LTU Composite formula

a comparison of
accuracy with two other
fragmentation formulas

Agne Rustan
Lule University of Technology (LTU)
SIPERVOR 10, 35 DEC 2009
Lima, PERU
 Objective
Develop a method to determine the
accuracy of formulas for the
calculation of mean fragment size k50
Determine the accarucy of three
fragmentation formulas. The goal is
to find a formula with accuracy in
calculating k50 within 15%
 Research strategy
1. Find bas modules from model tests
and build a composite formula from
the modules with the purpose to
calculate the mean fragment size
k50 versus the most important rock-
and blast parameters
2. Test the formula against known
sieved size distributions from
model-, half- and full scale.
 Databank for testing k50
formulas
Developed by Agne Rustan Div. of Mining
Lule University of Technology

Sieved and photgraphed fragment size distributions

from burdens 20,4 mm in model to 2,4 m in full scale.
Variation in burden B ~100 times
k50 varies from 3,2 to 600 mm ~200 times
 Sieve analysed data and
photographic measurement
Sieve Photographic
analysis measurement
(No.) (No.)
Model scale single hole 7 (Swe) 0
Half scale multiple 4 (USA) 0
Full scale single 0 4 (Sweden)
Full scale multiple 2 (China) 1 (Canada)
 Kuznetsov and SveDefo
fragmentation formulas
s = structure factor
Ho = uncharged

length of the blast-

hole (m)
H = hole length
(m)
 Composite formula, LTU
(c p r ) ( Bb Sb )
0,6 0,5

k50 0,01 0 ,8 0 , 7 0 , 4 i
B l c q cr d

B = burden, Bb = blasted burden

cP = P-wave velocity
r = rock density
Sb = blasted spacing
 Composite formula, LTU
lcr = lc/l where
lc = length of charge in blasthole
l = length of blasthole
cd = detonation velocity
q = specific charge (Powder factor)
i = a rock type dependent constant
 Exponent for spec. charge
(i)
i Z impedance106 (kg/m2s)

Leight concrete 2,31 1,13

Luossavaara magnetite 1,65 11,9
Magnetite concrete 1,99 12,0
jeby granite 2,89 13,0
Henry quartzite 1,70 14,8
Storugns limestone 1,10 16,2
Kallax gabbro 2,30 20,4
 Composite formula, LTU
A comparison of the i for model- and full
scale single hole blasting in Storugns
limestone showed that i = 1,1 was the
same in model- and full scale.

Do the other rock types follow the same

rule?
Comparison of the max deviation of k50
from measured values for three
fragmentation formulas
Model Half + Full Full
scale
scale scale
Mv % Mv % Mv %
1. Kuznetsov 83 33 26
2. Composite 102 37 50
3. SveDeFo 97 45 41
 Conclusions
As long as we cant sieve a hole round
the full scale fragmentation is an
unknown result parameter
The number of fragments size
distributions tested are very few and
many only dealing with single hole
blasting
The accuracy of the formulas may
increase if we could compare with
sieved full scale rounds