Drilling Rock and Earth

CHAPTER
Construction Planning, Equipment,

and Methods
Sixth Edition
DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

A. J. Clark School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
12a
By
Dr. Ibrahim Assakkaf
ENCE 420 Construction Equipment and Methods
Spring 2003
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Maryland, College Park
CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH
Slide No. 1
DRILLING
ROCK &
EARTH
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DRILLING
ROCK
Slide No. 2
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ON
I
T
C
U
R
T
S
CON LING
DRIL
0 Blast holes
Slide No. 3
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for removal of
rock, in a
construction
excavation or
for quarrying
N
O
I
T
C
RU
T
S NG
N
CO ILLI
DR
Slide No. 4
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M Rock
anchor/bolts in
excavations
and tunnels
Slide No. 5
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CONSTRUCTION
DRILLING
Foundations
Slide No. 6
CONSTRUCTION
DRILLING
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3 Foundation
grouting
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
Slide No. 7
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Drilling equipment and methods

are used by the construction and
mining industries to drill holes in
both rock and earth.
Same or similar equipment may in
some instances be used for drilling
both materials.
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
Slide No. 8
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Purposes for which drilling are

performed vary a great deal from
general to highly specialized
applications.
It is desirable to select the
equipment and methods that are
best suited to the specific service:
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
Slide No. 9
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9A contractor engaged in highway

construction must usually drill rock
under varying conditions; therefore,
equipment that is suitable for various
services would be selected.
9If equipment is needed to drill rock in
a quarry where the material and
conditions will not vary, specialized
equipment should be considered.
Slide No. 10
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
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9In some instances

custom-made equipment
designed for use on a
single project may be
justified.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 11
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Bit: This is the portion of a drill which

contacts the rock and disintegrates
it.
Carbide-insert bit: The carbideinsert bit is a detachable bit whose
cutting edges consist of tungsten
carbide embedded in a softer steel
base.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 12
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Detachable bit: This is a bit which

may be attached to or removed
from the drill steel or drill stem.
Diamond bit: The diamond bit is a
detachable bit whose cutting
elements consist of diamonds
embedded in a metal matrix.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 13
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Forged bit: This is a bit which is

forged on the drill steel.
Burden: This is the horizontal
distance from a rock face to the
first row of drill holes or the
distance between rows of drill
holes.
Slide No. 14
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 15
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Coupling: A short, hollow steel pipe

having interior threads. The coupling is
used to hold pieces of drill steel
together or to the shank. The
percussion energy is transferred
through the steel, not the coupling;
therefore, the coupling must allow the
drill steel to butt together.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 16
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Cuttings: These are the

disintegrated rock particles that are
removed from a hole.
Depth per bit: This is the depth of
hole that can be drilled by a bit
before it is replaced.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 17
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Drifter: A drifter is an airoperated percussion-type

drill,similar to a jackhammer; it
is so large, however, that it
requires mechanical mounting.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 18
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Types of Drills:
9Abrasion: This drill grinds rock into small
particles through the abrasive effect of a
bit that rotates in the hole.
9Blast-hole: This is a rotary drill consisting
of a steel-pipe drill stem on the bottom of
which is a roller bit that disintegrates the
rock as it rotates over the rock. The
cuttings are removed by a stream of
compressed air.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 19
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9Churn: The chum drill is a percussiontype drill consisting of a long steel bit that
is mechanically lifted and dropped to
disintegrate the rock. It is used to drill
deep holes, usually 6 in. in diameter or
larger.
9Core: This drilling equipment is designed
for obtaining samples of rock from a hole,
usually for exploratory purposes. Diamond
and shot drills are used for core drilling.
10
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 20
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9Diamond: The diamond drill is a

rotary abrasive-type drill whose bit
consists of a metal matrix in which a
large number of diamonds are
embedded. As the drill rotates, the
diamonds disintegrate the rock.
9Dry: This is a drill which uses
compressed air to remove the
cuttings from a hole.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 21
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9Percussion: This is a drill which

breaks rock into small particles by
impact from repeated blows. It can
be powered by compressed air or
hydraulic fluids.
9 Shot: This is a rotary abrasive-type
drill whose bit consists of a section of
steel pipe with a roughened surface
at the bottom.
11
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 22
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9Wagon: This is a drifter

