Aggregate production: Fines generation during rock crushing

The energy required to crush rocks is proportional to the amount of new surface area that is created; hence, a very important percentage of the energy consumed to produce construction aggregates is spent in producing non-commercial fines. Data gathered during visits to quarries, an extensive survey and laboratory experiments are used to explore the role of mineralogy and fracture mode in fines production during the crushing of single aggregates and aggregates within granular packs. Results show that particle-level loading conditions determine the failure mode, resulting particle shape and fines generation. Point loading (both single particles and grains in loose packings) produces clean fractures and a small percentage of fines. In choked operations, high inter-particle coordination controls particle-level loading conditions, causes micro-fractures on new aggregate faces and generates a large amount of fines. The generation of fines increases when shear is imposed during crushing. Aggregates produced in current crushing operations show the effects of multiple loading conditions and fracture modes. Results support the producers' empirical observations that the desired cubicity of aggregates is obtained at the expense of increased fines generation when standard equipment is used.     

Effect of Mine Water on the Stability of Underground Coal Mine Roadways

The basic objectives of mine roadways are to provide sufficient cross sections to accommodate equipment, transport, personnel travel and ventilation. However, many roadways become damaged to the extent of needing maintenance, generally dinting, and in some cases requiring re-ripping. Strata conditions play important effects on stability of roadways and other mining activities. Weak rocks cause excessive roadway closures, and water softens some rocks and worsens the closure problem. Therefore, study on effect of mine water on the stability of underground coal mine roadways is important for underground coal mine development. A scientific discussion on the effect of water on the stability of roadways is given on the basis of results obtained by means of field investigation and laboratory tests. Based on analysis, rock in saturated condition has only between 0.19 to 0.49 of its compressive strength and 0.17 to 0.59 of its tensile strength in dry condition. Among the coal measures rock in research area, water has the most obvious effect on the strength reduction of shale. The slaking behavior of shale has also been the worst among the other. Field investigation of roadway driven in shale shown vertical closure in the wet and dry condition area reached 40–60 and 5–15 cm respectively, in 30 days after the drivage. Among the measures, drainage is considered to be the most economical and simplest method to reduce the water content in the rocks or the rock masses.     

温度和含水状态对岩石劈裂强度影响的试验研究

岩土类材料的强度强烈依赖于含水率和温度条件.以兰州兰山砂岩为研究对象,分别进行了不同温度（+20℃、-5℃、-10℃）和不同含水率（干燥、天然含水率和饱和状态）条件下岩石的巴西圆盘劈裂试验.试验结果表明,常温下,岩石抗拉强度随含水率增加而急剧减小,试样饱和时软化、崩解,丧失承载能力;在不同负温条件下,天然含水状态的试样抗拉强度最大,干燥状态下最小;在-10~+20℃范围内,干燥岩石强度随温度升高,抗拉强度增大,含水岩石均是随温度升高,抗拉强度减小,但饱和岩石在-5℃时抗拉强度最大.含水率和温度对岩样强度的影响存在临界值,超过临界值,岩样强度随上述因素反向变化.试验结论为岩土类材料劈裂强度的标准化测试及其工程应用提供了重要的基础数据参考.     

Relationship between density,compressive strength,tensile strength and aggregate properties of andesites from Hungary

Aggregate properties and strength parameters of four andesites from two operating Hungarian quarries of Nógrádkövesd (one lithotype) and Gyöngyössolymos (three lithotypes) are presented in this paper. Air-dry, water-saturated and freeze–thaw subjected specimens were tested on core-drilled cylindrical specimens, and the aggregate properties were also determined from the remaining part of the drilled rock blocks. Tensile strength values rapidly decreased from air-dry to water-saturated and finally to freeze–thaw subjected specimens. Linear relationships between air-dry and water-saturated bulk densities and between UCS and modulus of elasticity were found. Micro-fabric influences strength and aggregate parameters of studied andesites; fine porphyritic andesite has the highest UCS and tensile strength and the best micro-Deval results, while coarser porphyritic andesite has lower strength and aggregate parameters. Test results were compared with previously published rock mechanical data of intermediate and basic igneous rocks. A good exponential correlation was found between micro-Deval and UCS values of this paper and previously published data sets, but there was no indication that micro-Deval values correlate well with Los Angeles values.     

