HORG : Dr. Bhagirath Ahirwal

The Material Characterisation Research Group undertakes R&D works regarding investigation of mechanical components and rock formations encountered at Mining and Civil engineering project sites. 

There are Gr (IV) scientists, Gr (III) technical staffs, Gr (II) staff and Gr (I) staffs other than project fellow, Ph.D scholar and temporary staff. The group have multidisciplinary manpower comprises of Mechanical engineers, Geology sciences, Civil engineer and Metallurgical engineers. The group has developed excellent knowledge base and have experience of handling high end R & D and services to industry projects in the fields of rock mechanics and mechanical behaviour of mining engineering appliances and its safety monitoring

Material Testing Laboratory:

The Material Testing Laboratory has expertise in physico-mechanical evaluation of various mechanical components used in the Mining and Allied Industries for over six decades. The wire rope is the most vital component used for lifting, mine hoisting and transmission of mechanical power for various applications. Similarly, other vital mechanical component like C.S. Gear, Chain Sling, Safety Hook, Friction Wedge Rope Cappel, Shackle with pin, Link Plate etc. have to be tested and certified prior to its use in industry. Physico-Mechanical tests like destructive and non-destructive test are conducted under supervision of experts to evaluate the quality of these mechanical components. The Material Testing Laboratory has the state-of-the-art facility for complete investigation of wire ropes. The laboratory has

• Horizontal Tensile Testing Machine (HTTM) having capacity up to 500T for conducting break load test of complete rope samples.
• Facility to conduct reverse bend, torsion, tensile, wrap, wear & corrosion, micro examination and chemical composition test on individual wires.
• Digital universal testing machine (UTM) ranging from 250kgf to 500kN for conducting wide range of testing.
• Non-destructive testing like Magnetic Particle Crack Detector for investigating surface and subsurface irregularity as well as Ultrasonic Flaw Detector for evaluation of internal flaws ranging from 0 to 10m depth.
• Metallurgical microscope and Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) for conducting micro-examination and chemical composition analysis.

The Laboratory investigates and certifies new prototypes of wire ropes as well as life expediency studies of old wire rope used in the installations.

MANDATE OF THE SECTION:

• Performance evaluation of metallurgical properties of mining appliances like cage suspension gear, winding rope, electrical cables, rope cappel, tub, bridle chain etc. with regards to its metallurgical properties for safe operation of mines.
• Failure analyses of mining engineering appliances particularly wire ropes and cage suspension gear and its components are being carried out as per different BIS/IS code and DGMS guidelines.

IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE SECTION (around 200 words):

• Study and advice on life- expediency of steel wire ropes for safe use in mines
• Study and advice on soundness of mechanical integrity of mine hoisting systems / man riding systems;
• Mechanical Integrity of vital components of Mine winding/Haulage System (Conducted In-situ)
• Prototype testing of Industrial Belts and Harness
• Prototype testing of different capacity of cage suspension gear
• Evaluation of physico-mechanical properties for performance behaviour of roof bolt, W-strap, hydra-bolt, safety belt, wire ropes etc. including BIS samples
• Failure analysis of mining & allied engineering equipment in general but wire rope in particular;
• Testing & certification of mining & allied engineering equipment