• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.421-432
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• 2020

Cutting of rocks is very common encountered in tunneling and mining during underground excavations. A deep understanding of rock-tool interaction can promote industrial applications significantly. In this paper, a distinct element method based approach, PFC^3D, is adopted to simulate the rock cutting under different operation conditions (cutting velocity, depth of cut and rake angle) and with various tool geometries (tip angle, tip wear and tip shape). Simulation results showed that the cutting force and accumulated number of cracks increase with increasing cutting velocity, cut depth, tip angle and pick abrasion. The number of cracks and cutting force decrease with increasing negative rake angle and increase with increasing positive rake angle. The numerical approach can offer a better insight into the rock-tool interaction during the rock cutting process. The proposed numerical method can be used to assess the rock cuttability, to estimate the cutting performance, and to design the cutter head.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.533-551
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• 2015

The rock fracturing during waterjet cutting is very complicated because rock is inhomogeneous and anisotropic, compared with artificial materials (e.g., metal or glass). Thus, it is very important to verify the effects of rock properties on waterjet rock cutting performance. Properties affecting the rock cutting efficiency have been variously described in the literature, depending on the experimental conditions (e.g., water pressure, abrasive feed rate, or standoff distance) and rock-types studied. In this study, a rock-property-related literature review was performed to determine the key properties important for waterjet rock cutting. Porosity, uniaxial compressive strength, and hardness of the rock were determined to be the key properties affecting waterjet rock cutting. The results of this analysis can provide the basic knowledge to determine the cutting efficiency of waterjet rock cutting technology for rock excavation-related construction.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.249-263
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• 2022

The specially-shaped Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC) cutter is widely used in drill bit design due to its advantages of high rock cutting efficiency, strong impact resistance and long service life in hard and abrasive formation drilling. A detailed understanding of rock cutting behavior of worn specially-shaped PDC cutter is essential to improve the drilling efficiency and decrease the drilling costs. In this paper, the theoretical models of two new principles (loading performance (LP) and cutting performance (CP)) are derived for evaluating the cutting process of worn specially-shaped cutter, the theoretical models consider the factors, such as cutter geometry, aggressiveness, stress state, working life, and rock cutting efficiency. Besides, the numerical model of heterogeneous granite is developed using finite element method combined with Voronoi tessellation, the LP and CP of 12 kinds of worn specially-shaped PDC (SPDC) cutters are analyzed. The results found that the mechanical specific energy (MSE) of worn cutters first increase and then decrease with increasing the cutting depth, and the MSE increase with the increase of back rake angle except for Conical cutter and Wedge-shaped cutter. From the perspective of CP, the worn PDC cutters are more suitable for the smaller cutting depths, and the back rake angle has little effect on the CP of the specially-shaped worn PDC cutters. Conical cutter, Saddle-shaped cutter and Ellipse-shaped cutter have the highest CP value, while Rhombus-shaped cutter, Convex cutter and Wedge-shaped cutter have the lowest value in selecting cutters. This research leads to an enhanced understanding of rock-breaking mechanisms of worn SPDC cutters, and provides the basis to select of specially-shaped PDC cutters for the specific target formation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.1069-1077
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• 2015

In tunnel excavation using blast, the wire saw rock cutting method generates a discontinuity perimeter around the center cut, and thus prevents blast vibration propagation to reduce vibration and noise. Therefore, the method is expected to be easy to use and economical compared with other methods. In this paper, the cutting mechanism of wire saw in tunnel excavation is investigated. A model describing the changes in cutting depth and wire saw shape inside a rock during cutting is established and validated for this purpose. Through a simulation using the model, the important characteristics of wire saw cut are investigated, and the influences of cutting conditions, such as wire saw tension, wire saw speed, feed speed, depth, and diameter of boring, on cutting performance are also examined. A method to improve the cutting performance is proposed based on the results.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.09a
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• pp.1338-1345
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• 2009

Although rock excavation is necessary for the effective utilization of urban space, most conventional rock excavation methods, including the blasting method, cause high noise and vibration. Meanwhile, if a high pressure waterjet system is applied to excavate underground spaces in urban areas, the public grievance can be reduced by low noise and vibration. In this study, an abrasive waterjet system is designed and developed to study the influence of various performance parameters such as jet pressure, nozzle traverse speed, stand-off distance, or abrasive feed rate on waterjet excavation performance in laboratory. Using the developed waterjet system, rock drilling characteristics are identified by measuring drilling depths as a function of the jet exposure time. The drilling depth linearly increases with increasing the jet exposure time(under 60sec). Rock cutting characteristics are also obtained with various jet pressures(1600~3200kg/$cm^2$) and nozzle traverse speeds(1.9~14.1mm/s): The cutting depth is nonlinearly related to the jet pressure and traverse speed. Indeed, the cutting depth increases with an increase in the jet pressure and a decrease in the nozzle traverse speed. This trend can be explained by energy transferring/loss mechanism.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.508-517
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• 2011

