Abstract
Quantifying rock mass behavior during blasting is a complex task due to the inherent variability and heterogeneities of the rock, combined with the dynamic nature of blasting. Accurately understanding this behavior is essential for optimizing blast design, enhancing efficiency, achieving better fragmentation, and minimizing environmental impacts. One promising approach to address these challenges is the development of a single-hole blastability indexing method, which quantifies rock mass response by analyzing the breakout profile generated by an individual blasthole. This study extends the application of the single-hole blastability indexing method to investigate blasthole interactions by analyzing the breakout profiles formed in double-hole blast tests.
By examining the physical properties of the breakout profiles, such as crater shape, extent, and blasted volume, valuable insights are gained into the rock's response to explosive forces. These parameters serve as critical indicators of rock mass behavior, helping to evaluate the effectiveness of blast designs and site-specific geological conditions. Previous studies on single-hole blastability indexing, conducted in a quarry near Montreal, Canada, established a framework for analyzing rock mass behavior in an isolated condition for individual test shots. These tests provided foundational data to develop a mathematical model based on a power law equation, which correlates crater geometry with rock properties and offers a reliable method for assessing the blastability of various rock types.
In this study, we focus on the interaction between adjacent blastholes by analyzing the breakout profiles formed by double-hole test shots. A series of double-hole blasts with varying spacings were performed in the same quarry to observe the effects of blastholes interaction on breakout profile geometry. The objective was to refine the mathematical model developed for single-hole blasts and adapt it to scenarios involving multiple blastholes. This adaptation enables a more comprehensive understanding of blasthole interactions in production blasting scenarios.
The findings of this research aim to bridge the gap between single-hole blast test results and full-scale production blasts by providing a deeper understanding of blasthole interactions through breakout profile analysis. The proposed approach offers a novel method for quantifying rock-blast interactions and serves as a practical tool for engineers to optimize blast designs. By integrating insights from single- and double-hole tests, this study lays the groundwork for more accurate and efficient blastability assessments, advancing the science of engineered rock blasting.