Destress Blasting of Rock Mass: Multiscale Modelling and Simulation

Abstract

In this paper, a multiscale modelling and simulation of destress blasting of rock mass is presented. The proposed and novel approach combines two separate 3D solutions: the first was obtained for the small-scale problem, face(s) blasting process, and the second for the global scale problem, seismic wave propagation within very large volumes of surrounding rock mass. Both the approaches were based on explicit dynamic modelling methodology using the central difference method. In the local case, the arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) procedure with the Jones–Wilkins–Lee (JWL) equation defining an explosive material was used. For this purpose, a selected volume of a rock mass comprising a blasted mining face was modelled in detail. From the numerical simulation, pressure distribution over the modelled rock was obtained, which was the basis for an initial condition for the global 3D FE model. The peak particle velocity (ppv) distribution obtained from finite element analysis was compared with experimental outcomes. A reasonable agreement between both results was achieved; therefore, the adopted multiscale modelling approach confirmed its effectiveness and that it can be successfully implemented in further engineering practice.