Electrohydraulic Rock Blasting: An Alternative for Mining in Urban Areas

Abstract

Conventional rock blasting causes many negative environmental impacts including ground vibration. flyrock. air blast. and the emission of noise. dust and gases. An unconventional alternative process is the application of eletrohydiaulic principles Electrohydiaulic blasting is able to create a fracturing and rupture states in the rock. almost instantly. The energy is produced by a high current impulse generator, without the above environmental impacts caused by conventional explosives. It is particularly suited for application in urban areas mining. The paper describes theoretical analysis. considerations of the geomechanical criteria of rock failure, laboratory experiments, and analysis of the electrical parameters of impulse generators related to rock fragmentation. The laboratory experiments included geomechanical and eletrohydraulic tests on limestone samples of vary to 50 kg. The test results show satisfactory efficiency, energy losses and technological viability.