A comprehensive investigation was carried out to minimize the cost price of the rock fragmentation process including: drilling, blasting, secondary blasting and separating the large boulders (oversize rocks) while loading, until the optimized fragmentation, powder factor and ratio of burden (B) to blasthole diameter (?h) were achieved by doing several stages of drilling and blasting practically...

Most empirical and numerical approaches to design in rock mechanics incorporate rock mass classification. Numerical design methods generally use classification values to calculate input parameters for stress-based failure criteria. Empirical methods use classification to allow comparisons between similar rock mass conditions, generally based on a graphical design technique that differentiates s...

This paper deals with the statistical analysis of the uniaxial compressive strength and of the elastic modulus of jointed rock masses under different confining pressures. Properties of the rock masses with different joint fabric, with and without gouge have been considered in the analysis. A large amount of experimental data of jointed rock masses from the literature has been compiled and used ...

The explosion process of explosives in a borehole applies a very high pressure on its surrounding rock media. This process can initiate and propagate rock fractures, and finally, may result in the rock fragmentation. Rock fragmentation is mainly caused by the propagation of inherent pre-existing fractures of the rock mass and also from the extension of the newly formed cracks within the intact ...

This research work presents a case study of rock mass characterization on diversion tunnels at Diamer Basha Dam, Pakistan. Geological and geotechnical studies were performed to characterize the rock mass along the axis of diversion tunnel. The core specimens retrieved were tested in laboratory and physical and mechanical properties of the rock mass were determined. Detailed discontinuity survey...