Definitions of WipFrag Statistics

Granulometry is the measurement of particle sizes and shapes. The science of

granulometry, when applied to blast fragmentation, has been developed to an advanced
stage in earlier studies of comminution (crushing and grinding), petrology (study of
rocks and minerals under the microscope), soil mechanics (classification of soils),
metallography, powder technology, and other fields. A confusing range of alternative
definitions exists even for such fundamental items as fragment size, which can be
measured in terms of projected lengths, diameters of circles with the same area or in
several other ways. The choice becomes even more complex when selecting statistics
to represent fragment size distributions and fragment shapes.

Cu = Coefficient of Uniformity = D60/D10, a measure of the slope of the

cumulative weight % curve between the 60- and 10-percentiles.
Dn = Nominal diameter, or equivalent spherical diameter, i.e. the
diameter of a sphere with the same volume as that computed for
the fragment.
D10, D25 etc. = Percentile sizes. For example D10 is the ten-percentile, the value of
De for which 10% by weight of the sample is finer and 90% coarser.
In terms of sieving, D10 is the size of sieve opening through which
10% by weight of the sample would pass.
D50 = The Median or 50-percentile, the value of Dn for which half the
sample weight is finer and half coarser.
blocks = Number of net elements detected in the NET image
max = Maximum size of fragment in the image [Dn (m)]
mean = Arithmetic mean (average) fragment size, equal to the sum of all
equivalent spherical diameters divided by the total number of
particles [Dav (m)]
min = Minimum size of fragment in the image [Dn (m)]
mode = Most common sized particle, the geometric mean Dn size class
interval for the class containing the greatest number of net
elements (fragments) [Dn (m)]
n = Rosin-Rammler (and Gaudin-Schuhman) Uniformity Coefficient,
equal to the slope of the Rosin-Rammler straight line fitted to the
data in log-log co-ordinates.
Sphericity = Dn/Ds, the ratio of equivalent spherical diameter to the diameter of a
circumscribing sphere (long axis of the fragment)
stdev = Standard deviation of fragment size Dav
Xc = Characteristic Size, the intercept of the Rosin-Rammler straight line
fitted to the WipFrag Dn data in log-log co-ordinates. This is
equivalent to the D63.2.
Xmax = Gaudin-Schuhman characteristic size, the intercept of the 100 %
passing and the slope of the Gaudin-Schuman straight line.

WipFrag – Because you can’t manage what you can’t measure!

 Definitions of WipFrag Statistics
Calibrated WipFrag Definitons

Xmax2 = Is the calibrated Gaudin-Schuhman characteristic size, the intercept

of the 100 % passing and the slope of the Gaudin-Schuman
straight line
Xc2 = Is the calibrated Characteristic Size, the intercept of the Rosin-
Rammler straight line fitted to the WipFrag Dn data in log-log co-
ordinates. This is equivalent to the 63.2.
Nros2 = Is the calibrated Rosin-Rammler (and Gaudin-Schuhman)
Uniformity Coefficient, equal to the slope of the Rosin-Rammler
straight line fitted to the data in log-log co-ordinates.

WipJoint Definitions

The Spacing Rosette is generated by measuring the distance between joints on the
rock face. WipFrag measures these spaces in 18 direction classes of 10 degrees each.
If the spacing is wide in the horizontal direction, and narrow in the vertical direction, the
rosette will reflect this by being wide and flat

Max = Is the average spacing in the class with the highest spacing
Min = Is the average spacing in the class with the lowest spacing
Ratio = Is simply the max/min. In a sense this characterizes the aspect ratio
of the "typical" block.

The Orientation Rosette is generated by measuring the length of joints for each of 18
direction classes (10 degrees each) on the rock face. This rosette will illustrate in which
plane the jointing is predominant.

Max = Is the total length of all joints in the principal joint plane.

WipFrag – Because you can’t manage what you can’t measure!