Research on the Seam Formation Mechanism of Elliptical Bipolar Linear Directional Blasting Based on the SPH-FEM Coupling Method

Rock mass blasting is a complex process that involves the coupling of both discontinuous and continuous media. This paper aims to reveal the dynamic failure process between adjacent boreholes under an elliptical bipolar linear charge structure using the SPH-FEM (smooth particle hydrodynamics and finite-element method) coupling algorithm numerical simulation method. The numerical simulation results are compared with the existing experimental results, which proves the rationality of the algorithm. According to the numerical simulation results, the shaped jet will first shock the hole wall and form a stress concentration zone that will guide the formation of cracks during the stress wave propagation process. In the case of double-hole blast loading, there is a tendency for cracks coalescence to develop between adjacent boreholes due to the superposition of stresses between the double holes and the increase in damage and plastic strain. The best blasting results will be achieved with this structure when the distance between adjacent holes is 110 cm. Finally, the superiority of elliptical bipolar linear blasting in engineering blasting was verified through field experiments. The results of this study provide a reference for subsequent applications of elliptical bipolar structures in the field of rock blasting.

The Vibration Characteristics of Ground of Rock Blasting in Silt-Rock Strata

As the shield section passes through the silt-rock strata, the rock stratum of the tunnel section has to be blasted into blocks in advance, and the diameter of the blocks should be less than 30 cm after breaking, and then, the blocks could smoothly enter the soil cabin through the opening of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) cutter head and finally be discharged through the screw machine. The geology of rock blasting in silt-rock strata is complex, and the vibrations caused by blasting threaten the safety of buildings around the blasting area. According to the measured data of blasting vibrations at the sites, the waveform duration of vibration acceleration and the distribution characteristics of dominant frequency of vibration velocity were analyzed, the energy characteristics of vibration velocity were researched by wavelet analysis, and the attenuation laws of vibration velocity were studied by dimensional analysis (DA). The dominant frequency bands of vibration energy of ground are in the range of 0–15.625 Hz, and the distribution characteristics of frequency bands of vibration energy in different directions of the ground are similar to each other, but the energy magnitude is different from each other. The research results could provide a reference for the safe blasting distance of buildings under similar geological conditions.

Experimental Study on the Effects of In Situ Stress on the Initiation and Propagation of Cracks during Hard Rock Blasting

In situ stress is one of the most important factors affecting rock dynamic fractures during blasting excavation of deep rock mass that generally is hard rock. In this research, crater blasting experiments on hard rock under different uniaxial static stresses were conducted to investigate the initiation and propagation process of crack networks that were induced by coupled dynamic and static loads. Furthermore, the effects of anisotropic static stress fields on the initiation and propagation of crack networks during hard rock blasting, and the crack network morphological characteristics were analyzed and elucidated. The experimental results showed that the static stress field changed the process of crack network initiation and propagation during hard rock blasting, and then control the crack network morphology. Under uniaxial static stress, the crack network was elliptical with the long axis parallel to the static stress. In addition, the larger the anisotropic static stress is, the more obvious the elliptical morphology of the crack network. Moreover, the static stress lead to the delay of crack formation which indicates that the delay time during millisecond blasting excavation of deep rock mass should be adjusted appropriately according to the in situ stress. A stress-strength ratio (SSR) of 0.15 is the threshold value where static stress may have a significant effect on the initiation and propagation of a crack network. Meanwhile, the strain field prior to crack initiation during rock blasting controlled the morphological characteristics of the crack network. Finally, the mechanism of static stress affecting propagation and morphology of crack network was revealed theoretically.

