Plasma blasting of rocks and rocks-like materials: An analytical model
Plasma blasting technology (PBT) is a potential alternative to chemical blasting and mechanical cutting methods for fragmentation of natural rocks, concrete, geopolymers, and other rocks-like materials. We present an analytical model of PBT addressing currently inadequate understanding of the dynami...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
2022
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90054 |
| _version_ | 1848765320865513472 |
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| author | Kuznetsova, N. Zhgun, D. Golovanevskiy, Vladimir |
| author_facet | Kuznetsova, N. Zhgun, D. Golovanevskiy, Vladimir |
| author_sort | Kuznetsova, N. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Plasma blasting technology (PBT) is a potential alternative to chemical blasting and mechanical cutting methods for fragmentation of natural rocks, concrete, geopolymers, and other rocks-like materials. We present an analytical model of PBT addressing currently inadequate understanding of the dynamics of shock waves generation and propagation versus the electric energy release conditions. The proposed model describes the operation of the electrical discharge circuit, plasma channel initiation and expansion, and the generation and propagation of shock and pressure waves in the destructible solid. The dynamics of the power generator energy conversion into the plasma channel and into the wave of mechanical stresses in the solid are considered and the main factors determining the efficiency of the method, namely the pulse generator circuit parameters, exploding wire length, and shock wave-transmitting media, are evaluated. Solid fracture efficiency is shown to depend on the pressure pulse wave shape which, in turn, is determined by the rate of electrical energy deposition into the plasma channel. Increasing the exploding wire length leads to an earlier formation of the tensile tangential stresses and to their higher magnitude and thus facilitates material's fragmentation. The use of acoustically stiff media for shock wave transfer marginally improves material's fracture efficiency. Preliminary verification of the functionality of the model was carried out using commercial concretes, with good agreement between the analytically derived and experimentally obtained values. The results demonstrate that the proposed model allows to simulate PBT fracture over a wide range of instrumental and process conditions and can therefore be used for PBT process design, thus realising environmental and economic benefits through significant savings in time and experimental confirmation costs. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:33:23Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-90054 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:33:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-900542023-02-08T07:07:48Z Plasma blasting of rocks and rocks-like materials: An analytical model Kuznetsova, N. Zhgun, D. Golovanevskiy, Vladimir Science & Technology Technology Physical Sciences Engineering, Geological Mining & Mineral Processing Engineering Plasma blasting technology (PBT) Electro-fracture Shock wave dynamics Shock wave induced stresses Natural rocks Rocks-like materials ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN CONCRETE FRAGMENTATION EXPLOSION STRENGTH Plasma blasting technology (PBT) is a potential alternative to chemical blasting and mechanical cutting methods for fragmentation of natural rocks, concrete, geopolymers, and other rocks-like materials. We present an analytical model of PBT addressing currently inadequate understanding of the dynamics of shock waves generation and propagation versus the electric energy release conditions. The proposed model describes the operation of the electrical discharge circuit, plasma channel initiation and expansion, and the generation and propagation of shock and pressure waves in the destructible solid. The dynamics of the power generator energy conversion into the plasma channel and into the wave of mechanical stresses in the solid are considered and the main factors determining the efficiency of the method, namely the pulse generator circuit parameters, exploding wire length, and shock wave-transmitting media, are evaluated. Solid fracture efficiency is shown to depend on the pressure pulse wave shape which, in turn, is determined by the rate of electrical energy deposition into the plasma channel. Increasing the exploding wire length leads to an earlier formation of the tensile tangential stresses and to their higher magnitude and thus facilitates material's fragmentation. The use of acoustically stiff media for shock wave transfer marginally improves material's fracture efficiency. Preliminary verification of the functionality of the model was carried out using commercial concretes, with good agreement between the analytically derived and experimentally obtained values. The results demonstrate that the proposed model allows to simulate PBT fracture over a wide range of instrumental and process conditions and can therefore be used for PBT process design, thus realising environmental and economic benefits through significant savings in time and experimental confirmation costs. 2022 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90054 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2021.104986 English PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD restricted |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Technology Physical Sciences Engineering, Geological Mining & Mineral Processing Engineering Plasma blasting technology (PBT) Electro-fracture Shock wave dynamics Shock wave induced stresses Natural rocks Rocks-like materials ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN CONCRETE FRAGMENTATION EXPLOSION STRENGTH Kuznetsova, N. Zhgun, D. Golovanevskiy, Vladimir Plasma blasting of rocks and rocks-like materials: An analytical model |
| title | Plasma blasting of rocks and rocks-like materials: An analytical model |
| title_full | Plasma blasting of rocks and rocks-like materials: An analytical model |
| title_fullStr | Plasma blasting of rocks and rocks-like materials: An analytical model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plasma blasting of rocks and rocks-like materials: An analytical model |
| title_short | Plasma blasting of rocks and rocks-like materials: An analytical model |
| title_sort | plasma blasting of rocks and rocks-like materials: an analytical model |
| topic | Science & Technology Technology Physical Sciences Engineering, Geological Mining & Mineral Processing Engineering Plasma blasting technology (PBT) Electro-fracture Shock wave dynamics Shock wave induced stresses Natural rocks Rocks-like materials ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN CONCRETE FRAGMENTATION EXPLOSION STRENGTH |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90054 |