The use of air decks in production blasting in an open pit coal mine

The influence of air deck blasting on blast performance and blast economics and its feasibility has been studied in the production blasting of soft and medium strength sandstone overburden rocks in an open pit coal mine in India. The air deck blasting technique was very effective in soft and medium strength rocks. Its main effects resulted in reducing fines, in producing more uniform fragmentation and in improving blast economics. The fines were reduced by 60–70% in homogeneous sandstones. Oversize boulders were reduced by 80% and shovel loading efficiency was improved by 20–40% in blocky sandstones. The explosive cost was reduced by 10–35% dependent on the type of rock mass. Throw, backbreak and ground vibration were reduced by 10–35%, 50–80% and 30–94% respectively. For a particular rock mass and blast design environment, air deck length (ADL) significantly influenced the fragmentation. ADL as represented by air deck factor (ADF) in the range of 0.10–0.35 times the original charge length (OCL) produced optimum results. ADF beyond 0.35 resulted in poor fragmentation and in inadequate burden movement.     

Dynamic Tensile Failure of the Rock Interface Between Tuff and Basalt

The dynamic tensile strength properties of the rock interface and its host rocks sampled from the Baihetan Hydropower Station from Western China were measured using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The results were compared with those for its two host rocks. The dynamic tensile strengths of the two host rocks, tuff and basalt have typical loading rate dependence. However, the dynamic response of the rock interface is much more complicated and at a given loading rate, varies between those of tuff and basalt. To explain the observation, numerical simulation using the discrete element method (DEM) was conducted to determine the detailed tensile failure process of the rock interface. The numerical simulation verifies that the variation of the dynamic tensile strength of the rock interface is a result of the variation of the interface geometry.     

Measurement of Indirect Tensile Strength of Anisotropic Rocks by the Ring Test

Summary This paper presents a new approach, combined with the Boundary Element Method (BEM) analysis and the diametrical compression on a thin disc with a small central hole, referred to as the ring test, for determining the indirect tensile strength of anisotropic rocks. The stress distribution around the hole can be successfully obtained by the proposed single-domain BEM. The complex variable function method was used for conveniently computing the tractions and displacements of a two-dimensional anisotropic body. If we assume that the tensile strength is given by the maximum absolute value of stress in the direction perpendicular to the loaded diameter at the intersection of loaded diameter and the hole, then from the failure load recorded by laboratory testing of ring (disc), the indirect tensile strength of rocks could be obtained. A marble from Hualien (Taiwan) with clearly black-white foliation, which was assumed to be transversely isotropic, was selected to conduct both ring tests and Brazilian tests for evaluating the tensile strength. The variation of the marble tensile strength with the inclination angle of foliation and with the hole size was also investigated. In general, the tensile strength of anisotropic rocks determined by ring test is not a constant, but depends on the elastic properties of rocks, the angle between the planes of rock anisotropy and the loading direction, the diameter of the central hole, and the contact condition of loading.     

A new rock mass classification for Coal Measures Rocks

This paper examines a new rock mass classification system (RMCR) for Coal Measures Rocks which is based on extensive laboratory testing results. The new system has been developed using 12 parameters which consist of mineral content index, uniaxial compressive strength, uniaxial tensile strength, Young's modulus of elasticity, shear strength, cohesion of rocks, angle of internal friction, point load index, cone indenter index, Cerchar index, Shore schleroscope hardness and specific energy index. The RMCR value was obtained by a number of laboratory and in situ testing results which were obtained from the coal site. The objective of the RMCR is to estimate the rock mass properties for engineering purposes.     

Water effects on rock strength and stiffness degradation

Reduction in strength and stiffness in rocks attributed to an increase in water content has been extensively researched on a large variety of rock types over the past decades. Due to the considerable variations of texture and lithology, the extent of water-weakening effect is highly varied among different rock types, spanning from nearly negligible in quartzite to 90 % of uniaxial compressive strength reduction in shale. Readers, however, often face difficulties in comparing the data published in different sources due to the discrepancy of experimental procedures of obtaining the water saturation state and how the raw laboratory data is interpreted. In view of this, the present paper first reviews the terminologies commonly used to quantify the amount of water stored in rocks. The second part of the paper reviews the water-weakening effects on rock strengths, particularly focusing on uniaxial compressive strength and modulus, as well as tensile strength, under quasi-static loading and dynamic loading. The correlation relationships established among various parameters, including porosity, density and fabric of rocks, and external factors such as strain rate, surface tension and dielectric constant of the saturating liquid, absorption percentage and suction pressure, are reviewed and presented toward the end of the paper.     

