The Effects of Detonation Wave Collisions on Rock Throw
Department
Mining Engineering
Major
Mining Engineering/Geology and Geophysics
Research Advisor
Johnson, Catherine E.
Advisor's Department
Mining Engineering
Funding Source
Travel grant from DYNO Consult
Abstract
Rock blasting is the primary method used to break rock for excavation. It serves two purposes; fragmenting the rock and throwing it to its muck pile using explosive energy. Fragmentation and throw needs are site specific, dependent on end-product requirements. Prior studies have shown that by only changing blast hole timing with the same blast design, fragmentation and throw alters. In an operating mine in Georgia, an optimum inter-hole delay for fragmentation has been found by studying timings from 0ms to 45ms. Instantaneous timing between holes increased the throw by over 100 ft, but fragmentation was poor. Shock and detonation wave collision is a potential reason for this increased throw. This paper investigates this optimized inter-hole timing while altering top and bottom column primer time to potentially improve throw while maintaining optimum fragmentation. Timings studied are top initiation, bottom initiation, and top and bottom simultaneously.
Biography
Patrick Cahill is a senior in the Mining Engineering Department, and is an active member in the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (of which he is currently serving as the S&T Chapter Treasurer), the International Society of Explosives Engineers, and the National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association. He has performed undergraduate research in the Energetics Research Facility under the directorship of Dr. Catherine Johnson, Assistant Professor of Mining Engineering. Publications include “The Effects of Detonation Wave Collisions on Rock Throw”, which was presented at the proceedings of the 2017 Annual SME Conference in Denver; and “Missouri S&T Mine Expansion and Associated Risk Safety Analysis”, which was presented at the proceedings of the 43rd Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Techniques in Orlando. Patrick plans to work in the mining industry after graduation and would eventually like to return to S&T for a master’s degree in Explosives Engineering.
Research Category
Engineering
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Location
Missouri Room
Presentation Date
11 Apr 2017, 10:00 am - 10:30 am
The Effects of Detonation Wave Collisions on Rock Throw
Missouri Room
Rock blasting is the primary method used to break rock for excavation. It serves two purposes; fragmenting the rock and throwing it to its muck pile using explosive energy. Fragmentation and throw needs are site specific, dependent on end-product requirements. Prior studies have shown that by only changing blast hole timing with the same blast design, fragmentation and throw alters. In an operating mine in Georgia, an optimum inter-hole delay for fragmentation has been found by studying timings from 0ms to 45ms. Instantaneous timing between holes increased the throw by over 100 ft, but fragmentation was poor. Shock and detonation wave collision is a potential reason for this increased throw. This paper investigates this optimized inter-hole timing while altering top and bottom column primer time to potentially improve throw while maintaining optimum fragmentation. Timings studied are top initiation, bottom initiation, and top and bottom simultaneously.
