Interaction of Stress Waves From a Pair of Charge Holes in PMMA

Abstract

Fracture control in blasting is very important in underground excavation and demolition of concrete structures. It is valuable to obtain an understanding of the dynamic behavior of stress waves in the blasting process for the development of fracture control method. Experimental visualizations and numerical simulations were performed to observe the propagation and interaction of stress waves between two charge holes in blasting. These are related with control of fracture planes along the line connecting the charge holes in smooth blasting. In model experiments using PMMA plates, the stress waves were generated by initiation of electric detonators at the charge holes and were observed by means of the visualization system. The dynamic behavior of stress waves in the blasting process was also visualized by numerical simulation using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method. The dynamic behavior of stress waves is discussed by means of the experimental results and the simulation results.