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The objective in control blasting is to reduce overbreak to control the final pit wall slope, shaft, drift, ditch, bench, etc. to the final planned excavation limit.

Jan 1, 1991

By John Heilig, Patrick Andrieux

"Near-field monitoring of blast induced seismic vibrations is a practical and useful way of assessing blast field behaviour for diagnosis and optimization purposes. It is also necessary in order to provide the information from which empirical vibration prediction equations, such as the one proposed by Holmberg (11 for example, can be derived. (Strictly speaking, the “near field” extends from the blasthole itself to about one charge length away from it; however, throughout this article, “near field”will.most often refer to the outer limit of this zone, from roughly 0.75 to 1.50 charge length away.) In order to obtain reliable data, proper field monitoring techniques are of paramount importance. Once the data are properly recorded, analysis can be done either in the time domain (describing vibration amplitude vs. time) or in the frequency domain (usually describing vibration amplitude vs. frequency)."

Jan 1, 1995

By Douglas Anderson

Even though there is always a feeling of anticipation before a blast is detonated, most blasts are part of a day’s work. Once in a while there is an event that impresses even the most jaded blaster. Few blasts have had the impact of the Kingdome implosion in March of this year. Fortunately for both the Seattle area and the explosives community, the “impact” of the implosion was far less than many local residents had feared. This outcome, of course, was not by chance, but the result of careful planning and design. An urban implosion requires a mix of engineering, logistics, and public relations. Unique challenges on this project tested the resourcefulness of the entire team.

Jan 1, 2001

By Brian W. Stump

"Seismic waves from explosions can be used to characterize physical processes in and around the source. The quantification of absolute levels of ground motion is important for minimizing impact on nearby people and structures. We contrast work in characterizing seismic radiation from contained nuclear explosions with ground motions from multiple explosion quarry blasts. A physical basedunderstanding of the explosion source function allows prediction and extrapolation to new environments where experimental data may not exist."

Jan 1, 1990

By Robert Boehnke, Bernd Mueller

This contribution presents an innovative, statistically supported method to predict blast vibrations in rock mass. For modelling the processes during and after detonation, a theory is employed which is based on linear momentum (so-called momentum theory), strongly supported by new measurement methods. During the course of the investigations, the following parameters have been found to dominantly influence vibrations: ! charge WB, includes geometrical factors such as borehole length and diameter (kg) ! detonation velocity cd of the explosives used (m/s) ! distance r between the points of emission and immission (m) and the statistically determined negative exponent n ! factor RM or RS of the rock mass which is related to the specific blast momentum and the drilling and blasting technique used and is statistically determined together with the exponent m (mm/kg or mms/kgm)

Jan 1, 2004

By Jeffery L. Dean

Founded in 1974, the ISEE has grown to more than 3600 members representing 72 countries. The Society and its 35 chapters in the US, Canada and Australia promote research and education, provide forums for the exchange of explosives technology, serve as a repository of explosives information, provide expert help to governments, conduct certificate/training programs, and promote the teaching of the safe and controlled use of explosives.

Jan 1, 1997

By Barend Botha, Trevor Davids

The presence of an extensive soft siltstone layer in the middle of the inter-burden sequence of rocks at Syferfontein Colliery in the Republic of South Africa prompted tests to determine the effect of different mid-column decks of inert material in the siltstone layer. The objective was to achieve significant cost savings in explosives use whilst not degrading dragline productivity. An important factor that had to be considered was that the initiation systems available in South Africa are not accurate enough to ensure simultaneous initiation of explosives decks in a blasthole. A number of inert materials were tested including ash, drill cuttings, river sand and crushed stone. It was found that the ash, drill cuttings and river sand did not effectively attenuate the shock wave and that the risks of sympathetic detonation or partial disruption of one or the other explosives deck in a blasthole was high. This became much worse when the inert material was saturated with water. Crushed rock was the most effective in attenuating the shock wave, but this material was very expensive to use because it had to be imported onto the mine.

Jan 1, 2000

By Mark A. Williams, James D. Humphrey

Without question, draglines are one if not the most effective tools available to the surface mining industry for overburden handling. With few moving parts and a two- or threeman crew, this machine silently sits and chews into millions of yards of overburden annually. A 100 cubic yard machine operating for 30 years will excavate three-quarters of a billion yards of material during that time. That is 750,000,OOO yards of material!

Jan 1, 1990

By Wang Hong Qu

This paper observes the shape of throw explosion crater its ejecta locus of internal medium and the process of distance along with slope's angle developing. It was discovered that initial velocity is inversely proportional to slope's angle. The velocity of surface distribution at the lower half crater of explosion is larger than at upper one. It carries the relevant calculated formula and physical process of explosion crater forming under the inclined boundary conditions, and some important law. It proved that the gravity influence is very distinct for the blast action in the little resistance line.

Jan 1, 1991

By Robert Hopler

In issuing this pamphlet on stump and boulder blasting for the use of farmers, we wish to call attention to the fact that Du Pont High Explosives have been used with universal satisfaction for many years under diverse conditions, and have never failed to give satisfaction in mining, quarrying, roadmaking, blasting stumps and boulders, or for any other work where regard to economy and safety in use is the object.