Study on the technology of enhancing permeability by deep hole presplitting blasting in Sanyuan coal mine

To reduce gas disasters in low permeability and high gas coal seams and improve gas predrainage efficiency, conventional deep hole presplitting blasting permeability increasing technology was refined and perfected. The damage degree of coal and rock blasting was quantitatively evaluated by using the value range of the damage variable D. According to the actual field test parameters of coal seam #3 in the Sanyuan coal mine, Dlim = 0.81 ~ 1.0 was the coal rock crushing area, Dlim = 0.19 ~ 0.81 was the coal rock crack area, and Dlim = 0 ~ 0.19 was the coal rock disturbance area. The blasting models under different blasting parameters were established by ANSYS/LS-DYNA software. The influence radius of single-hole blasting was 3.1 m, the hole diameter of double-hole blasting was 113 mm, the hole spacing was 5.5 m, and the delayed blasting time was 25 ms. According to the numerical simulation results, the determined parameters were tested on the working face of the 1312 transportation roadway in coal seam #3 of the Sanyuan coal mine. The results show that after blasting, the permeability of the original coal seam was increased by more than 30 times, the gas concentration was increased by 2.16 times, and the single hole purity and mixing volume were increased by 4.73 and 4.27 times, respectively. The positive effects of deep hole presplitting blasting permeability enhancement technology on the pressure relief and permeability enhancement of a low pressure and high gas coal seam were determined.

Study on the Technology of Enhancing Permeability by Millisecond Blasting in Sanyuan Coal Mine

To reduce gas disasters in low permeability and high-gas coal seams and improve gas predrainage efficiency, conventional deep-hole presplitting blasting permeability increasing technology was refined and perfected. The numerical calculation model of presplitting blasting was established by using ANSYS/LS-DYNA numerical simulation software. The damage degree of coal and rock blasting was quantitatively evaluated by using the value range of the damage variable D. According to the actual field test parameters of coal seam #3 in the Sanyuan coal mine, Dlim = 0.81–1.0 was the coal rock crushing area, Dlim = 0.19–0.81 was the coal rock crack area, and Dlim = 0–0.19 was the coal rock disturbance area. By comparing and analysing the damage distribution nephogram of coal and rock mass under the influence of different millisecond blasting time interval and the blasting effect of simulation model, the optimal layout parameters of multilayer through cracks were obtained theoretically. And, the determined parameters were tested on the working face of the 1312 transportation roadway in coal seam #3 of the Sanyuan coal mine. The permeability effect was compared and analysed through the analysis of the gas concentration, gas purity, and mixing volume before and after the implementation of deep-hole presplitting blasting antireflection technology, as well as the change of gas pressure, attenuation coefficient, permeability coefficient, and other parameters between blasting coal seams. The positive role of millisecond blasting in reducing pressure and increasing permeability in low permeability and high-gas coal seam were determined.

Modelling the influence of gaseous products of explosive detonation on the processes of crack treatment while rock blasting

Purpose is mathematical modeling of fracturing as well as influence of gaseous products of explosive detonation on the changes in rock strength. Methods. Mathematical model, using foundations of Griffith theory, has been developed. To explain conditions of bridge formation while exploding lead azide charges, a two-stage description of solid particle condensation at a crack surface and inside it has been applied using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics. The analysis, involved electronic microscope, has helped verified the results experimentally. Findings. The effect of rock mass disturbance, resulting from explosive destruction, is manifested maximally right after the action. Subsequently, it decreases owing to the gradual relaxation of the formed defects. Therefore, an urgent problem is to develop ways slowing down strength restore of the blasted rock mass fragments. The process of rock fragment strength restoring may be prevented by microparticles getting into the microcrack cavities together with the detonation products. The research simulates their action. The data correlate to the simulation results confirming potential influence of the blasted rock on the dynamics of changes in the strength characteristics of the rock mass. Various compositions of charges with shells made of inert solid additions have been applied which solid particles can avoid the process of microcrack closure. Originality. For the first time, the possibility of deposition formation within rock micro- and macrocracks has been proposed and supported mathematically. Practical implications. Strength properties of the finished product and the energy consumption during impulse loading as well as subsequent mechanical processing of nonmetallic building materials depend on the strength properties of rock mass fragments. Hence, the ability to control the strength restore has a great practical value. Moreover, it can be implemented during the blasting operations.