mounted on a mast supported
by two or more wheels.
9Wet: A wet drill is one that
uses water to remove the
cuttings from a hole.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 23
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Drilling pattern: This is the spacing

of the drill holes.
Drilling rate: This is the number of
feet of hole drilled per hour per drill.
Drill steel, or rods: These are rods
which transmit the blow energy and
drill rotation from the shank to the
bit.
12
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 24
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Face: This is the approximately

vertical surface extending upward
from the floor of a pit to the level at
which drilling is accomplished.
Jackhammer,or sinker: This device
is an air-operated percussion-type
drill that is small enough to be
handled by one worker.
Slide No. 25
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13
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Slide No. 26
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Stoper: A stoper is an air-operated

percussion-type drill, similar to a drifter,
that is used for overhead drilling, as in a
tunnel.
Striker bar, or shank: A short piece of
steel which attaches to the percussion
drill piston for receiving the blow and
transferring the energy to the drill steel.
BITS
Slide No. 27
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Removable Tapered-Socket-Type Rock Bit
14
Slide No. 28
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BIT TYPE
INSERT BIT
BUTTON BIT
Text p. 337, FIG 12-3 & 4.
BITS
Slide No. 29
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The bit is the essential part of a

drill, as it is the part which must
engage and disintegrate the rock.
The success of a drilling operation
depends on the ability of the bit to
remain sharp under the impact of
the drill.
15
BITS
Slide No. 30
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Many types and sizes of bits

are available.
Most bits are units which screw
mount to the drill steel.
Bits are easily replaced and
some can be re-sharpened 2 to
6 times.
BITS
Slide No. 31
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Bits are available in various

sizes, shapes, and hardnesses.
The depth of the hole that can
be drilled with steel bit vary
from a few inches to 40 ft or
more.
16
Slide No. 32
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BITS
Carbide-insert bits:
Some types of rock are so abrasive that

steel bits must be replaced after they
have drilled only a few inches of the hole
It is more economical sometimes to use
carbide-insert bits because the cost of
the steel bits and lost time to production
in changing bits can be so great
These bits are illustrated in the following
figures.
BITS
Slide No. 33
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17
Slide No. 34
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BITS
Carbide-insert bits(contd):
As shown in the figures, the actual

drilling points consist of a very hard
metal, tungsten carbide, which is
embedded in steel.
Although these bits are considerably
more expensive than steel bits, the
increased drilling rate and depth of hole
obtained per bit is economically justified,
especially for drilling hard rock.
Slide No. 35
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CARBIDE INSERT BITS

Four grades are usually available.
Increasing Hardness
Grade
Shock
Intermediate
Wear
Extra Wear
Abrasion
resistance
Fair
Good
Excellent
Outstanding
18
Slide No. 36
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BITS
Carbide-insert bits(contd):
A contractor on a highway project in

Pennsylvania found that when drilling dibase
rock, the depth per steel bit was 0.5 to 2 in.
When he changed to carbide bits, he obtained
an average depth of 1,992 ft
Slide No. 37
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BITS
Tapered Socket Bits:
The figure illustrates removable tapered

socket bits, which are available in gauge
sizes varying in 1/81/8-in (3.2(3.2-mm) steps
from 1 in (25 mm) to 4 in (102 mm)
19
Slide No. 38
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BITS
Bottom-drive Bits:
The figure illustrates the removable

bottombottom-drive bits, which are available in
gauge sizes varying from 1.5 in (38 mm)
to 6 in (152 mm)
JACKHAMMERS
Slide No. 39
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Jackhammers are hand-held airoperated percussion-type drills

which are used primarily for drilling
holes in a downward direction.
They are classified according to
their weight, such as 45 or 55 lb.
A complete drilling unit consists of
a hammer, drill steel, and bit.
20
JACKHAMMERS
Slide No. 40
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As the compressed air flows through a

hammer, it causes a piston to
reciprocate at a speed up to 2,200
blows per minute, which produces the
hammer effect.
The energy of this piston is transmitted
to a bit through the drill steel. Air flows
through a hole in the drill steel and the
bit to remove the cuttings from the hole
and to cool the bit.
DRIFTERS
Slide No. 41
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Drifter drills are similar to

