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Drillability in hard rock drill and blast tunnelling

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 GEOMECHANICS

DRILLABILITY IN HARD ROCK DRILL AND BLAST

TUNNELLING
By Dipl.-Geol. Dr. Kurosch Thuro and o. Univ.-Professor. Dr. phil. Georg Spaun
Usually the main subject in preliminary site investigations ditions also depend on the geological history, containing
prior to tunnelling projects is the prediction of tunnel stabi- weathering, hydrothermal decomposition and the structure
lity. During the last years in conventional drill and blast of discontinuities. Together they build the basic parameters
tunnelling, problems have occured also connected with the for drillability.
accurate prediction of drillability in hard rock. The drilla-
bility is not only decisive for the wear of tools and equip- mineral composition equivalent quartz content
mineral
micro fabric porosity
ment but is - along with the drilling velocity - a standard
factor for the progress of excavation works. The estimation elastic/plastic behaviour destruction work
rock
mechanical rock properties compressive strength
of drillability in predicted rock conditions might bear an Young's modulus
extensive risk of costs. Therefore an improoved prediction tensile strength
ratio of of σu/σt
of drilling velocity and bit wear would be desireable. rock density
The drillability of a rock mass is determined by various
geological and mechanical parameters. In this report some rock mass conditions anisotropy
rock mass spacing of discontinuities
discontinuities
major correlations of specific rock properties as well as weathering
geological factors with measured bit wear and drilling rates hydrothermal decomposition
are shown. Apart from conventional mechanical rock
Fig. 2: Geological parameters: General view of the characteristics
properties (unconfined compressive and tensile strength, of mineral, rock and rock mass.
Young's modulus) a new property for toughness refering to
drillability has been introduced: the specific destruction According to rock conditions the corresponding drilling rig
work WZ. This new property makes it possible to under- will be choosen. The machine parameters are depending on
stand better the connection between drilling velocity and the drilling method: In underground excavation the rotary
the main mechanical rock character. As well as mechanical percussive drilling is standard, providing maximum per-
rock properties the influences of geological parameters on formance under most circumstances. Parameters are the
drillabillity have been the main topic of a recently publis- technical specifications of the drill hammer, flushing sy-
hed dissertation (THURO 1995, 1996). stem and the design of the drilling bit. Typical tunnelling
rigs consist of a diesel-hydraulic tramming carrier, carrying
Parameters of drillability up to three booms with hydraulic drifter feeds and rock
Drillability is a term used in construction to describe the in- drills. For example the COP 1238 (15 kW impact power)
fluence of a number of parameters on the drilling rate and the COP 1440 (20 kW impact power, both made by
(drilling velocity) and the tool wear of the drilling rig. The Atlas Copco) are the most popular hydraulic rock drills in
interaction of the main factors is illustrated in Fig. 1. use on the marked today. Fig. 3 shows typical button bits
used in underground excavation in rotary percussive drill
geological parameters machine parameters rigs.
Rock & Rock Mass influence on choice Drilling Rig
rock mass conditions percussive drill hammer
power transfer
mechanical rock properties
drilling bit

drilling velocity
tunnelling performance

Drillability
wear of drilling tools
drilling bit wear

excavation system & logistics

operation & maintenance
of the tunnelling rig

Working Process

Fig. 1: Illustration of the term „drillability“ and the main influencing

parameters.
First of all, the geological parameters generate the specific
characteristics of rock material and rock mass (Fig. 2). The-
se characteristics may be at least partly put into figures with
the help of mechanical rock properties. But rock mass con-
Both authors are members of Department of General, Applied and
Engineering Geology, Technical University of Munich.
Felsbau 14 (1996) Nr. 2
Fig. 3: Typical button drill bits of various manufacturers with 6 - 9
buttons and different flushing systems mainly used in hard rock.
The drilling bit is the part of the rig which carries out the
crushing work. The bit consists of a carrier holding the
actual drilling tools: buttons of hard metal (wolframcarbide
with a cobalt binder, MOHS´ hardness 9½). Possible sorts of
1
THURO & SPAUN: Drillability in hard rock drill and blast tunnelling

button types and their main characteristics are shown in quartzphyllite

Fig. 4. 105
The shape of the button and the design of the bit (geometry
100
and arrangement of buttons, flush holes and draining chan-
nels) have a severe influence on bit wear and drilling per- 95
formance. For example, using ballistic 9-button bits, a ma-

drilling rate [%]

ximum penetration performance has been obtained in 90
quartzphyllite of the Innsbruck area. In Fig. 5 drilling rates
85
relative to the average of the quickest bit type are plotted
comparing 6-, 7-, 8- and 9-button bits. 80