Design Method for Specific Charge in Deep Mining considering Influence of In Situ Stress

In situ stress has a large influence on blasts in deep mines and should be considered in blasting design. In this study, explosion crater tests were conducted to investigate the variation of specific charges under different stress loading conditions. It was revealed that rock blasting under high stress is different from that under low stress. A correction coefficient for specific charge was defined to consider the influence of in situ stress on blasting. A quantitative relation between the correction coefficient, stress-to-strength ratio, and lateral stress coefficient was presented. Based on the explosion-crater test results, a design method for specific charges was proposed with the consideration of in situ stress. Finally, the design method was applied to a field blasting test at Hongtoushan Copper Mine. The test results indicate that the proposed design method can effectively use the high in situ stress at depth for rock fragmentation. Compared with the original blasting design, the specific charge is reduced by 19.8% and the average block rate is reduced from 6.8% to 2.84%. At the same time, the blasting boundary is well controlled and the ore loss and dilution rates are reduced. This research has important guiding significance to deep mine blasting design.

Prediction of Uniaxial Compressive Strength of Granite Rock Samples of Lugoba Quarry Using Rebound Hammer Test

Rebound hammer test is widely used as an indirect measure of uniaxial compressive strength for engineering materials such as concrete, soil, and rock in both civil and mining engineering works. In quarries, uniaxial compressive strength is a crucial parameter in the analysis of geotechnical problems involving rock stability and rock blasting design. This study aims at establishing the empirical models of uniaxial compressive strength fits on rebound hammer number that can be used to predict uniaxial compressive strength of granitic rock at Lugoba Quarry. Data for direct uniaxial compressive strength were obtained from uniaxial compressive strength test carried out on 20 core samples at the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology Geotechnical Laboratory using ISMR Standard Procedures. The rebound hammer test was carried out using testing hammer type N. The tests were done horizontally on two scanline's geotechnical domains of the rock mass on the footwall side of the quarry. The obtained results of UCS ranging from 105 to 132.5 MPa and RHN from 44.90 to 49.5 were found to be comparable with values of other granitic rocks in other parts of the world. Regression Analysis using SPSS software was carried out to develop 5 regression models of UCS vs.RHN. The values of obtained in this study were found to be between 0.93 and 0.95, which are comparable with other studies. This implies that RHN accounted between 93 and 95% of the total variation of the UCS and the relationships were very strong. Two models; Logarithmic and exponential were found to be appropriate and recommended for application at Lugoba Quarry.

EFFECT OF SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON EXPRESSWAY CONSTRUCTION IN SRI LANKA

Expressway construction projects are one of the crucial infrastructure projects for a country. Hence, assessment of environmental and social implications prior to initiation of the expressway construction project is vital. Thus, the research aims to analyse effect of social and environmental factors on expressway construction in Sri Lanka. Initially a comprehensive literature review was done to discuss on expressway construction in Sri Lanka and environmental and social implications of expressway construction in global context. The study followed a qualitative approach. Hence, four expert interviews were carried out to explore more on the same context limiting to Sri Lanka. Experts were selected from only on-going expressway project in Sri Lanka, central expressway project. Moreover, collected data were analysed through manual content analysis. The study findings highlighted viaduct construction, land acquisition and rock blasting as the major activities relating to environmental implications of the expressway construction projects. Thus, rational, logical, scientific, and technical selection of the routes is the most effective and efficient mean in minimizing adverse impacts. Hence planning of these activities should be done with due care by authorities only after proper feasibility studies. Further, major factors affecting social implications of the expressway construction have been identified as settlement, livelihood, public infrastructure and health and safety. Hence, resettlement action plans need to be updated to comply with the identified requirements through environmental and social factors.