The Use of Simulation in Fleet Selection and Equipment Sizing in Mining

Abstract

The choice of fleet type and sizing to be used in mining operations is surely important, for taking this decision the engineers need to have enough information in order to get the most benefit and efficiency of each piece of equipment. In this process, technical, geometrical, geographic and, uppermost, economic variables are involved. Furthermore, the market offers a different range of brands, models and capacities of equipment, which can deliver similar results of those which are expected. At the moment, there is a shortage of reliable and appropriate systems to evaluate the type and the sizing of a fleet, because most of them allow the work with just one piece of equipment at a time and not with the whole fleet, so it is needed to do a manual calculation. One solution is the use of a stochastic and deterministic simulation for it is possible to determine the quantity and type of equipment used in an activity in a deterministic way and simulate possible combinations of them all. In this scientific work, it is intended to use the software ``Arena'' to evaluate and determine the appropriate fleet selection in an iron ore project.