The Use of Lagrange Diagrams in Precise Initiation Blasting. Part I: Two Interacting Blastholes

Using the concept of Lagrange diagrams this contribution details the calculation of the delay time between blastholes in a row and rows of blastholes with respect to precise initiation timing within the new advanced blasting technology which is based on the use of electronic detonators. After introducing the representations of stress waves and cracks, this contribution focuses on the role of stress wave interaction in optimal fragmentation in surface blasting and bench blasting. Part I of the paper considers two interacting blast-holes, Part II will be devoted to three or more out of plane interacting blastholes, whereas Part III will treat the interaction with a free face such as encountered in bench blasting. A few simplifying assumptions have been made in this paper with respect to the rock mass as well as the mechanical treatment. The essential assumptions include that the rock mass is treated as a continuum with finite tensile and compressive strength and the effects of structural geology are not taken into account. In addition, the analysis in Part I is simplified by two 'educational' assumption, that all waves are plane (i.e., one-dimensional) waves and three-dimensional effects of finite size blastholes and charges are not taken into account. This contribution will also show that knowledge in wave propagation and fracture mechanics is essential for the successful application of the new blasting technique in industry. In particular, the delay time, the wave speeds in the rock mass, the shape of the wave pulse and the acoustic impedance mismatch (not considered in this paper) have become decisive parameters in advanced blasting. Utilizing the wave speed and wave shapes of detonations, large scale tests in various countries (Australia, Chile, etc.) have shown that optimal delay timing requires shorter delay times in conjunction with allowing for a wider drilling pattern and the use of a grossly reduced amount of explosives , i.e., a lower powder factor. This seemingly contradictory arrangement is fully justified by using scientific principles in blasting, and converting blasting from an art to a scientific discipline .     

Understanding size and boundary effectsin scaled model blasts - plane problems

This contribution addresses model blasting and focuses on size and boundary effects on wave propagation, fracture pattern development and fragmentation in small scale laboratory size specimen. Small cylindrical specimens are centre-line loaded by linear high velocity of detonation explosive charges and detonated.

Using elastic wave propagation theory and fracture mechanics it is shown that the type of boundary conditions which prevail at the outer boundary of the cylinder control the extension of bore-hole cracking and fragmentation within the body of the cylinder. In the case of a composite cylinder with dissimilar mantel and core materials, the level of fracturing and fragmentation is controlled by the delamination of the interface. This, in turn, depends on the relative diameters of the core and the mantel. The most important parameter though is the ratio between the length of the pulse (space-wise or time-wise) and the characteristic dimensions of the models, i.e. in this case the diameters of the core and the mantel.

The theoretical basis for a simplified two-dimensional plane treatment is developed. Simple or composite, thin, plate-like specimens are centrally loaded; whereas the core is always a circle, the mantel can be either a circle or a square.     

Response of Concrete and Masonry Dams to Ground Vibration due to Blasting

The safety and stability of concrete and masonry dams is a great concern when blasting has to be conducted close to these dams in order to construct small hydro-electric projects. There is a danger of ground vibration amplification to those residential-type buildings that are built close to these dams.

Responses of three concrete and masonry dams were measured directly by conducting a number of blasts and by monitoring vibration in the ground as well as on the dams. The amplitudes and frequencies of the motions were analysed and vibration attenuation relations were derived. These relations were used to compare the vibration levels on the dams with those in the ground.

Because of close-in construction blasts that produced high frequency ground vibrations, there was no amplification of the ground vibrations by these dams. The measured amplitudes of ground vibration were comparable to those of the dams.     

Blast Induced Damage and Dynamic Behaviour of Hangingwalls in Bench Stoping

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive monitoring program designed to investigate the extent of blast induced damage experienced by rock masses extracted by bench stoping methods. An array of triaxial geophones and extensometers were used to monitor blast vibration attenuation and measure hangingwall deformations during stope extraction. In addition, pre and post surveys of the hangingwall rock mass were conducted using a TV borehole camera and cavity survey instrumentation. These surveys were later used to calibrate damage profiles into the stope hangingwalls.

Peak particle velocity, hangingwall deformation measurements and stope surveys were used to develop a site specific damage model that allowed engineers to asses drilling and blasting configurations to minimise the extent of pre-conditioning and damage. In addition the study included the analysis of the frequency response, displacements and accelerations experienced by the excavation as extraction and mine filling progressed. This work aimed at improving our understanding of the influence of blasting on the dynamic behaviour of stope hangingwalls.

The study demonstrated that estimates of the maximum extent of rock mass pre-conditioning and/or damage made through the application of the Holmberg-Persson approach compared well with measured results. In addition, the study found that dynamic loading imparted on an exposed hangingwall from subsequent stope blasting was also expected to contribute to rock mass weakening and that mine filling was crucial to arrest further deterioration. Hangingwall accelerations were used to demonstrate that larger openings may be more susceptible to dynamic loading.     