Jan 1, 2008

By Michael S. Wieland

Charge malfunction problems result from rather universal damage mechanisms and are widespread throughout surface and underground delay blasting. Recent refinements in instrumentation technology reveal a range of charge performance difficulties, not just outright misfires. This report focuses on the U.S. Bureau of Mines research regarding desensitization and malfunction of delay detonators and cap-sensitive explosives, utilized in underground coal mining. Delay blasting generates tremendous shock waves and rifting forces that fracture and heave the surrounding stratum. The shock waves from charge explosions propagate outward in all directions through the coal, impacting neighboring charges with later delays. The impact phenomena have debilitating effects, causing degrees of reduced charge performance ranging from misfires or weak detonations to out-ofsequence detonations. Impaired charges react poorly. fracture less coal, and produce fumes with higher toxicity. Coal-mine, underwater, and simulator tests were conducted to m3re thoroughly understand the shock-wave and rift-compression damage mechanisms. Recently the U.S. Bureau of Mines partially resolved the malfunction problem by demonstrating the feasibility of formulating a rugged explosive, which could pass the requisite tests for certifying an underground coal-mine explosive. The charge formulation was not certified only because it lost initiation sensitivity too quickly from natural aging and had to be rebatched to finish the testing.

Jan 1, 1994

By Robert Morgan

The mind-set that only blasters and their helpers need training in explosives can result in risk to other employees working at mine or construction sites where blasting is conducted. Misfires are not always immediately obvious during postblast examinations performed by the certified blaster in charge; the presence of undetonated explosives may not appear until well within the muckpile as was the case in the photo, right. To avoid accidents involving misfires, follow safety procedures specified in mine safety regulations, and the ISEE Blaster’s Handbook that include the following:

Jan 1, 2004

By David Sprott, Patrick Andrieux

In 1990 the Noranda Technology Centre commenced a project to develop an interactive three-dimensional blast design system using a commercial computer-aided drafting and design package (CADD). The objective was to alleviate the blast engineer from the tedious and time consuming blast layout and design functions normally done by hand. This would allow more time for optimizing blast designs through assessing multiple options. Since several blast design software "tools" already existed at Noranda, the need arose to integrate all the applications into one overall system that shared one common database. The result is BLASTCAD.

Jan 1, 1991

By P D. Katsabanis

According to Persson(1) steady state detonation along a cylindrical charge can be regarded as a self propagating process in which the axial compressive effect of the shock front discontinuity changes the state of the explosive so that exothermic reaction sets in with the requisite velocity.

Jan 1, 1989

By O E. Jr Crenwelge

Frequency domain, single-charge vibration signatures are used to interpret the characteristics of explosive impulse excitation and ground vibration transmission. The effects of charge height, charge splitting, and different blasting agents are first discussed. Then the effects of rate of change with distance of overburden material properties and layer or surface geometries are illustrated.

Jan 1, 1988

By MacDonald B. Johnson, Douglass P. Bacon

"W ith the advance of science, rise of public interest in environmental matters, and continuing erosion of air quality, federal and state regulators are demanding an increasing complex array of data concerning emissions produced by burning and detonating energetic materials. The U.S. Department of Defense, one of the world’s largest consumers of energetic materials, now must characterize combustion products resulting from open burning/open detonation disposal operations. The catch-all phrase “below detection limits” no longer satisfies the regulators who nowwant testing to delve into the ppt level for volatile organic compounds and ppt level for semivolatile organic compounds."

Jan 1, 1995

The common approach of designing blasts on a trial and error basis is quickly coming to an end. When utilizing the full scale blast environment, trial and error can quickly become cost prohibitive and leaves much to be desired in terms of true blast diagnostics. In these situations testing is usually only continued until a perceived improvement is achieved and when the gross undesirables in blast results are removed. This does not preclude, however, that further improvements of up to 100% or more can not be obtained.

Jan 1, 1994

By Roland Oliver

Detonators or blasting caps are made in several different grades of strength, because some powders require not only a greater, but a different initial detonation than others to convey their maximum energy through a whole charge, and the detonating qualities of each powder vary with changes in its physical condition––whether it be warm or cold, rigid, plastic, homogenous or otherwise.

Jan 1, 2007

By William C. Geitz

"Lightning has always posed a serious threat to blasting operations, especially wkhin the mining and construction industries and operations involving the manufacture, transport, storage and handling of explosives. In recent years, technological advancements in communications systems and microprocessors have significantiy improved the accuracy and efflliency of lightning detection and warning instrumentation. These advancements have increased the availabilii of highly reliable,accurate and affordable systems for use within the explosives arena."

Jan 1, 1991

By Michael D. McGill, Jeff Freadrich

There are many factors which affect the productivity of a front end loader. One of the most obvious is the characteristics of the material being mined. Characteristics such as size distribution, swell factor or heave, and material hardness / abrasiveness will all effect the efficiency of the mucking cycle. The focus of this paper is to look specifically at the size distribution of blasted material, and quantify the effects on loader productivity.

Jan 1, 1994