Influence of physico-mechanical properties of Indian dimension stones on cutting rate of diamond wire saw

Cutting performance of diamond wire saw is a key factor influencing mine planning, production scheduling, and equipment selection for dimension stone quarries. It is normally measured in terms of cutting rate. Rock samples collected from various granite and marble quarries in India were tested in laboratory to determine their physico-mechanical properties. Cutting rate of diamond wire saw was measured in the field studies during the actual cutting process in quarries. Using these laboratory determined properties and the cutting rate, a multiple linear regression model has been developed to predict the cutting rate of diamond wire saw. Physico-mechanical properties of rocks determined in laboratory are used as independent variables and cutting rate as predictor variable in the regression model. The study indicates that the cutting rate increases with a decrease in most of the hardness and strength parameters of rock. The final model is tested for its goodness of fit indicating a significant linear relation between cutting rate and physico-mechanical properties, namely tensile strength, slake durability index, and Cerchar hardness index with regression coefficient of 94%. The resulting model can be used suitably for different types of hard to medium hard and soft dimension stones. The generalized model for estimating the cutting rate becomes a handy tool for mining engineers to work out operating efficiency, expenses, planning etc. of the dimension stone block cutting.