Prediction of specific energy of carbonate rock in industrial stones cutting process

Specific energy (SE) measurements of circular saws were conducted on 12 different carbonate rocks. Rock samples were collected from the factories for laboratory tests. Bulk density, apparent porosity, uniaxial compressive strength, Brazilian tensile strength, flexural strength, Schmidt rebound hardness, Shore hardness, point load strength index, Los Angeles abrasion values, and P-wave velocity values were determined in the laboratory. SE and rock properties were evaluated using simple regression analysis and empirical equations were developed. The equations were verified by statistical tests. Regression analysis showed that high correlations exist between SE and uniaxial compressive strength, Shore and Schmidt hardness, bulk density, apparent porosity, and flexural strength. It was found that the SE value of rocks in cutting process was highest for those rocks having the high density, compressive strength, flexural strength, Schmidt and Shore hardness, point load strength index, and P-wave velocity values.     

An investigation of the relationship between uniaxial compressive strength and degradation for selected rock types

The relationship between uniaxial compressive strength and degradation was investigated for selected rock types, by using regression analyses to determine whether degradation was a useful predictor of compressive strength. In addition, the effects of aggregate particle size, number of hammer blows during the degradation test, engineering index properties, petrographic characteristics, and water saturation on the compressive strength-degradation relationship were evaluated. The results show that strong inverse relationships exist between compressive strength and degradation (measured on a 9.5-4.75-mm size aggregate) for sandstones and igneous/metamorphic rocks, but that no significant relationship exists for limestones/dolomites. The results also indicate a strong positive correlation between degradation and L.A. abrasion loss and can be used to establish a limit of allowable degradation for practical applications. Engineering index properties do not significantly affect the relationship between compressive strength and degradation but petrographic characteristics are important in explaining the strength and degradation behavior of the rocks studied. Water saturation decreases compressive strength and increases degradation to varying degrees.     

颗粒配比对岩石力学特征影响的数值模拟研究

岩石是矿物颗粒的集合体同时也是一种重要的非均质材料,了解它的力学特征对岩土工程及矿产开采都具有重要的指导作用。作为典型的颗粒材料,颗粒单元体的粒径分布配比必然影响着岩石的宏观力学表现。通过设置不同体积配比下的颗粒材料单元体,利用PCF2D软件模拟了相同颗粒材料单元体不同配比下岩石模型的力学特征。模拟结果表明颗粒单元体配比对岩石的力学特征有明显的影响。在模拟过程中大颗粒的配比显著影响着岩石的抗压强度,大颗粒含量相对越高,抗压强度越大。而细颗粒的配比影响着岩石的抗拉强度,细颗粒含量相对越高,抗拉强度越大,但是过多的细颗粒会降低岩石的抗拉强度。考虑岩石压缩过程中裂缝形态的影响。结果表明均匀分布、5:2:3、7:2:1的颗粒配比形成了贯穿裂缝,而1:2:7和3:2:5的颗粒配比未能形成贯穿裂缝,且细颗粒配比越高,裂缝数目出现高值的概率也越大。      

