• Explosives and Blasting
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2005

The Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute is currently planning the construction of an Underground Research Tunnel to carry out research and development related to the disposal of high-level wastes from nuclear reactors used to generate electrical power. This paper discusses the excavation methods used to construct the Canadian Underground Research Laboratory and their application in planning for the construction of a similar underground laboratory and eventually an underground repository for high-level wastes in Korea.

• Explosives and Blasting
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2018

This numerical study was intended to evaluate the applicability of the half charge blasting to mining and tunnelling. The half charge blasting is a method that two separate rounds are sequentially blasted for the rock burdens in which long blast holes have already been drilled at one operation. The aim of the method is to decrease the construction cost and period in mining and tunnelling projects as well as to increase the blasting efficiency. Several numerical analyses were conducted by using the Euler-Lagrange solver on ANSYS AUTODYN to identify the effects of the suggested method on the blasting results in underground excavations. The overall performance of the suggested method was also compared to an ordinary blasting method. The analysis model was comprised of the Eulerian parts (explosive, air, and stemming materials) and the Lagrangian parts (rock material). As a result, it was found that, owing to the air decks formed in the bottom parts of the long blast holes, the first round of the suggested method presented a higher shock pressure and particle velocities in the vicinity of the blast holes compared to the ordinary blasting method.

• Explosives and Blasting
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 2005

A major concern with blasting at surface mines is generation of ground vibration, air blast, flyrock, dust & fume and their impact on nearby structures and environment. A study was conducted at a coal mine in India which produces 10 million tonne of coal and 27 million cubic meter of overburden per annum. Draglines and shovels with dumpers carry out the removal of overburden. Detonation of 100 tonnes of explosives in a blasting round is a common practice of the mine. These large sized blasts often led to complaints from the nearby inhabitants regarding ground vibrations and their affects on their houses. Eighteen dragline blasts were conducted and their impacts on nearby structures were investigated. Extended seismic arrays were used to identify the vibration characteristics within a few tens meters of the blasts and also as modified by the media at distances over 5 km. 10 to 12 seismographs were deployed in an array to gather the time histories of vibrations. A signature blast was conducted to know the fundamental frequency of the particular transmitting media between the blast face and the structures. The faster decay of high frequency components was observed. It was also observed that at distances of 5km, the persistence of vibrations in the structures was substantially increased by more 10 seconds. The proximity of the frequency of the ground vibration to the structure's fundamental frequencies produced the resonance in the structures. On the basis of the fundamental frequency of the structures, the delay interval was optimized, which resulted into lower amplitude and reduced persistence of vibration in the structures.

• Explosives and Blasting
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2006

In this study, a charging density has been differently applied to all holes to improve an excavated length per round on excavating a tunnel in quartzite mine and to prevent a dead pressure phenomena and sintering phenomena. A composition initiating system using simultaneously a direct initiating system and a indirect initiating system with 2 detonators in one hole has been introduced to cut holes. As a bottom part which is difficult to make a free face are charged with a higher charging density and a column part are charged with a lower charging density, the composition charging and initiating system which the power of explosives works effectively in the rock mass is developed. As the results, a dead pressure phenomena and a sintering phenomena being often produced in a hard rock or in a long hole could be prevented. Besides, the workability was improved by about 15% and the specific charge was reduced to about 20%, as an excavated length vs. a drilled length per round could be increased over 95%.