CONFINED BLASTING IN OPEN AIR

Prof. Jacopo Seccatore 1

BULKING (Esponjamiento)
Trench Blasting
A) Pre-opening of a free face,
then it acts like a normal
bench blasting

B) Opening with inclined

holes(much higher P.F.)

• Trench blasting Always adopts higher P.F. (up to 150% of a P.F. for bench blasting in the
same rock: rock must swell upwards and not laterally)
• High VOD explosive at the bottom of the hole for proper toe breakage
• High sub-drilling
Trench Blasting
• INCLINED
HOLES
DEPTH min DEPTH max P.F.
m m kg/m3

1.2 3.7 2.1

3.7 6.1 2.4

6.1 - 3.0

UNDERDRILLING U= 0.5 B

STEMMING T > 20 fhole

 SCALED DEPTH OF BURIAL
• Scaled depth of burial

𝑇 + 0.5 ∙ 𝑙𝑞
𝑆𝐷𝑂𝐵 =
3
0.00923 ∙ (1000 ∙ 𝑙𝑞 ∙ 𝑑 2 ∙ 𝜌𝑒 )

T = stemming [m]
Lq = charge length [m]
D = borehole diameter [mm]
re = explosive density [kg/l]

SAFE SDOB = 2 – 3
Blasting a Shaft

Lookout
 ADVANCE

Lookout
Lookout
Blasting a Shaft
Steps for shaft blast design
1. Determine the optimum advance H
2. Determine the Powder Factor
3. Select a burden based on drilling diameter (B = 20-30 f)
4. Determine a stemming that gives a SDOB = 1-2 in case of
protected shaft, SDOB = 2-3 in case of shaft in sensitive area
5. Chargeable height Lq = H-T
6. Calculate charge per hole Q = Lq x linear charge [kg/m]
7. Distribute holes evenly respecting P.F. and burden
 RAMP BLASTING
1. Dimension the last (deepest) hole as in
bench blasting
This volume will have to be removed 2. Adjust the other holes geometrically
mechanically or by cautious crater according to ramp inclination, keeping
blasting constant stemming and Underdrilling
3. The part of the ramp with hole depth
H < T+U will have to be removed
mechanically or by other means of
crater blasting
Stemming T=B

Underdrilling
U = 0,5 V

T = B = constant
U = 0,5 V = constant
Example
Example
400 m long

2.5 m

1m
1. Explosive choice
• I want high VOD for trench blasting

Diameter : 1”1/2

Weight: 0.35 kg
Length: 23 cm
2. Drilling diameter
• Max cartridge diameter available: 1”1/2
• Choose drill bit f = 2” to ensure easy loading
3. Pre-determine P.F.

DEPTH min DEPTH max P.F.

m m kg/m3 P.F. = 2.1 kg/m3

1.2 3.7 2.1

3.7 6.1 2.4

6.1 - 3.0
 Burden B = 20 x f ~ 1m
Staggered pattern to better distribute energy
2m within the trench volume

Underdrilling = 0.5 B = 0.5 m

1m

2.5 m
Final wall to be expected due to cratering

Theoretical volume to be excavated

 Volume 1 hole = (1m x 0.5m)/2 x 2.5m = 0.625 m3

P.F. = 2.3 kg/m3 (assumption)

2m
Q = V x P.F. = 2.3 kg/m3 x 0.75 m3 = 1.4 kg
B n. Cartridges = 1.4 kg / 0.35 kg = 5 cartridges/hole
1m
1m

This hole belongs to

the next 2m section 2.5 m

U = 0.5 B
0.5 m
4. VERIFY
lc length 1 cartridge m 0.23
qc weight 1 cartridge kg 0.35
𝑇+0.5∙𝑙𝑞 nc cartridge per hole - 5
• 𝑆𝐷𝑂𝐵 = 3
0.00923 (1000∙𝑙𝑞 ∙ 𝑑 2 ∙𝜌𝑒 ) B Burden m 1
S Spacing m 0.33
h Desired depth m 2.5
U Underdrilling m 0.5
H Hole depth m 3
T stemming m 1.85
Lq charge length m 1.15
D borehole diameter mm 50.8
re explosive density kg/l 1.2

SDOB Scaled depth of burial kg/m1/3 1.8

5. DESIGN
5. Design

CONECTOR NO ELECTRICO TRONCAL

Symbol Surface
220 237
(720) (737)
Delay
195
(695)

25 ms
2m
155 177
(655) (667) 42 ms
130
(630)
65 ms

85 107
(585) (667)

65
(565) POI
6. Product table
Each 2m
holes n. 8
charge Q 14
Tronex 1"1/2 x 12" n. 40
Detonador no electrico 500 ms n. 8
Conector no electrico 25ms n. 3
Conector no electrico 42ms n. 3
Conector no electrico 65ms n. 2

For 400 m
holes n. 1600
charge Q 2800
Tronex 1"1/2 x 12" n. 8000
Detonador no electrico 500 ms n. 1600
Conector no electrico 25ms n. 600
Conector no electrico 42ms n. 600
Conector no electrico 65ms n. 400
Exercise

This pattern:
Might not be the best option

• Evaluate this pattern as an

alternative option:
• Evaluate the employ of multi-
decking