Add Inclined Switchback

On the Mining | Pit Design tab, in the Ramp group: Click Add Inclined Switchback to add an inclined switchback to a selected road segment in the pit design.

If not already selected, you will be prompted to select a road segment to add the inclined switchback to.

Select the road segment for the inclined switchback and click the Accept Selection button.

The following properties are displayed in the Road Switchback Parameters form:

Berm Access

Toe Access Width

Where a toe berm is accessed by a road you can choose to make the access width the FULL width of the berm, or HALF the width of the berm. You may want to restrict berm access to people, rather than vehicles, for example. You can select the default value of ZERO to disable toe berm access completely. Alternatively, you can select CUSTOM and specify a Toe Access Width Proportion as a ratio of the berm width. The Toe Berm Access Width applies to the bottom of the current road segment.

Crest Access Width

Where a crest berm is accessed by a road you can choose to make the access width the FULL width of the berm, or HALF the width of the berm. You can select the default value of ZERO to disable crest berm access completely. Alternatively, you can select CUSTOM and specify a Crest Access Width Proportion as a ratio of the berm width. The Crest Berm Access Width applies to the top of the current road segment.

Taper Length

For both the Toe Access Taper Length and Crest Access Taper Length, an algorithm is applied to automatically calculate the length of the taper. However, if you want the berms to be tapered at a specific length, enter a value in either, or both. The length of taper is the distance from the road crossing to the place where the taper starts. Controlling the taper lengths separately can help reduce dilution and enhance road positioning.

Switchback Parameters

Curve Radius

Specify a radius value that will be used to determine the extent and tightness of the curve of the turning area.

Gradient

Specify a Gradient (V/H) value for the ramp segment, used for any leading and trailing ramp sections, measured in the gradient units configured in Setup. This gradient is optional. The default of [Auto] will load the gradient value from the whole road default gradient.

Switchback Gradient

The Switchback Gradient value for the ramp segment determines the gradient for the switchback component of the ramp.

Height from start of bench

Specify the height of the switchback from the start of the bench. This parameter characterises the distance from a bench, from which a road making up a segment begins to change direction.

Radius Calculation Line

Mode

The radius is measured from a specified (Inner , Centre, Outer, or Custom ) point on the road, taking into account the road width (which is already defined as part of the properties of the road).

  • Inner curve radius must be greater than 0

  • Outer curve radius must be greater than the road width

  • Centre curve radius must be greater than half of the road width

  • To measure the radius from a specific point on the road, select the Custom option and specify a value which is a factor of the road width.

Note: If a road you add to the design intersects with another road, a warning will be displayed in the Output Console, but the new road will not be stopped.

Forms

Click the Forms button to select and open a saved form set, or if a form set has been loaded, save the current form set.

OK

Click OK to generate the flat section of road.