Comparative Numerical Study on the Weakening Effects of Microwave Irradiation and Surface Flux Heating Pretreatments in Comminution of Granite

Thermal pretreatments of rock, such as conventional heating and microwave irradiation, have received considerable attention recently a viable method improving the energy efficiency mining processes that involve rock fracturing. This study presents numerical analysis effects thermal shock on mechanical properties hard, granite-like rock. More specifically, aim is to numerically assess reduction uniaxial compressive strength thermally pretreated specimens compared intact ones. We also compare performance these two (conventional irradiation) in terms consumed induced damage. Rock fracture modelled by damage-viscoplasticity model, with separate damage variables tension compression. A global solution strategy developed for solving thermo-mechanical problem heating) electromagnetic–thermo-mechanical (microwave heating). The electromagnetic part solved COMSOL Multiphysics software Version 6.1 first. used an input problem, which finally means staggered explicit method. Due predominance external sources, parts both cases are considered uncoupled. Three-dimensional finite element simulations utilized model. An ore-shaped three-mineral specimen compression tests.