Blasting Sequence Design for Tunnel Excavation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual design of blasting sequences for underground tunnel excavation is inefficient and prone to failures due to inadequate consideration of rock material expansion and explosive distribution, leading to blocked blasts and laborious re-drilling processes.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus using data processing devices to design a blasting sequence that accounts for rock material swelling by determining burst volumes and free volumes, ensuring sufficient space for expansion, and optimizing drill hole selection based on burst angles and explosive distribution to prevent blockages and enhance blast quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual design of blasting sequence is used, then flexibility in planning is maintained, but blasting quality deteriorates due to inadequate consideration of rock material expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical design processes with an automated computer-based system that calculates blasting sequences. The system uses computational algorithms to determine optimal drill hole selection and charge distribution, substituting human manual planning with automated digital design that incorporates rock expansion physics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computer-based calculation system as an intermediary between the planner and the actual blasting design. This intermediary automatically computes the blasting sequence by considering rock material swelling, free volume requirements, and charge distribution, mediating between operational flexibility needs and reliable blast quality requirements.
2Device complexity
If inadequate free volume is provided for rock expansion, then blasting sequence complexity is reduced, but blasting reliability deteriorates due to blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating the required free volume for rock material expansion before the actual blasting occurs. The system determines the appropriate free volume and arranges drill holes and charges in advance to ensure sufficient expansion space is available, preventing blockages before they can occur during the blast.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the calculated free volume requirements to adjust and optimize the blasting sequence design. The system continuously references the determined free volume constraints when selecting drill holes and distributing charges, ensuring that each element of the blasting sequence is coordinated to maintain adequate expansion space throughout the blast process.
3Loss of time
If improper drill hole selection is made, then design time is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to blocked blasts requiring re-drilling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual drill hole selection with an automated computer-based selection system. The algorithm automatically evaluates and selects optimal drill holes based on pre-calculated free volume requirements and charge distribution principles, eliminating time-consuming manual selection while ensuring proper hole placement for unblocked blasts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the blasting design system to select drill holes autonomously without human intervention. The computer-based system uses embedded algorithms to automatically identify suitable drill holes, determine charge quantities, and arrange the blasting sequence, allowing the design process to serve itself and eliminate the need for manual review and adjustment.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If insufficient charge distribution is provided, then safety is improved by reducing vibrations, but blasting effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by distributing charges non-uniformly across different drill holes and time delays. The system assigns different charge quantities to different locations based on local requirements for rock fragmentation and free volume utilization, ensuring adequate blasting effectiveness in each zone while controlling overall vibration levels through localized charge optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the total charge into multiple smaller charges distributed across different drill holes and time delays. By dividing the blasting into sequential segments with controlled charge amounts, the system reduces peak vibration levels while maintaining cumulative blasting effectiveness through proper timing and spatial distribution of the segmented charges.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for designing a blasting sequence for a drilling pattern of a round. The apparatus (11) is configured to assist selecting one or more drill holes (3) for each time delay of the blast. The apparatus calculates burst volume (VB) for the selected drill hole set (34) and ensures that previously blasted free volume (VF) can receive it when being fired. The apparatus may also take into account burst angles burst distances and ground vibrations when suggesting the drill hole sets.