jackhammers in operation, but they
are larger and used as mounted
tools for drilling down, horizontal, or
up holes. They vary in weight from
75 to 260 lb and are capable of
drilling holes up to 4 in. in diameter.
21
DRIFTERS
Slide No. 42
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Drifters are used extensively in rock

excavation, mining, and tunneling. Either
air or water may be used to remove the
cuttings.
The drifter's weight is usually sufficient to
supply the necessary feed pressure for
down drilling. But when used for
horizontal or up drilling, the feed pressure
is supplied by a hand-operated screw or a
pneumatic or hydraulic piston.
WAGON DRILLS
Slide No. 43
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Wagon drills consist of drifters

mounted on masts, which are
mounted on wheels to provide
portability.
Wagon drills are used extensively
to drill holes up to 4.5 in. in
diameter and up to 30 ft or more in
depth.
22
WAGON DRILLS
Slide No. 44
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They give better performance than

jackhammers when used on terrain
where it is possible for them to
operate.
Wagon drills may be used to drill at
any angle from down to slightly
above horizontal.
WAGON DRILLS
Slide No. 45
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The length of drill steel is

usually 6, 10, or 15 ft, but
longer lengths are available.
The length selected will depend
on the feed reach of the
particular wagon drill.
23
Slide No. 46
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TRACK-MOUNTED DRILLS
The track-mounted drills have

substantially replaced the wagon drill on
construction projects.
Track-mounted drills production rate
may be 3 or more times that of a wagon
drill because of their ability to move
quickly to a new location and the use of
the hydraulically operated boom for
positioning the drill.
Slide No. 47
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24
Slide No. 48
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Air-track Drill and Air Compressor
Slide No. 49
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Holes can be drilled at any angle

from under 15 back from vertical to
above the horizontal, ahead, or on
either side of the unit.
All operation, including tramming
(travel), can be powered by
compressed air.
25
Slide No. 50
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WHEEL-MOUNTED DRILLS
WheelWheel-mounted
drills are similar in
sizes and capacities
to the tracktrackmounted drills.
WheelWheel-mounted
drills require a more
nearly level ground
surface to operate.
PISTON DRILLS
Slide No. 51
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These are percussion-type drills

with the hollow drill tube attached
to the piston.
The stroke and rotation of the
piston are adjustable to give the
best performance for the
particular type of rock being
drilled.
26
PISTON DRILLS
Slide No. 52
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They are available with

carbide-insert bits, which are
up to 6 in in diameter.
These drills have a practical
depth limit of approximately
70 ft.
ROTARY PERCUSSION
DRILLS
Slide No. 53
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Rotary percussion drills combine the

hard-hitting reciprocal action of the
percussion drill with the turning-underpressure action of the rotary drill.
Rotation of the rotary percussion
combination drill, with the bit under
constant pressure, has demonstrated its
ability to drill much faster than the
regular percussion drill.
27
ROTARY PERCUSSION
DRILLS
Slide No. 54
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Rotary percussion drills require special

carbide bits, with the carbide inserts set at a
different angle from those used with
standard carbide bits.
ROTARY PERCUSSION
DRILLS
Slide No. 55
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28
ROTARY DRILLS
Slide No. 56
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A rotary drill is self-propelled drill which is

mounted on a truck or on a crawler tracks.
A tricone roller-type bit is used in the
drilling. It is attached to the lower end of a
drill pipe.
As the bit is rotated in the hole, a
continuous blast of compressed air is
forced down through the pipe and the bit to
remove the rock cuttings and to cool the
bit.
ROTARY DRILLS
Slide No. 57
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These drills are suitable for

drilling soft to medium rock,
such as dolomite and
limestone.
However, they are not suitable
for drilling the harder igneous
rocks.
29
ROTARY DRILLS
Slide No. 58
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Rotary drills are available to drill

holes to different diameters and
to depths up to approximately
300 ft.
Speeds can be varied from 1.5
fph in dense hard dolomite to
50 fph in limestone.
DIAMOND DRILLS
Slide No. 59
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Diamond drills are used primarily for

exploration drilling, where cores are
desired for the purpose of studying the
rock structure.
A drilling rig consists of:
9 a diamond bit
9 a core barrel
9 a joined driving tube
9 a rotary head to supply the driving torque
30
DIAMOND DRILLS
Slide No. 60
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Drilling Unit for Diamond

