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ABSTRACT
Evaluation of fragmentation is an indispensable step in the optimisation of blasting. The various techniques for analysing blast fragmentation have their inherent issues causing various degrees of accuracy. Hence, each method is suitable for some specific purposes. This study evaluates and compares the particle size distribution of FYS granite aggregate quarry using WipFrag digital image processing software and the Kuz-Ram empirical model. Three different blasts of the quarry performed with the same design were analysed using the two methods. Blast design parameters were obtained and evaluated as inputs for the Kuz-Ram model. Muckpile images were captured and uploaded into computer for WipFrag analysis. The results of the fragment size distribution obtained from Kuz-Ram significantly vary with that of the WipFrag but follow the same trend. The three results from WipFrag are in a very close range. The uniformity index of Kuz-Ram was 1.26 while the WipFrag analyses put the same as 1.11, 1.16 and 1.12 for the three blasts, respectively. The Kuz-Ram model only gives idealistic results due to the variation in the structural characteristics of the rocks. However, the model is good for preliminary evaluation of blast design. A new factor was introduced as an indicator of blast fragmentation efficiency.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) through the grant no. 8014043. The authors are grateful to the management and staff of FYS Marketing SDN BHD for giving us access to their quarry.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.