BLASTING OF SOIL WITH CABLE CHARGES

Dr. Ing. Othmar Mueller

Scientific Society for Building Industry, Budapest, Hungary
Chairman of the Committee for Industrial Blasting Technique

Cable charges are theoretically endless. Practically,they are composed of very long
sausage like explosive charges. They are primarily used for excavating ditches in soils.
Blasted ditches are necessary in agriculture for irrigation purposes and for canals.
Horizontal cable charges can be made by using a single or double strand of detonating
cord. They can be placed into the mud at the bottom of ditches and used to clean or
deepen the already existing ditch. They can also be used for soil compaction. Cable
charges have been used for blasting soil in the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Poland, the
German Democratic Republic and Hungary. Their use was first mentioned in the first
edition of Weichelt's handbook on blasting (German Democratic Republic, 1949).

Cable charges are often produced on the site by the blaster by packing the already
cartridged explosives into pvc hoses. The hoses are then physically attached to a cable.
The explosive manufacturers also produce cable charges by either packing the cartridged
explosive into the PVC hoses or usually by continuously filling the PVC hose with
explosives. The charges may be placed into the soil by a machine similar to those used for
burying telephone cables. They can also be buried by hand or with special tractor drawn
equipment. The explosive charges used are usually ammonium nitrate based explosives. In
some cases, ANFO is used. The diameter of the charge is normally greater with ANFO
since consideration must be given to the critical diameter of detonation of the ANFO.
Cable charges can be used economically in soft, unpacked soils, in sands and watery clays.
In compact soils, the placement of cable charges is very difficult and does not provide
satisfactory blasting results. Compact soils also add the additional problem of leaving
rough ditches which must be smoothed by hand. In soils containing a large amount of plant
roots, additional problems are caused by the falling back or retention of the soils by the
plant roots after blasting. In actual practice, charges are made up of wax paper or
cardboard tubes tied to cables or with the before mentioned PVC hoses. Cable charges
may be used singly or in double rows for broader ditches. They can also be rayed in
complicated patterns to form crossing networks of ditches. Economic calculations must be
made comparing the costs of other methods of earth excavation before one decides to use
cable charges. If cable charges are selected, the contractor has to determine the best
blasting methods for the excavation. The charge weight, diameter, and length must be
calculated. Several equations exist for these calculations. They are based on powder factor
or the amount of explosive necessary to excavate a cubic meter of soil. The diameter and
lengths of the charges can be determined once the powder factor is known. Other factors
must also be considered such as the burden and the charge geometry. Cable charges are
best used in isolated areas far from inhabitants dwellings. Under these conditions problems
with vibration and throw can be kept to a minimum. Certain safety considerations must be
taken into account by the contractor when using cable charges. The optimal length of

Copyright © 2000 International Society of Explosives Engineers

1976G - BLASTING OF SOIL WITH CABLE CHARGES - P 362 1 of 2
charge is determined by; the method of placement into the soil, transportation weight
restrictions, the size of the cable spools, the type of explosive used, the weight carrying
capacity of the cable laying equipment and by the initiation and booster requirements of
the explosive. Optimal cable lengths seem to be between 30-50 meters. The optimal
diameter depends on the powder factor necessary, the depth of burial of the explosive and
the production capabilities of the factories. To prevent the compaction and fracture in the
explosive column, the cable charges must be wrapped around a spool of one meter
minimum diameter. The speed at which the charges can be placed into the ground is
dependent on the type of equipment used for cable placement. The optimum working
length of charge for one day's blasting is between 100 and 500 meters.

The author expresses his thanks for the opportunity to present this paper. Any questions
on cable charges should be sent to the author. A response will be given by return mail. The
author also would encourage a personal visit when in Hungary.

Copyright © 2000 International Society of Explosives Engineers

1976G - BLASTING OF SOIL WITH CABLE CHARGES - P 363 2 of 2