WHAT DOES THE DNA-BLAST MODEL DO?

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DNA-Blast is a physics-based computer program that simulates the effect of commercial explosives in
the rock for mining, quarrying and/or civil works applications.

DNA-Blast evaluates the fragmentation of a rock mass (blocometric distribution), the vibration level
around the blasted zone and/or the area concerned by the flyrock’s trajectory, based on the following
information :
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 Rock characteristics (p wave velocity, the Young module, The Poisson Ratio, the traction and
compression limit of the rock)
 Blast hole loading, each hole being described by :

 The explosives loaded (VoD, density, coupling, length of charge, bottom or top charge
initiation associated with its delay)
 The stemming (air, gravel or sand stemming material characterised by a different density and
friction factor
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 An initiation timing (which, considering the whole blast, make the initiation sequence).
 A free face defined by a distance between the hole and the face, and an North-side angle,
can be assigned to some of the holes

DNA-Blast provides :

DNA-Blast fragmentation model estimates the by-hole blocometric distribution and the blocometric
distribution of the blast obtained by adding the elementary distributions of each hole per class, then
constructing the overall cumulative distribution of the blast.

DNA-Blast vibration model estimates seismic results on chosen zones around a blast. To each
rectangle of the grid is assigned a value calculated at the centre of the rectangle.

 If no seismic trace is available for calibrating the model, the result of the simulation is an
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amplification factor for each rectangle at a given frequency.
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 Using a 3 or 4 channels (L,T,V,S) single hole seismic trace allow the model to be calibrated,
associated to a distance and a charge per hole, allow the model to convert the amplification factor
by frequency into a seismic or noise vibration level expressed in the single hole trace unit.

DNA-Blast Flyrock model assess the horizontal and vertical flyrock distance for each charge of each
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hole . Display is limited to the trajectory coming from top and bottom of each charge and to the
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maximum trajectory in length. For a whole blast flyrock simulation , and for each calculation increment,
the considered volume of rock is given by multiplying half the surface of a circle which radius is the
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given by the bench by the height of a calculation increment (equivalent to one hole diameter).

1
For a detailed description of the model, please download and read document referenced TBT-COM-N-121-A8
from www.dna-blast.com website.
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By default, one single type of rock is considered around the holes of the blast. Different options are
nevertheless available to allow different types of rock by blast hole to be considered by the model.
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The initiation timing for each charge in a hole is a relative timing in the hole. The absolute initiation timing used
for the simulation comes from the sum of the charge initiation timing with the hole initiation timing.
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The amplification factor is defined as the amplification factor of the seismic trace at the very centre of the
considered zone, coming form the hole with the referenced charge per delay and locate at the gravity centre of
the blast. The benchmark charge per delay is the maximum charge per delay of the holes that have the
smallest delays in the initiation sequence. The benchmark distance is the smallest distance between the
gravity centre of the blast and the centre of a given zone.
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For this calculation are taken into account the ten main frequency of the seismic trace.
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Calculation is perform for the whole length of the charge, with one calculation increment, equivalent to a hole
diameter.
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For the flyrock simulation of a single hole, the considered volume for each calculation increment, is equivalent
to the distance between the hole and the defined free face, multiply by the defined burden and space and the
height of one calculation increment (one hole diameter).
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Should the hole has a free face, the bench is defined as the distance between the hole and the free face. If not,
the bench is the smallest distance (limited to 60 diameters) between the considered holes and the next one to
detonate in the initiation sequence.

DNA-BLAST SOFTWARE CAN / CAN’T DO | TBT-COM-N-131-A | UPDATED 01/01/2008 1/2

DNA-BLAST DOES NOT ALLOW ASSESSMENT OF
Non commercial explosives type (i.e. ordnance or military explosives, etc.) DNA-Blast is strictly and
expressively dedicated to the effect of commercial explosives designed and manufactured for the
mining, quarrying and/or civil works applications.

Demolition of all kind of buildings or structures, underwater blasting, military application, fireworks,
blocks secondary blasting. DNA-Blast is strictly and expressively dedicated to simulate explosives effect
in mining, quarrying and/or civil works applications

Flyrock simulation can not be used and is not design for tunnelling or underground blasting application.

DNA-Blast is NOT taking into account

Fragmentation simulation does not take into account the direct effect of gas pressure.

Flyrocks simulation does not take into account the air resistance, visible or invisible geological
heterogeneities, field topography.

Vibration simulation does not take into account the effective present stability of the ground nor are
considered the building integrity, stability or structure before or after blasting operations.

One zone divided into rectangle (grid) for simulation vibration purpose can not consider more than one
type of rock.

DNA-Blast does NOT provide

DNA-Blast does not recommend or replace safety rules set by law or decree, by the Sites itself or
coming from experience or recommendation of professional institution or groups.
i.e the flyrock simulation does not provide a clearing distance.

DNA-Blast does not protect from the inherent effects of blasting and handling explosives.

Vibration simulation provides no indication nor guaranty on a post blast pit wall stability nor of any
structure in the vicinity.

Evaluation of the model

Due to the type of model, split up into a set of elementary mechanisms (called ‘genes’), DNA-Blast
model has been evaluated at the gene level, using on site measurements or laboratory data in order to
guarantee the validity of its model. A gene is considered to be valid when the deviations between the
values measured and those simulated are below 30%. with a behaviour deviating no more than 30%.

Secondary validation stage evaluate the whole model comparing the outcome with Latin American blast
measured results. As a sum of primarily evaluated gene, the wholes proves it is also consistent and
sound.

Extreme caution should nevertheless be exercised when applying this model to other environments as
this may require changes in some of the default model parameters and results might be different.

As with all simulation models, DNA-Blast still represents a simplification of the ‘real-world’ system and,
as such, model predictions may differ from actual outcomes. Therefore, the results of model simulations
should be considered approximations and not taken as fact.

For questions, comments or suggestions, contact:

Dr. Thierry Bernard

General Manager
Phone: +33 950 44 55 43 | Fax: +33 955 44 55 43
Thierry Bernard Technologie
35, avenue Sainte Marguerite, les Roses d’Azur B3, 06200 Nice FRANCE
t.bernard@dna-blast.com

DNA-BLAST SOFTWARE CAN / CAN’T DO | TBT-COM-N-131-A | UPDATED 01/01/2008 1/2