Button Types Characteristics 75

70
m "non aggressive" shape
6 x 45 s 7 x 45 s 8 x 45 s 8 x 45 b 9 x 45 s 9 x 45 b
m minimum drilling rates
m low bit wear button bits
spherical m excavation mainly
Fig. 5: Drilling rates in quartzphyllite depending on type of button
by impact
and drilling bit. 9 x 45 b = 9 button type, ∅ 45 mm, b - ballistic
(s - spherical).

Often it is a matter of time dependent expenses rather

m "aggressive" shape
m moderate drilling rates
than the pure cost of materials that increase the constructi-
(semi-) m moderate bit wear on costs of a tunnel. So first of all it is of high interest, how
ballistic m excavation mainly drilling velocity may influence heading performance. Ta-
by shearing / cutting king the Inntaltunnel as an example in Fig. 6 two excavati-
on classes have been compared to show how net drilling
time at the tunnel face raises the whole time for drilling one
m "very aggressive" shape entire round. In the crown heading a 3-armed Atlas Copco
m maximum drilling rates Rocket Boomer H 185 was used with COP 1440 hydraulic
conical m high bit wear rock drills mounted. From excavation class III to class IVb
(ballistic) m excavation mainly
by shearing / cutting
the drilling time decreases nearly at the same ratio as the
net drilling time. Therefore the share of drilling is reduced
Fig. 4: Button types of drilling bits used for ro-
tary percussive drilling and their main characte- Excavation Class III Excavation Class IVb
ristics.
miscellaneous 3%
support miscellaneous
The third main factor influencing drilla- support
bility is the working process itself. First 31% 37% 10%
drilling
of all smooth operation and permanent 27%
18% drilling
maintenance of the tunnelling rig is con-
tributing to successful drilling perfor- 24%
15% 14%
21%
mance. Secondly, a high penetration rate
transport charging
at the tunnel face is not automatically charging transport
leading to a high performance of the hea-
ding as will be demonstrated in the fol-
Comparison of Excavation Class III & IVb III IV
lowing case study of the Inntal tunnel. So
it is a matter of understanding the entire drilling velocity 2,3 m/min 3,0 m/min

excavation system before applying ex- 3,0 m 2,4 m

drilling depth
pertise to the investigation of drillability.
excavation depth 2,7 m 2,2 m
Drilling performance at the Inn- 78 sec 48 sec
net drilling time
taltunnel/Innsbruck
drilling time (round) 105 min 68 min
One of the most striking tunnelling pro-
charging 59 min 53 min
jects in Austria was the 12.7 km long
6,5 h 6,3 h
Inntaltunnel nearby Innsbruck. During round length

running excavation works of the Inntal- rounds per day difference in percent 3,7 rounds/day 3,8 rounds/day

tunnel, poor drilling and blasting conditi- based on

excavation class IVb 10,0 m/day 8,4 m/day
heading performance
ons have been recorded over long distan-
ces. Drillability of the rock mass has be- -40 -20 0 20 40

en determined by foliation of the Inns- difference in %

brucker Quarzphyllit and by its geo- Fig. 6: Excavation class III and IVb in the Inntaltunnel. Effects of decreasing net drilling time
technical character. on the entire drilling of one round.
Felsbau 14 (1996) Nr. 2 2
 GEOMECHANICS

approximately by one third (27% to 18%, Fig. 6). The ex- Crushing process underneath a drilling bit
tension of drilling time had no real influence on the length
of one round in class III, because support works were less Coming from studies by high-speed photography and ana-
extensive than in class IVb. lysis of thin sections of rock below the area of disc cutter
tools of TBM´s, three main destruction mechanisms could
Drilling rates and mechanical rock be detected (OZDEMIR et al. 1977, WANG et al. 1978,
properties BLINDHEIM 1979). Those results can be generalised and
transfered on the crushing process below the buttons of a
Nevertheless net drilling times are a result of changed dril- drilling bit (Fig. 9).
ling velocities in different rock types. But what are the