不耦合装药爆破对硬岩应力场影响的数值分析

爆破地震勘探石油是一种重要的方法,但爆破地震效应与爆破参数、地质条件等密切相关。采用动力有限元软件ANSYS/LS-DYNA,对柱状炸药与药孔壁之间为空气或其他介质以及空隙间距变化时碳酸盐岩岩石中爆炸应力波的传播规律和爆炸地震波能量的衰减特性进行了数值模拟研究,得到了不耦合装药爆炸时岩石应力、振动速度的衰减规律以及与不耦合系数、间隙介质的关系,分析了不耦合效应对爆炸地震波能量的影响。研究表明,不耦合或耦合不好时会使岩体中爆炸应力波的强度大大降低;耦合状态对岩体应力及速度的衰减系数和衰减指数影响较大;在空隙中注水或灌满泥浆会改善它们的耦合关系,增大下传的爆破能量。所得成果可为我国西南地区优选适合碳酸盐地层地震勘探的激发因素提供技术途径和方法。     

A Fragmentation Modelling Framework for Underground Ring Blasting Applications

Empirical approaches for predicting fragmentation from blasting continue to play a significant role in the mining industry in spite of a number of inherent limitations associated with such methods. These methods can be successfully applied provided the users understand or recognize their limitations. Arguably, the most successful empirical based fragmentation models have been those applicable to surface blasting (e.g., Kuz-Ram/Kuznetsov based models). With widespread adoption of fragmentation assessment technologies in underground operations, an opportunity has arisen to extend and further develop these type approaches to underground production blasting.

This paper discusses the development of a new fragmentation modelling framework for underground ring blasting applications. The approach is based on the back-analysis of geotechnical, blasting and fragmentation data gathered at the Ridgeway sub level caving (SLC) operation in conjunction with experiences from a number of surface blasting operations.

The basis of the model are, relating a peak particle velocity (PPV) breakage threshold to a breakage uniformity index; modelling of the coarse end of the size distribution with the Rosin-Rammler distribution; and modelling the generation of fines with a newly developed approach that allows the prediction of the volume of crushing around blastholes.

Preliminary validations of the proposed model have shown encouraging results. Further testing and validation of the proposed model framework continues and the approach is currently being incorporated into an underground blast design and analysis software to facilitate its application.     

A Review of General Considerations for Assessing Rock Mass Blastability and Fragmentation

Blasting is the primary comminution process in most mining operations. This process involves the highly complex and dynamic interaction between two main components. The first is the detonating explosive and the second is the rock mass into which the explosive is loaded. The mechanical properties of the rock material (such as dynamic strength, tensile strength, dynamic modulus and fracture toughness) are important considerations in understanding the blasting process. However, it is the characteristics of the geological defects (joints, foliation planes, bedding planes) within the rock mass that ultimately determine how effectively a blast performs in terms of fragmentation, all else being equal. The defect characteristics include, but are not limited to, their orientation, spacing, and mechanical properties. During the blasting process, some of the geotechnical characteristics of the rock mass are substantially changed. From the blasting outcome point of view, the most notable and important is the change in fragment size distribution that the rock mass undergoes. The pre-blast in situ defect-bounded block size distribution is transformed into the post-blast muckpile fragment size distribution. Consequently, it is fundamental to our understanding of and ability to predict the blasting process that both the blastability of a rock mass and its transformation into the fragment size distribution can be appropriately quantified.     

爆破开挖对岩体含水裂纹扩展的扰动机制

岩体裂纹的水力劈裂是岩体开裂渗漏甚至施工涌水的重要影响因素之一,也是岩土工程界的研究热点。从断裂力学角度分析了爆破开挖对岩体含水裂纹扩展的扰动作用,结果表明,爆破开挖扰动下,岩体含水裂纹的扩展,与爆炸应力波强度及其入射角、地应力的大小与方向、孔隙水压大小、裂纹的倾角及断裂韧度等因素相关;爆炸应力波的作用,相当于增大了岩体裂纹中的孔隙水压力,每1 cm/s的峰值振动速度相当于增大100 kPa的孔隙水压力,爆破振动速度越大,所产生的爆破扰动荷载越大;岩体开挖引起的岩体裂纹近区地应力及其孔隙水压力的变化,对裂纹的失稳与扩展具有较复杂的影响,可改变裂纹的失稳扩展模式。     

地壳应力值的估算方法

本文提出了不通过地应力测量,确定工程岩体地应力值的断裂判据法和地震波断裂力学反演法。断裂判据法仅需确定野外最新构造体系断裂参数和岩体物理力学参数,便可确定不同新构造活动区的现代地应力值或下限值。地震波断裂力学反演法仅需要收集地震资料,测定岩体物理力学参数,便可确定区域平均剪应力τ_0;结合现代地应力场类型和最大主应力方向,可确定主应为值。     