Core Drill
(Acker Drill Company)
DIAMOND DRILLS
Slide No. 61
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DiamondDiamond-Point Bits (Sprague & Henwood,

Henwood, Inc.)
31
DIAMOND DRILLS
Slide No. 62
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Water is pumped through the

driving tube to remove the cuttings.
Core barrels are available in
lengths varying from 5 to 15 ft.
When the bit advances to a depth
equal to the length of the core
barrel, the core is broken off and
the drill is removed from the hole.
DIAMOND DRILLS
Slide No. 63
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Diamond drill can drill in any desired

direction.
Diamond drills are capable of drilling to
depths in excess of 1,000 ft.
Bit speeds vary from 200 to 1200 rpm.
Drilling rate varies from less than a foot
to several feet per hour, depending on
the type of rock.
32
Slide No. 64
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SELECTING THE DRILLING

METHOD AND EQUIPMENT
Holes are drilled for various
purposes, such as:
9To receive charges of

explosives,
9For exploration, or
9For ground modification by the
injection of grout.
Slide No. 65
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Within practical limits, the

equipment which will
produce the greatest overall
economy for the particular
project is the most
satisfactory.
33
Slide No. 66
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Many factors affect the selection

of equipment. Among these are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The nature of the terrain.

The required depth of holes,
The hardness of the rock.
The extent to which the formation is
broken or fractured.
Slide No. 67
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5. The size of the project.

6. The extent to which the rock is to be
broken for handling or crushing.
7. The availability of water for drilling
purposes.
8. The purpose of the holes, such as
blasting, exploration, or grout injection.
9. The size of cores required for
exploration.
34
Slide No. 68
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For small-diameter shallow blastholes,

especially on rough surfaces where larger
drills cannot operate, it is usually
necessary to use jackhammers or trackmounted drills.
Track-mounted, rotary-percussion, or
piston drills can be used for blastholes up
to 6 in. in diameter and up to about 50 ft
deep.
Slide No. 69
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If cores up to 3 in are desired, the

diamond coring drill is the most
satisfactory.
If intermediate-size cores, 3 to 8 in,
outside diameter, are desired, the
choice will be between a diamond drill
and a shot drill. A diamond drill will
usually drill faster than a shot drill.
35
Slide No. 70
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The pattern selected for drilling holes to

be loaded with explosives will vary with:
9The type and size drill used,
9The depth of the holes,
9The kind of rock,
9The maximum rock breakage size
permissible, and
9Other factors
Slide No. 71
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Drilling operations for rock

excavation where the material
will be used in an embankment
fill must consider the fill
specifications concerning the
maximum physical size.
36
Slide No. 72
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The drilling pattern should be

planned to produce rock sizes that
are small enough to permit most of
them to be handled by the
excavator, such as a loader or
shovel, or to pass into the crusher
opening without secondary
blasting.
37

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CHAPTER

Construction Planning, Equipment,

DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

ENCE 420 Assakkaf

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

ENCE 420 Assakkaf

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

ENCE 420 Assakkaf

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Drilling equipment and methods

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Purposes for which drilling are

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

9A contractor engaged in highway

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

ENCE 420 Assakkaf

9In some instances

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Bit: This is the portion of a drill which

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Detachable bit: This is a bit which

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Forged bit: This is a bit which is

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Coupling: A short, hollow steel pipe

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Cuttings: These are the

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Drifter: A drifter is an airoperated percussion-type

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

9Diamond: The diamond drill is a

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

9Percussion: This is a drill which

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

9Wagon: This is a drifter

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Drilling pattern: This is the spacing

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Face: This is the approximately

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Stoper: A stoper is an air-operated

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Removable Tapered-Socket-Type Rock Bit

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

ENCE 420 Assakkaf

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

The bit is the essential part of a

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Many types and sizes of bits

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Bits are available in various

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

Some types of rock are so abrasive that

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

CHAPTER 12a. DRILLING ROCK AND EARTH

ENCE 420 Assakkaf