Mechanical Behaviour of Cyclically Heated Fine Grained Rock

Summary The most vital difference between rock and rock mass are fractures and fissures. They affect the behaviour and strength of rock masses. According to their origin, size, and shape, rock mass contains several types of weakness planes varying from microfissure to faults. Other parameters such as underground water, temperature, time and stress state affect the rock's behaviour in its natural environment. The frequency of discontinuities in fractured rock is one of the basic parameters for reducing its strength. However it is generally difficult to test undisturbed fractured rock in a laboratory environment. In this study it was tried to open and loosen the grain boundaries of fine-grained rock specimens by cyclical heating and cooling. This should serve as a physical simulation of fractures in the rock mass and enables a discussion of the changes in mechanical behaviour of fractured rock. For this reason, laboratory test specimens of Carrara marble and Buchberger sandstone were used. The heating cycles were varied from 0 to 16. From the results of uniaxial compression, Brazilian and “Continuous Failure State” triaxial tests, it was pointed out that all of the mechanical parameters decreased gradually with an increasing number of heating cycles. Uniaxial compressive strength was reduced to about 50%, while the tensile strength decreased to about 60% for both types of rock. It was also observed that the variations of strength parameters were higher after the first heating cycles. As a result of cyclical heating, the slopes of pre-failure and post-failure curves in the stress-strain plane changed similarly, but the variations of modulus of elasticity were higher than the slopes of the post-failure curves for sandstone. The ratio between compressive and indirect tensile strength rose to a value of 98 after the last heating cycle. For unheated specimens of Carrara marble this ratio is 20. The axial strain at the failure point increased suddenly after the first heating cycle and the failure developed entirely intergranular in cyclically heated specimens.     

Correlation of production rate of ornamental stone with rock brittleness indexes

The prediction of production rate in ornamental stones sawing is very important in cost estimation and process planning of the rock sawing plants. The main aim of this paper is finding a mathematical correlation between production rate and rock brittleness indexes. The utilized data have been collected from several stone factories in Iran. Seventeen different granite and carbonate rocks have been experienced sawing conditions with large-diameter circular saws. The laboratory tests such as uniaxial compressive strength and tensile strength, were carried out on the rock samples which were collected from these factories. The ratio of compressive strength to tensile strength (B ₁), the ratio of compressive strength minus tensile strength to compressive strength plus tensile strength (B ₂), and the area under the line of compressive strength and the line of tensile strength (B ₃) were used as brittleness indexes in this study. Then, the relationships between these brittleness indexes and production rate were investigated by using a regression analysis. The results show that, there is not a good relationship between the production rate and B ₁ and B ₂. However, the production rate correlates with B ₃ very well. Therefore, there is a reliable prediction for ornamental stones production based on B ₃ as a brittleness indexes.     

昔格达组半成岩微观结构与力学性质研究

以金沙江寨子村昔格达组半成岩为研究对象,通过X射线衍射、电镜扫描,测定了矿物成分、天然与饱和状态矿物颗粒微观结构;通过三轴压缩试验,研究了昔格达组半成岩受水和围压影响的强度及变形变化规律,并探讨了微观机制;通过对昔格达组半成岩、土、软岩强度指标与含水率的关系进行统计,分析了昔格达组半成岩不同于土和软岩的强度特性,并给出了针对此类岩土体的工程分级建议。研究表明：（1）微观结构显示昔格达组半成岩有明显不同于土和岩石的弱胶结结构特征,在饱和后胶结结构易遭破坏;（2）昔格达组半成岩黏聚力、摩擦角均随含水率增加而减小,平均模量在高含水率下随围压增加而增大,围压一定时随含水率增加而减小;（3）昔格达组半成岩、土、软岩的黏聚力大小为软岩>昔格达组半成岩>土,黏聚力对含水率的敏感性为软岩>昔格达组半成岩>土,摩擦角对含水率的敏感性为土>昔格达组半成岩>软岩;（4）将Φ50 mm×100 mm标准试件的单轴抗压强度在0.2～3 MPa,黏聚力在30～200 kPa的岩土体归类为硬土?软岩,建议在工程实际应用中将其与岩石和土进行区分。     

Engineering geological assessment of the proposed Uru Dam, Turkey

This paper describes the results of the engineering geological investigations and rock mechanics studies carried out at the proposed Uru Dam site. Analyses were carried out in terms of rock mass classifications for diversion tunnel, kinematic analysis of excavation slopes, permeability of the dam foundation and determination of rock mass strength parameters.Uru Dam is a rock-filled dam with upstream concrete slab. The dam will be built on the Suveri River in the central part of Turkey. The foundation rocks are volcanic rocks, which consist of andesite, basalt and tuff of Neogene Age. Studies were carried out both at the field and the laboratory. Field studies include engineering geological mapping, intensive discontinuity surveying, core drilling, pressurized water tests and sampling for laboratory testing.Uniaxial, triaxial and tensile strength tests were performed and deformation parameters, unit weight and porosity were determined on the intact rock specimens in the laboratory. Rock mass strength and modulus of elasticity of rock mass are determined using the Hoek–Brown empirical strength criterion. Rock mass classifications have been performed according to RMR and Q systems for the diversion tunnel.Engineering geological assessment of the proposed dam and reservoir area indicated that there will be no foundation stability problems. Detailed geotechnical investigations are required for the final design of the dam.     

