Predicting Fragmentation

Dr. B. C. Paul 2000

Note This series of slides portrays the authors summary of knowledge commonly
held by people well studied in the field. As indicated in the slides the original
contributions to the state of knowledge by Kuznetsov, Cunningham, and Calvin
Konya are noted and recognized. Some of the formuli contained here in have been
adapted for English units by the author from original formuli from the recognized
contributors.

Fragmentation Prediction
Screening Every Shot to Get Data is very
Difficult
Need to Get a Mathematical Model that
Approximately Fits
Like Bell Curve for test distributions

Formula Used is Rossin Ramler

Schuman Plot Fits Crusher Distributions well
but not Blast Fragments

Rossin Ramler Distribution

R = 100 * e ^ { ( x/ xc ) ^ n }
Where
R is the percent retained on a screen of size x openings
xc is the characteristic size for the distribution (it is a
parameter similar to the mean in a normal distribution)
n is the uniformity - high values indicate a narrow spread
is size while low values indicate large spread (it is a
parameter like variance in the normal distribution)

Called a Two Parameter Distribution

Limitations in Fitting
Mathematical Distributions
Remember that blast fragmentation
distribution are product of three different
families formed by three different mechanisms
Usually design to limit boulder zone
Crush zone tends to be naturally small

Unbounded distribution - tell you that there is

a certain percentage of blast fragments from
your quarry the size of the moon
Take the outer about 5 or maybe 2% with a grain of salt

Developed a Series of Empirical

Equations for Predicting xc n
Use a more common blasters parameter called
d50
d50 means the size where 50% passes
d50 more popular in Europe
US traditionally likes d80 (80% passing size)

Mathematical relationship between d50 and xc

xc = d50 / {0.693 ^ ( 1/n ) }

Empirical Equations
Developed from Work of a Russian Scientists
Kuznetsov in late 60s
Equation with modifications
d50 = Rf * [ ( 1.25 * PF ) -0.8 ] *
[ (Ch / 2.2) (1/6) ] * [ (115 / E ) (19/30) ] / 2.54
Equation shown is adapted to U.S. units

PF is Powder Factor in lbs/ton

Ch is the Charge per hole in lbs

Kuznetsovs Equation
E is the relative weight strength
parameter for explosives from manufacture
Usually developed from a Bubble Test
Fire Underwater and see how big the splash is

Original work was based on E = 100 for TNT

(The Russians had a lot of military surplus they
used in their mines)
Adapted to U.S. Practice with ANFO = 100

Kuznetsovs Equation Continued

Rf is the Fudge Factor Rock Factor
Soft Rocks 6 - 7
Medium Rocks (such as Quarry Limestone) 9
Hard Igneous Rocks 12 - 14

Most rocks will be 7 to 13 (Kuznetsov

worked with some very extreme appetite
ores)

Modern Adaptations of
Kuznetsovs Equations
Late 1980s Dr. Paul adapted to describe
crater shot data
Values in 6 to 7 range typical for medium rocks
5.5 for soft
harder than 9 or 10 rare

Crater Shots Tend to Produce finer

characteristics for same powder factor
down size is loss of uniformity

Mid 1980s Cunningham

developed an equation for n
Cunningham was a South African
Named his integrated Message Kuz-Ram
n = ( 2.2 - 0.168 * B / D e ) * [ 1 - W / B ] * [ 1 + (A
-1) /2] * (PC - J) / L

B is Burden in feet
De is hole diameter in inches
A is the spacing to burden ratio
PC is the length of the powder column
J is the subgrade
L is the bench height

Notes on the Cunningham

Equation
W is the drill hole deviation

bottom of hole deviates from the perfect pattern

generally know what % deviation for a given drilling distance

A is the Spacing to Burden Ratio

Reaches optimum value at 2

As shown with Konya method 2 is optimum

only for limited conditions where formula was
developed
Suggest [ 1 + (A - 1)/2 ] be set equal to 1.5 if Konyas method
was used

Applying the Equations

Get d50 from the Kuznetsov Equation
Get n from Cunninghams Equation
Use the Mathematical Relationship to get x c
from d50 and n
Put Parameters in Rossin Ramler Distribution
Check key sizes with the so called Kuz-Ram
method