An independent study shows a reduction in hourly fuel consumption and road user costs on treated haul roads.

Dust-A-Side commissioned leading tyre manufacturer Michelin to conduct a special study at their cutting-edge mining test centre in Spain. The study assessed the impact of Dust-A-Side’s Haul Road Management System on the fuel consumption of rigid dump trucks.

The results were quite astounding, but not surprising to those already familiar with Dust-A-Side’s Haul Road Management System.

Here’s what was discovered in the study conducted by Michelin.

First, the test conditions were set on a reduced scale automated truck. It was positioned to run at constant speed to simulate real haulage conditions. The pulling effort reflected that of a constant slope of 10% under stabilised operating conditions.

Comparisons were made between an untreated, stone-covered reference track and a track treated by Dust-A-Side. Michelin measured a significant reduction in fuel consumption of 7.5%.

Next, Michelin used the same test, varying the conditions to simulate real-life haul road mine conditions and operations, testing different trucks using varying slopes and speeds.

The result? 

Michelin made a reasonable conclusion that the overall reduction in hourly fuel consumption on average is 3%. Dust-A-Side’s Road Management System was directly attributed to the reduction in rolling resistance which led to this substantial reduction in fuel consumption.

The study credited better quality roads treated with Dust-A-Side’s Road Management System to a reduction in fuel and road user costs. Importantly, it was also concluded that untreated roads posed a major maintenance and safety threat to haul roads.  

Further studies

Road Safety Training Services undertook an independent study into treated and untreated haul roads at a mine site in Queensland. The findings were impressive. They discovered a major difference in rolling resistance between treated and untreated surfaces. 

The report from Road Safety Training Services stated, “A Dust-A-Side treated sealed surface improved rolling resistance compared with unsealed surfaces; potentially in the order of 20-30% compared with a competent unsealed haul road.”

In another study conducted over a four-month period it was concluded that a Dust-A-Side treated road reduced the measured International Roughness Index (IRI) by almost 40% compared with an untreated control section of the same road, as shown in the chart below.

In the construction and mining industries, the strong correlation between Rolling Resistance and Fuel Consumption is widely accepted. What is sometimes overlooked is the effect of Rolling Resistance on haulage production performance. As you can see in the following chart, production efficiency reduces as Rolling Resistance increases.

Find out more

Contact Dust-A-Side to book a Total Road User Cost Analysis at your mine site. One of our engineers will assess the impact of rolling resistance upon:

• Fuel costs
• Cost per tonne hauled (productivity)
• Tyre costs (wear rates and premature failures)
• Equipment and maintenance costs (wear and fatigue)

Speak with a Dust-A-Side engineer today on 1800 662 387 and find out how a reduction in haul road rolling resistance can produce significant cost savings at your site.