• Explosives and Blasting
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.1-16
• /
• 2010

This study focuses on the phenomenon that the blast damaged zone developed on rock slope surfaces can be affected by joint characteristics rather than by explosive power when the pre-splitting is applied to excavate a jointed rock slope. The characteristics of rock joints on a slope were investigated and categorized them into 4 cases. Also an image processing system has been used for comparing the distribution pattern of rock blocks. From this investigation, it was found that the rock blocks bigger than 2,000 mm occupied 42% in the case of single joint set and it showed the well efficiency of pre-splitting blast. In cases of 2~3 parallel joint sets and 2~3 intersecting joint sets are developed on rock surfaces, the rock blocks in the range of 1,000~2,000 mm occupied 43.6% and 35.8%, respectively, and it showed that the efficiency of pre-splitting was decreased. When more than 3 joint sets are randomly developed, however, the rock blocks in the range of 250~500 mm occupied 35% and there was no block bigger than 1,000 mm. This denotes that the blasting with pre-splitting was not effective. The numerical analysis using PFC2D showed that the blast damaged zone in a rock mass could be directly influenced by the pre-splitting. It is, therefore, required to investigate the discontinuity pattern on rock surfaces in advance, when the pre-splitting method is applied to excavate jointed rock slopes and to apply a flexible blating design with a consideration of the joint characteristics.

• Explosives and Blasting
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2009

Abstract By investigating the stress redistribution caused by the preceding cut blasting when applying the pre-splitting method to tunnel round, an attempt was made to find conditions that were favorable for the propagation of cracks in contour holes. The investigation of the direction of minor principal stress in the numerical analysis revealed that the most significant factor affecting the change of the direction was the loading condition, while the core shape, rock type, and tunnel depth seemed to be less important in determining the direction of minor principal stress. Moreover, the number of cracks tended to increase with the increase of deviatoric stress. Through the model test of pre-splitting, it is confirmed that the pre-splitting method taking the stress field into account can reduce the extent of yield zone and has advantage in controlling the direction of crack than the conventional one.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.5-14
• /
• 2011

The most common problem encountered in domestic tunnel construction sites are solving public resentments caused by damage to adjacent structures and buildings. The most effective excavation method in rock tunnelling is the drilling and blasting, which is the main cause of vibration resulting in the public resentments. In this study, numerical analysis is conducted to compare the vibration reduction effect of line drilling and pre-splitting methods. Furthermore, the numerical simulations are verified and the results are quantified. Finally, various combinations of explosives used in controlled blasting are used and the vibration reduction effects are evaluated, thereby proving the applicability of the controlled blasting for reduction of vibration in tunnelling.