浅埋大跨隧道施工爆破监测与减震技术

以沪-蓉线庙垭分岔隧道工程为背景,研究了其浅埋大跨段掘进爆破的地表震动效应及大断面开挖减震控制技术,并结合爆破监测数据的回归分析,确立了地震波垂向衰减规律的数学模型。综合分析地表及洞内地震波的震动特性发现,地表质点振动主振频率主要集中在低频段;由于表土的滤波作用,主振频率随距离的增加而减小的趋势并不明显;洞内混凝土衬砌减弱了爆破对围岩的冲击,高频地震波衰减极快;开挖区上部的地表振速通常大于未开挖区的振速,浅埋大跨隧道爆破安全控制应以已开挖区顶部的地表振速为准。     

Theory and Practice of Air-Deck Blasting in Mines and Surface Excavations: A Review

The mechanism by which the explosive energy is transferred to the surrounding rock mass is changed in air-deck blasting. It allows the explosive energy to act repeatedly in pulses on the surrounding rock mass rather than instantly as in the case of concentrated charge blasting. The air-deck acts as a regulator, which first stores energy and then releases it in separate pulses. The release of explosion products in the air gap causes a decrease in the initial bore hole pressure and allows oscillations of shock waves in the air gap. The performance of an air-deck blast is basically derived from the expansion of gaseous products and subsequent multiple interactions between shock waves within an air column, shock waves and stemming base and shock waves and hole bottom. This phenomenon causes repeated loading on the surrounding rock mass by secondary shock fronts for a prolonged period. The length of air column and the rock mass structure are critical to the ultimate results. Several attempts have been made in the past to study the mechanism of air-deck blasting and to investigate its effects on blast performance but a clear understanding of the underlying mechanism and the physical processes to explain its actual effects is yet to emerge. In the absence of any theoretical basis, the air-deck blast designs are invariably carried out by the rules of thumb. The field trials of this technique in different blast environments have demonstrated its effectiveness in routine production blasting, pre-splitting and controlling over break and ground vibrations etc. The air-deck length appropriate to the different rock masses and applications need to be defined more explicitly. It generally ranges between 0.10 and 0.30 times the original charge length. Mid column air-deck is preferred over the top and bottom air-decks. Top air-deck is used especially in situations, which require adequate breakage in the stemming region. The influence of air-deck location within the hole on blast performance also requires further studies. This paper reviews the status of knowledge on the theory and practice of air-deck blasting in mines and surface excavations and brings out the areas for further investigation in this technique of blasting.     

Fracture plane control in rock blasting

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岩石低周疲劳损伤模型与损伤变量表达方法

在岩石（体）工程领域,周期荷载作用下岩石的疲劳破坏特性与岩体的长期稳定性密切相关。针对目前对混凝土疲劳损伤研究较多,但对岩石疲劳损伤研究相对较少这一现状,运用损伤力学方法对以累积塑性应变表达的损伤变量进行了分析,指出了目前常用的以累积塑性应变表达的损伤变量表达式存在的理论上的缺点,建立了一种新的岩石疲劳损伤变量表达方法。为研究岩石在疲劳荷载作用下力学性能不断劣化的过程,从连续介质损伤力学的基本理论出发,分析岩石在疲劳荷载下的损伤发展和变形规律,并考虑岩石材料的硬化特性,推导了低周疲劳损伤演化方程,经低周疲劳试验数据分析,所建模型可以较好地反映岩石的疲劳损伤演化规律,可用于岩石在低周疲劳荷载作用下的有限元分析。     

多裂隙岩体的损伤断裂模型及模型试验

对于由裂隙、岩石组成的多裂隙岩体,本文通过对裂隙岩体内的应力、应变的体积平均,提出了适合于这种岩体的等效连续模型。运用损伤力学以及断裂力学理论,定义了岩体损伤张量、有效应力张量、损伤应变等,建立了损伤演化方程,从而建立了多裂隙岩体的损伤断裂模型。对岩体裂隙的扩展方式进行了模拟试验。     

An introduction to Chinese safety regulations for blasting vibration

By reviewing the development history and the state-of-art, this paper introduces Chinese safety regulations for blasting vibration for adjacent structures and equipments, as well as for structures themselves under blasting operation, such as high rock slopes, underground caverns, foundation rock masses, and fresh concrete. The mechanism of failures or damages induced by blasting vibration, the analysis methods of dynamic stability for rock slopes and surrounding rock mass of underground caverns under blasting vibration, and the influence of blasting vibration on early-aged concrete, etc., are analyzed or explained. Standards adopted in China are compared with those adopted in some other countries. Furthermore, the main problems considered in the revision of Chinese national and industrial regulations are discussed, such as the distinction of different damage mechanics induced by propagation of blasting vibration in rock mass and by dynamic response of various structures, the influence of vibration frequency and duration and so on.     

