• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.49-57
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• 2024

Pre-fracturing is the blasting method to weaken the rock mass prior to the main excavation. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of pre-fracturing by using half the explosive charge typically employed in conventional blasting designs. Field tests conducted at a quarry in Gapyeong showed that noise levels were reduced by 2.7 dB due to the decreased amount of explosive per blast hole, and vibration levels were controlled to the precision vibration control blasting standard. Rock weakening was confirmed through induced cracks observed on the surface and core samples, and it was noted that the weakening effect of the blasting decreased as the burden increased. The vibrations from conventional blasting were found to be lower than those from pre-fracturing. This was attributed more to the geological conditions, such as joints, rather than the blasting design factors like explosive amount, burden, and the number of free face.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.421-432
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• 2024

Pre-fracturing, a type of pre-conditioning blast, is a method used to weaken rock masses prior to mechanical excavation. In this study, various laboratory tests were conducted on rock core samples obtained from the field to verify the effectiveness of pre-fracturing in controlling the BIDZ (Blast-Induced Damaged Zone) by measuring the physical properties of rock cores obtained from a test site and assessing changes in these properties. In the EDZ (Excavation Damaged Zone) caused by combined excavation using blasting and mechanical excavation, the effect of blasting is generally more significant than that of mechanical excavation, so BIDZ control directly leads to EDZ control. In terms of Poisson's ratio, elastic wave velocity, porosity, density, thermal conductivity, tensile strength and hydraulic conductivity, the BIDZ size in pre-fracturing was smaller than that of conventional blasting. However, no clear reduction in the BIDZ was observed in the case of Young's modulus and uniaxial compressive strength. By applying a theoretical formula predicting the range of tensile cracks caused by blasting and comparing it with the laboratory results, the BIDZ was reasonably predicted. Nonetheless, limitations in accurately predicting BIDZ size were identified due to assumptions regarding ground conditions and charge density in the formula.