ABSTRACT
This paper presents the results of research on rock rippabilities at Tuncbilek Coal Mine. First, direct ripping runs were carried out at four different panels of Turkish Coal Enterprise’s (TKI) Tuncbilek Coal Mine by using Komatsu D155 and Caterpillar D8N type dozers. During direct ripping runs, the length of each run, depth of tyne, the change of ripping depth during run, average width between runs, ripping time, and maneuvering time were all measured and recorded to calculate the hourly production. Then, based on the conducted field and laboratory works by using indirect rippability methods, four panels are classified with respect to their rippabilities and ripper productions of those panels are calculated. The direct and indirect rippability assessment methods are compared and discussed with each other and the results are utilized on the rippability assessments of TKI Tuncbilek panels.