A Further Study on the Mechanism of Airdecking

Airdecking is used in mining for two quite different applications. One is to enhance the fragmentation by amplifying the induced fracturing and the second is for pre-split blasting in which the borehole fracturing is reduced. This paper deals with the first of these effects. A forth coming paper will describe pre-splitting by airdecking. The use of air decks to enhance rock fragmentation and so to reduce explosive costs has been the practice for quite long time. Although a number of studies has been conducted to verify the advantages of blasting with air decks and to investigate the mechanisms involved, the proposed mechanisms still cannot explain clearly the phenomena observed in practice and the design approach adopted for this kind of blasting is still primary based on rules-of-thumb. In this paper, the theory of shock tubes is adopted to (a) investigate the processes of the expanding detonation products, (b) study the interactions between the explosion products and the stemming or bottom of blasthole, and (c) to decide the distribution of the changing pressure of explosion products along blasthole. Numerical simulation and theoretical analyses are then performed to study the physical process of blasting with air decks. Finally, a reasonable value for the airdecking ratio is decided theoretically. It is shown that the pressure-unloading process caused by the propagation of the rarefaction wave and the reflected rarefaction waves in the detonation products plays an important role in the enhanced fragmentation of rock when blasting with air decks. The unloading process can induce tensile stresses of rather high magnitude in the rock mass surrounding blasthole. This favors fracturing of the rock. The reflected shock wave with a magnitude of gas pressure higher than that of the average detonation pressure in a fully charged blasthole acts as the main energy source to break the rock in the air deck and stemming portions. The second and succeeding strain waves induced by the unloading or reloading of the pressurewithin the blasthole also contribute to form the initial fracture network in the rock around the blasthole. It is also revealed that there exists a reasonable range of values for the airdecking ratio. For ANFO, this value varies from 0.13-0.40.     

岩石爆破过程S波的产生机制分析

全面总结、分析了岩石爆破过程S波的产生机制,表明短柱状药包、炮孔周围岩体的开裂与破碎以及装药偏离球形或柱形空腔中心,均可诱发S波,并且诱发S波的幅值可超过P波;P波传播过程与岩体界面的相互作用,可产生次生的S波（透、反射SV波）。在此基础上,就爆破振动场模拟方法与计算模型选择中如何体现S波的产生机制方面提出了建议     

岩石中柱状装药爆炸能量分布

岩石中装药爆炸产生的爆破能量可分为爆炸冲击波能量和爆生气体膨胀能量。对爆炸能量分布的理论分析有助于改善爆破效果,提高爆破质量。在柱状耦合装药情况下,分析了冲击波作用下岩石变形和破坏的特点、爆生气体对爆腔的扩腔作用,考虑了在岩体的损伤情况下爆生气体对裂纹的驱裂作用。计算结果表明：埋深在临界深度以下时,岩石中柱状装药爆破冲击波做功消耗的能量约占爆炸总能量的40 %,剩余爆生气体能量中用于扩腔和扩展主要裂隙的能量约占总能量的23 %,剩余大约37 %的能量中有小部分能量用于新增裂纹数目,而大部分损失掉了。     

Statistical Aspects of Microheterogeneous Rock Fracture: Observations and Modeling

Rocks and other geomaterials are heterogeneous materials, with a well-recognized hierarchy of defects from micro-heterogeneities on the grain level to a large-scale network of cracks and layering structures. Their nature create a challenge for determining macroscopic properties, particularly for properties that are scale dependent, complicating both the property measurement and its appropriate application in modeling. This paper discusses the concept of a “representative volume”, which is commonly used in modeling microheterogeneous but statistically homogeneous material by an effective homogeneous continuum. The foundation of this concept is presented, along with its limitations in dealing with properties like strength and fracture toughness that exhibit a scale effect. This limitation is illustrated with a study of brittle fracture of a concrete where it is considered a model for statistically homogeneous rock. The study includes determining a scaling rule for the scale effect in fracture toughness, and shows that the fracture of brittle materials like rocks and concrete appears in the form of highly tortuous, stochastic paths. This reflects a complex interaction between a crack and pre-existing as well as newly formed micro-defects controlled by chance, and results in a large scatter of all fracture-related parameters. This behavior suggests a synthesis of fracture mechanics with probability and statistics, and so a brief exposition of statistical fracture mechanics (SFM) that addresses the statistical aspects of fracture is also presented. SFM is a formalism that combines fracture mechanics methods with probability theory and serves as the basis for an adequate modeling of brittle fracture.