连续降雨下不同砾石含量工程堆积体土壤侵蚀

为探究砾石对工程堆积体土壤侵蚀的影响与其作用机制,通过室内模拟降雨研究了连续降雨下不同砾石含量的重壤质堆积体水蚀过程。结果表明:①堆积体砾石含量增加,坡面产流历时延长,产流率线性减小,土壤剥蚀率降低;②连续降雨下,堆积体所含砾石主要通过对坡面产流历时、坡面产流率、砾石覆盖率的多重影响发挥减沙作用,主成分回归方程可表达多个变量与平均土壤剥蚀率的关系;③一定砾石含量下,堆积体坡面砾石覆盖率随表土的剥离而增大,导致土壤剥蚀率呈指数函数递减趋势,并与累积土壤侵蚀总量存在较好的函数关系。工程堆积体所含砾石对土壤侵蚀程度的削减可为生产建设项目下垫面水土保持治理提供重要参考。     

Assessment of Durability and Weathering State of Some Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks Using Micropetrographic Index and Rock Durability Indicators: A Case Study

Weathering and durability are the key factors of the rock in the suitability and usefulness of different construction materials, building materials and engineering structures. A single test never predicts the entire factor for suitability of rock stone and aggregate in different uses. Thus, variety of physical, mechanical and chemical tests and indices of rocks are widely used to estimate and evaluate the rocks for the suitability of the required purpose. In all the cases, knowledge of durability and weathering properties are the most important along with the strength of the rock. Micropetrographic index and rock durability indicators (dynamic and static) are the one of the best methods to evaluate the rock for weathering and durability. To estimate these indices, variety of tests are performed such as petrographic examination test, point load index, sulfate soundness test, water absorption test, modified aggregate impact value test and test for specific gravity. Slake durability index and impact strength index tests were also performed for correlation with static and dynamic rock durability indicators due to its application and usefulness in the durability and strength of the rock materials. Micropetrographic index was obtained by petrographic examination test and correlated with all the physical and mechanical properties used for find out the durability indicators. The present study is to express the usefulness of these three indices in the classification of weathering and durability classes and estimation of durability indices by slake durability index, impact strength index and micropetrographic index.     

苏南宁镇地区震旦纪至白垩纪的岩石力学性质的系统测试数据浅析

苏南宁镇地区,震旦系至第四系出露完整,研究程度颇深,诸地层的不同特征,以作为华南各地区地层对比之标准而著称。近几年来,随着大规模勘探工作的进行,宁镇地区地层的物性参数、电性参数和力学参数等各种资料,均在不断完善之中。本文试以该区震旦系至白垩系地层的岩石单轴抗压强度等的系统测试数据,对其有关的岩石力学特性进行粗浅地分析。     

Similarities and differences in hydrous pyrolysis of biomass and source rocks

In laboratory simulation of oil generation, products from closed systems pyrolysis of immature source rocks in the presence of water gives the closest match to petroleum compositions observed in nature. Fresh biomass can also be converted to fluids by pyrolysis, but in the absence of the sedimentary diagenetic transformations, the initially much higher oxygen content gives high yields of oxygen containing products. In this work, the reactions that occur during hydrous pyrolysis of a Kimmeridge source rock, a brown coal and two polymeric waste materials from alginate production are compared in terms of quantities of the main products and kinetic models of the reaction systems. The biomass pyrolysis and the simulated maturation are described in similar reaction networks. Conversion of biomass to fluids occurred with reaction networks and activation energy distributions comparable to the brown coal, while for the Kimmeridge source rock reactions a simpler reaction network could be used. The biomass samples gave a high degree of conversion to fluid products, and higher yields of bitumen than the coal.