Analysis of the Cavity Formation Mechanism of Wedge Cut Blasting in Hard Rock

Abstract

The basic process of cut blasting is to break rock, throw fragments, and form a cavity. Based on the characteristics of cut blasting and the combined effect of stress waves and detonation gas, the evolution process of wedge cut blasting is divided into two stages, and a theoretical model is proposed to investigate the cavity formation mechanism by theoretical analysis and field tests. In phase one, rock breaking is caused by stress waves. By considering the dynamic strength of the rock, a computational model is built for the rock failure zone derived from the coupled cylindrical charge explosion. In phase two, the driving force of the detonation gas overcomes the total resistance of the surrounding rock mass, accelerates fragments, and then throws fragments to form a cavity. The criterion of cavity formation is established on the basis of the quasi‐static loading of the detonation gas. The theoretical model provides an overall interpretation of the cavity formation mechanism, in which stress waves break rock and detonation gas throws fragments. A specific case indicates that the range of the failure zone is approximately 18 times the borehole radius in granite and that the hole‐bottom spacing of the wedge cut can be designed as 50 cm; in addition, detonation gas is sufficient to overcome the total resistance, accelerate rock fragments, throw fragments, and form a cavity. Field tests present favourable blasting results, with a high utilization rate of boreholes and uniform fragment sizes. Therefore, the model could provide theoretical support and technical guidance for wedge cut blasting in hard rock.