• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1013-1028
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• 2017

This paper presents key findings obtained from the numerical experiment investigating into the use of the cylindrical cavity for rock splitting operations. The stress and strain path analyses were carried out in order to provide a better insight into the crack formation. The principal stress analysis carried out along the crack line using the results obtained from these numerical analyses allowed the failure of the brittle material and the crack propagation to be investigated. This paper also suggested possible reasons for the change in crack direction observed during the rock splitting operations using the results obtained.