Abstract
The Non-explosive expansion material (NEEM) is a method more environmentally friendly than the harmful conventional rock fracturing techniques. However, it is slower and very costly. Thus, any means of economizing their use is very desirable. This paper investigates the crack growth between two neighboring holes of a gneiss rock internally pressurized by NEEM mixed with water with the aim to evaluate the influence of holes spacing (center-to-center distance), on the initiation and growth of cracks. Field experimental results reveal that crack starts earlier and grows faster with increasing ambient temperature. But when the ambient temperature is above 28°C, the NEEM is “blown out” of the holes. At these ambient temperatures, the surrounding rocks are hot and cannot dissipate efficiently the heat generated by the hydration reaction. The best filling time was found to be in the evening when the daily hot temperature has drooped. The time to first crack increases as hole diameter decreases. The 3D numerical modeling and simulation of crack growth between two neighboring holes internally pressurized by NEEM using ABAQUS (XFEM/CZM) software shows a good agreement with the theoretical and experimental results.
Highlights
Rock fracturing process is one of the most important operations in quarry mining
This paper investigates the crack growth between two neighboring holes of a gneiss rock internally pressurized by Non-explosive expansion material (NEEM) mixed with water with the aim to evaluate the influence of holes spacing, on the initiation and growth of cracks
The manufacturer recommended that the expansive cement could be used at temperatures of 25 ̊C to 40 ̊C, the NEEM was “blowout” of the holes filled at midday
Summary
Blasting is the most common method of rock splitting [1] This method, that uses explosive energy to fragment rocks, generates shock waves and gas energy. These cause vibrations, rocks blocks projections, loud noise and huge dust. Been considered to be the most economically viable rock fragmentation method [2], blasting tends to be quite harmful to the environment and the surrounding communities. Due to these environmental and social threats, new methods of rock splitting have been developed
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