Page 542 - Rock Mechanics For Underground Mining

BLASTING MECHANICS

The domain immediately outside the shock zone is called the transition zone. In
this region, the rock behaves as a non-linear elastic solid, subject to large strain (i.e.
the small strain elastic theory developed in this text is inadequate to describe rock
behaviour in this zone). New fractures are initiated and propagated in the radially
compressive stress field, by wave interaction with the crack population. Crack de-
velopment is in the radial direction, resulting in a severely cracked annulus, called
the rose of cracks. Generation of the radial cracks extracts energy from the radial
P wave, resulting in reduction in the stress intensity. The radius, r t , of the transition
zone is about 4–6r h .
In the transition zone, the intensity of the state of stress associated with the ra-
dial wave is reduced to a level at which the rock behaves linearly elastically. The
behaviour of the rock in this domain, called the seismic zone, can be explained
adequately by elastic fracture mechanics theory. Although new cracks may be initi-
ated in this region, crack propagation occurs exclusively by extension of the longest
cracks of the transition zone, in accordance with the notions outlined in Chapter 4.
Thus, a short distance outside the transition zone, a few cracks continue to prop-
agate, at a velocity of about 0.20–0.25C p . The P wave therefore rapidly outruns
the crack tips, and propagation ceases. It appears that at a radius of about 9r h ,
macroscopic crack generation by the primary radial wave ceases. However, during
transmission of the wave towards the free face, fractures may be initiated at the
Griffith cracks. The process may be considered as one of conditioning the rock mass
for subsequent macroscopic rupture, or of an accumulation of damage in the rock
fabric.
When the radial compressive wave is reflected at a free face, a tensile wave, whose
apparent source is the mirror image of the blast hole reflected in the free face, is
generated. The relevant geometry is shown in Figure 17.4. It is possible that, in
massive rock, slabbing or spalling may occur at the free face, although there is no
convincing evidence for this. In the interior of the medium, crack extension may be
promoted by the more favourable mechanical environment of the tensile stress field,
resulting in further accumulation of damage. In a jointed rock mass, the rˆole of the
reflected tensile pulse is limited, due to joint separation, trapping the wave near the
free face.

Figure 17.4 Reflection of a cylindri-
cal wave front at a free face.

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