THEORY OF BLASTING Blasting theory is one of the most controversial topics in the rock excavation.

No single theory has been developed

accepted that fully explains the mechanism of rock breakage in every situation. Some of the findings are discussed below. Nature of Detonation

The self-sustained shock wave produced by a chemical reaction was described by Chapman and Jouquet as a space.

This space of negligible thickness is bounded by two infinite planes on one side of the wave is the unreacted explosive and on the other, the exploded gases as shown in the diagram below.
Direction of motion of detonation C-J plane X Y Shock wave

Decomposition products expanding outwards from a high pressure zone

A negligible thickness of the reaction zone

Undisturbed explosive

Detonation process of an explosive cartridge

There are three distinct zones: a. b. the undisturbed medium ahead of the shock wave a rapid pressure at Y leading to a zone in which chemical reaction is generated by the shock, and complete at X c. a steady state wave where pressure and temperature are maintained. This condition of stability condition for stability exists at hypothetical X, which is commonly referred to the ChapmanJouquet (C-J) plane. Between the two planes X and Y there is conservation of mass, momentum and energy. A simplified and approximate velocity of detonation (VOD) can be obtained from the following empirical relation: Cd = v J (1 + 1.3) Where Cd = VOD in m/s J = heat of reaction in MJ/kg
Undisturbed explosive

= specific gravity of the explosive

2

The detonation pressure (Pd in N/m2 that exists at the C-J plane can be estimated with comparable accuracy by using:

Pd =

? Cd 4

The detonation of explosives in cylindrical columns and in unconfined conditions leads to lateral expansion between the shock and C-J planes resulting in a shorter reaction zone and loss of energy. Thus it is common to encounter a much lower VOD in unconfined situations than in confined ones. Detonation and Interaction with rock On detonation of an explosive charge, the rock immediately surrounding the blasthole is crushed, owing to explosion pressure.

The outgoing shock wave, after passing through the crushed zone, travels at between 3000 m/s to 5000 m/s and sets up tangential stresses that produce radial cracks. The pressure produced by the expanding shock wave from the blast source is compressive. When the shock wave reaches a free face, it will then reflect back toward the blasthole at a lower pressure but in the form of a tension wave through the rock. This is how the rock is broken in rock blasting.

Cratering Theory In a series of experiments it was discovered that a spherical charge broke a much greater volume of rock than a cylindrical charge of the same mass. A spherical charge is defined as a charged that has a ratio of charge diameter to charge length less than 1/6.

If a sufficient number of tests are carried out involving detonation of a fixed amount of charge at various depths in the rock, then the strain energy factor can be calculated from the following empirical equation:

E=

B Q1 / 3
E B Q = = = strain energy factor, which is a constant for a given combination of explosives Critical distance in metres (the depth where a full crater forms, that is, a conical cavity whose sides meet the horizontal surface at 450), in metres. Charge weight, kg

where

It follows that when an explosive charge of constant mass and shape is placed at different distances from a flat free face and detonated, the amount of rock blasted is related to the depth of burial of the charge.