Analysis of ground vibration risk on mine infrastructures: integrating fuzzy slack-based measure model and failure effects analysis

Blasting operation is the main unit of ore production in open-pit mining cycle. Detonation energy is mostly released as ground vibration using Rayleigh waves that extensively damage nearby infrastructures within or outside of a mining area. This work introduces a new hybrid approach based on the integration of fuzzy failure mode and effects analysis with the fuzzy slack-based measure model form of data envelopment analysis; this approach prioritizes and analyzes ground vibration risks on open-pit infrastructures. The approach uses a special risk prioritization algorithm by failure mode and effects analysis and data envelopment analysis under fuzzy conditions. In the fuzzy slack-based measure part of the approach, alpha-level cut method is used to prepare the necessary data. An open-pit copper mine is exemplified to present the approach in detail and analyze ground vibration risk. Potential failure modes, consist of infrastructures and blasting sources, are specified on the map on the mine area. Results indicate that blasting at the point of 3 imposes the highest ground vibration risk on the industrial site located within the final pit limits. The failure modes of water treatment site, crusher, gas station, explosive storage, switchgear, thickener site, power station, and processing plant have other priorities.