The linear cutting test is the most reliable and accurate approach to measuring cutting forces and cutting efficiency using full-size disc cutter in various rock types. The result of linear cutting tests can be used to obtain the key parameters of cutter-head design (i.e. optimum cutter spacing, cutter forces). In Korea, LCM (Linear Cutting Machine) tests have been performed for typical Korean rock types, but these studies focused on the isotropic rocktypes. For prediction of TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) performances in complex geological conditions including a bedded and schistose rockmass, it is important to consider the effects of anisotropy of rockmass on cutting performances and cutting efficiency. This study discusses a series of LCM tests that were performed for Asan Gneiss having two types of anisotropy angles to assess the effect of the anisotropy angle on rock-cutting performances of TBM. The result shows that the rock-cutting performances and optimum cutting conditions are affected by anisotropy angle and the effect of anisotropy on rock strength should be considered in a prediction of the cutting performances and efficiency of TBM.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.413-420
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• 2003

Modelling for performance prediction of mechanical excavation is discussed in this paper. Two of the most successful performance prediction models, namely theoretical based CSM model and empirical based NTH model, are discussed and compared. The basic principles of rock cutting with disc cutters, especially Constant Cross Section cutters, are discussed and a theoretical model developed is introduced to provide an estimate of disc cutting forces as a function of rock properties and the cutting geometry. General modelling logic for the performance prediction of mechanical excavation is introduced. CSM computer model developed and currently used at the Earth Mechanics Institute(EMI) of the Colorado School of Mines is discussed. Example of input and output of this model is illustrated for the typical operation by Tunnel Boring Machine(TBM).

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.763-778
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• 2019

Abrasive waterjet cutting technology has been used for rock excavation of tunnels and underground structures due to various advantages. In order to cut rocks by using the abrasive waterjet system, abrasive is essential to enhance impact energies for fracturing the target rock. Since garnet abrasives are not produced in Korea, alternative abrasives, instead of garnets, are needed to achieve the economical waterjet cutting. This study is to analyze cutting performance for rocks with sandy particles as alternative abrasive. Cutting tests were carried out on granite specimens at the constant waterjet energy (e.g., water pressure or water flow rate). The five kinds of sands, sampled by construction fields and natural sites, were prepared to perform the experimental tests. When sea sand was used as an alternative abrasive, cutting performance was secured to be 60~70% compared to the commercial garnet abrasive. Thus, it is expected that sand abrasives can be applied on the waterjet cutting process for the economical excavation construction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Rock Mechanics Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.217-236
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• 2006

In this study, the LCM was applied as the preliminary study for the cutterhead design of TBM and the drilling performance evaluation. The optimum cutting condition is obtained from the LCM tests and the effects of the design factors of IBM cutterhead, such as penetration depth and cutter spacing, on drilling performance are estimated. In this study, hence, to predict the accurate performance of TBM, instead of one-dimensional penetration depth applied in existing studies, three-dimensional cutting volume was quantified and measured. For this, the digital photogrammetry technique was applied to the LCM tests. Also, AUTODYN 2D was applied to investigate the applicability of the numerical analysis technique to simulate the cutting process of rock by the TBM disc cutter.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.359-368
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• 2022

Undercutting using an actuated disc cutter (ADC) involves more complex cutting mechanism than traditional rock cutting does, requiring the application of various new cutting parameters, such as eccentricity, cutter inclination angle, and axis rotational speed. This study presents cutting-edge laboratory-scale testing equipment that allows performing ADC tests. ADC tests were carried out on a concrete block with a specified strength of 20 MPa, using a variety of cutting settings that included penetration depth (p), eccentricity (e), and linear velocity (v). ADC, unlike pick and disc cutting, has a non-linear cutting path with a dynamic cutting direction, requiring the development of a new method for predicting cutting force and specific energy. The influence of cutting parameters to the cutter forces were discussed. The ratio of eccentricity to the penetration depth (e/p) was proposed to evaluate the optimal cutting condition. Specific energy varies with e/p ratio, and exhibits optimum values in particular cases. In general, actuated undercutting may potentially give a more efficient cutting than conventional pick and disc cutting by demonstrating reasonably lower specific energy in a comparable cutting environment.