Analysis of technical requirements and criteria for selecting a hydraulic backhoe for open-pit mining of peat

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-4S-157-164

Читать на русскоя языке A.V. Mikhailov, A.I. Smirnov
Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation Russian Mining Industry №4S/ 2026 p. 157-164

Abstract: The open-pit mining method is a promising technology for developing peat deposits, as it makes it possible to excavate the raw materials virtually all year round. The most common equipment used in open-pit mining is a tracked single-bucket hydraulic backhoe. The purpose of this study is to justify the technical requirements for open-pit mining of peat and to establish criteria for selecting a hydraulic backhoe, including a justification for its bucket shape. The article proposes a technological solution for the development of a peat deposit with extraction of raw peat by cutting layers of a constant thickness from the slope face (the slope ratio of 1:1) to the entire depth of the deposit with separate extraction of large-size wood debris. The following key criteria for selecting a backhoe were formulated based on analyzing the mining and geological features of peat deposits: permissible specific pressure on the soft ground [q] ≥ 10–18 kPa, the ability to extract peat from the entire open-pit depth of up to 4 m and a rational cutting depth of 0.16 m. A backhoe of the 3rd size group (10–18 t) with 1.5 m wide tracks, an engine power of 70–100 kW with the bucket width of 1.4 m and its capacity of 1.25 m3 is recommended for open-pit mining of peat deposits. Experiments have shown that using a cutting plate with a deflection and a three-bevel cutting edge helped to achieve a reduction in the cutting resistance of peat by 35% compared to a conventional backhoe bucket.

Keywords: peat deposit, soft ground, open-pit mining, peat excavation, hydraulic excavator, bucket, cutting lip

For citation: Mikhailov A.V., Smirnov A.I. Analysis of technical requirements and criteria for selecting a hydraulic backhoe for open-pit mining of peat. Russian Mining Industry. 2026;(4S):157–164. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-4S-157-164

Article info

Received: 14.06.2026

Revised: 29.07.2026

Accepted: 17.08.2026

Information about the authors

Aleksander V. Mikhailov – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0516-7737

Andrey I. Smirnov – Postgraduate Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5609-9246; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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