

Evidence, methods and findings.

Browse peer-reviewed work, conference papers, theses and technical contributions from the research group.

2025 · Bismarck Louw, P. Stephan Heyns, Stephan Schmidtjournal-article

Development of a KPI-focused hybrid model for the Cummins QSB6.7 engine used in load-haul-dump vehicles

The article presents a hybrid engine model that uses limited ECU inputs to predict a broader set of condition and performance indicators for mining LHD engines.

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2025 · Luke van Eyk, P. Stephan Heynstechnical-paper

Anisotropic traction estimation of wheeled skid-steer vehicles

An interpretable traction model separates longitudinal and lateral wheel–terrain interaction and estimates terrain parameters from onboard data on a four-ton mining platform.

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2025 · Luke van Eyk, P. Stephan Heynsjournal-article

A framework to define, design and construct digital twins in the mining industry

A mining-specific framework defines digital-twin dimensions, model types and properties, with selection tools and case studies for constructing actionable digital twins.

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2024 · Bismarck Louwthesis

Development of a KPI-focused model for the Cummins QSB6.7 engine used in load-haul-dump vehicles

A hybrid diesel-engine model combines calibrated physics equations and data-driven mappings to predict thermal, pressure, power and efficiency indicators from accessible ECU data.

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2024 · Ncedo Matricia Matukanethesis

Mineralogical characterisation of brittleness indices of platinum-bearing UG2 reefs in the eastern Bushveld Complex

The dissertation develops and compares mineralogy- and mechanics-informed brittleness indices for UG2 reef using fieldwork, microscopy, laboratory tests, simulations and predictive models.

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2024 · Ulrich du Preez, P. Stephan Heyns, D. Francois Malantechnical-paper

The development of a linear cutting machine used to characterise FEM modelling parameters for cutting UG2 reef

The paper reports the development and commissioning of a linear cutting machine, laboratory cutting tests on UG2 reef and calibration of an LS-DYNA continuous surface cap model.

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2023 · Ulrich du Preezthesis

The development of a linear cutting machine used to characterise FEM modelling parameters during the cutting of UG2 reef

A laboratory linear cutting machine was designed, built and used to compare sandstone and UG2 cutting behaviour and to calibrate finite-element rock-cutting models.

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