BlastingFundamentals.ppt.pptVIP

Blasting Fundamentals ?Dr. B. C. Paul 2000 Note – The slides that follow present the author’s summary of knowledge commonly held by people well studied in the field. While information found here-in can be found in a variety of published sources this material does not by design or intention follow any one source of information. The Role of Fragmentation in Mining Rock masses must generally be reduced into small discrete pieces to enable materials handling and processing Reduction is usually accomplished mechanically by ripping or scraping if softness permits By blasting using explosives to accomplish size reduction Explosive Types Low Explosives - progress of the reaction front through the explosive chemical mixture is slower than the speed of sound Example - Black Powder High Explosives - reaction front is faster than speed of sound Example - TNT and Dynamite Blasting Agents Popular explosive formulation today Made of combinations of chemicals that are themselves not explosive Advantage in transportation Taking high explosives over public highways is a major permitting issue May provide for storage of non-explosives (explosives require special powder magazines) Blasting Agents Continued Most common example is ANFO Combination of prilled Ammonium Nitrate (a fertilizer) about 96% Diesel Fuel about 4% 1930’s put ANFO mix in cans and used as cheap dynamite Late 1940s early 50s rediscovered as a bulk explosive - Texas City, Texas Formulation of an Explosive Combination of a Fuel and an Oxidizer Fuel that is prone to fast reaction and usually produces large number of fumes and a high energy yield Oxidizer provides for fuel to burn without kinetic limitations of atmospheric exchange Can blast under water Elements of an Explosive Detonation Initiation energy usually in form of heat or shock (example - Nitroglycerine) Oxidizer most high explosives build it in Confinement and Pressure heat, confinement, and pressure are needed to boost reaction kinetics and make