Daniel Johansson

Fragmentation in small-scale confined blasting

Design of sub-level blasting rounds and optimisation has become more important now when the sizes of the blasting rings get larger. Sufficient fragmentation is one of the key factors, and in confined blasting as in sub-level caving, this influences the mobilisation of the blasted ring. Model scale tests have been made to understand the mechanisms of rock breakage and therefore fragmentation under relatively confined conditions. By using the acoustic impedance between the blasted material and the confining debris, a relationship for fragmentation has been found depending on material, specific charge (powder factor) and physical properties of the debris. The results can be comparable with confined blasting in large scale.

Dynamic blast compaction of some granular materials: small-scale tests and numerical modelling of a mining-related problem

Sub-Level Caving (SLC) is an important mass mining method, involving blasting of ore against granular material in the form of caving debris. The debris compaction due to blasting influences the caving process. Blasting tests were made on cylinders of magnetic mortar placed inside plastic cylinders and confined by packed granular material. By introducing the acoustic impedance between the mortar and the confining granular material, the compaction is found to depend on material, specific charge and physical properties of the debris with statistical analysis. The tests have shown to be a good input for numerical modelling of blast compaction.

Compaction of Confining Materials in Pillar Blast Tests

Two confined pillar tests were conducted at the Kiirunavaara mine to investigate the degree of compaction of three materials, i.e., 0–32-mm backfilled material, a blend of ore and waste material and caved material. Two blastholes were drilled parallel to each pillar wall, and several measurement holes were drilled in between the blastholes through each pillar. Both the measurement holes and backfilled materials, except the caved material, were instrumented. Two types of measurements were taken: dynamic measurements with accelerometers, and static measurements which considered the location of the instrumentation pre- and post-blast. Dynamic measurements involved the burden movement and the confining material behavior, and static measurements contained the final location of sensors inside and the angle of repose of the confining material. The results showed that the size distribution of the confining material affects its behavior under dynamic loading. The backfilled materials showed an apparent cohesion forming an agglomeration on the surface of the blasted burden. The burden moved as one slab due to simultaneous detonation. A gap was formed between the blasted burden and the new face. This gap was partially filled with burden erosion material which was finer fragmented than the blasted burden material.