Adapting blasting technologies to the characteristics of rock masses in order to improve blasting results and reduce blasting vibrations

The complex interrelations between rock properties and variable technological drilling and blasting parameters is statistically analysed. The blastability of rock mass is defined by means of the acoustic impedance of the rock and the block size in situ. In addition, an equation derived from a statistical consideration facilitates an approximate determination of the specific blasting effect, S g. For this purpose the following parameters have been included in an analysis: the charge mass per borehole, the degree of filling, the heat of explosion, the density of explosive, the burden, the spacing, the length of the borehole, the specific consumption of explosives, and the acoustic impedance of the rock to be blasted. The specific blasting effect, Se, can be used as a control parameter to influence the blasting results such as the degree of fragmentation, loosening of the muckpile and tremor emission. The author suggests to relate blasting technologies to a two-dimensional splitting and to a spatial fragmentation effect. The procedure presented provides a means to influence and reduce the level of ground vibrations.