penetration
changed drilling velocities based on? To get information on
this point, drilling rates have been measured periodicaly du-
ring running excavation works and cores have been taken
out of the rock mass to get mechanical rock properties of
representative sections (SPAUN & THURO 1994). In this way rotation
drilling bit
rotation

drilling progress could be connected with some main rock

parameters. Two of the most frequently used rock proper- button 3 button
ties are the unconfined compressive strength and the tensile 1
3
strength. But the correlation between drilling rate and com-
pressive strength as well as tensile strength of the tested
rock types was rather poor (Fig. 7, Fig. 8). These rock
properties were not likely to describe the toughness of the 2
2 2
rock material. 10 mm

To get further on this point it is necessary to get a better

1 crushed rock powder 2 radial cracks 3 detached fragments
understanding of the crushing mechanism at the bottom of a
borehole. Fig. 9: Crushing process in rotary percussive drilling. Destruction
mechanism under the bit buttons.
drilling velocity
5,0
Around the contact of the button a new state of stress is in-
COP 1440 - 20 kW very high duced in the rock, where four important destruction mecha-
4,0
nisms can be distinguished:
drilling rate [m/min]

high
3,0
1) Under the bit button a crushed zone of fine rock powder
is formed (impact).
medium
2,0 2) Starting from the crushed powder zone, radial cracks are
low
developed (induced tensile stress).
1,0 3) When stress in the rock is high enough (respectively if
y=a+b·ln x yσ(n-1)=0,76 m/min n=20 R2=20% very low enough cracks exist ±parallel to the bottom of the bore-
0,0 hole), larger fragments of the rock can be sheared off
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 between the button grooves (shear stress).
unconfined compressive strength UCS [MPa]
4) In addition to the mechanisms above stress is induced
Fig. 7: Drilling rate correlated with unconfined compressive periodical (dynamic process).
strength. The quality of the correlation is very poor.
Looking at the drilling mechanism it is obvious, that besi-
drilling velocity des compressive and tensile strength (percussive process)
5 and shear strength (bit rotation) the elastic characteristics of
COP 1440 - 20 kW very high rock material will be of crucial importance. To be precise,
4 the bit is always drilling through pre-cracked rock (see
MÜLLER-SALZBURG 1963: 104) and we have to devote a
drilling rate [m/min]

high
3 great deal of our time with the post-failure behaviour of
medium rock to get closer to the crushing mechanism below the
2 drilling bit.
low
Monitoring destruction work
1
y=a+b·ln x yσ(n-1)=0,58 m/min n=20 R2 =54% very low With other words, a new property is needed, describing
0 both brittleness/toughness of rock and the quantity of ener-
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 gy necessary to build new surfaces (cracks) in rock. To get
indirect tensile strength TS [MPa] this newly defined rock property, the deformation process
Fig. 8: Drilling rate correlated with indirect tensile strength. The of a rock sample under unconfined compression is studied
quality of the correlation is rather poor. in Fig. 10.

Felsbau 14 (1996) Nr. 2 3

THURO & SPAUN: Drillability in hard rock drill and blast tunnelling

"brittle" Something similar to the destruction work has been

σ marble "tough" phyllite
established several times in literature: The Coefficient of
failure pre-failure-section post-failure-section Rock Strength CRS (PAONE, MADSON & BRUCE 1969),
point
the Rock Impact Hardness Number RIHN (RABIA &
BROOK 1980, 1981), and the Swedish Brittleness Test
failure point (SELMER-OLSEN & BLINDHEIM 1970), all based on the
stress σ

Protodyakanow impact test (PROTODYAKANOW 1962),

destruction work
Wz = σ d ε
strain ε
Fig. 10: Stess-strain curve of a brittle marble without and a typical phyllite with described as the specific work in the stress-strain curve
a distinctive post-failure behaviour under unconfined compression.
Especially in the rock types of the Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit
(quartzphyllite, sericite-chlorite-phyllite, carbonate-
(quartz)-phyllite) samples showed a distinctive post-failure
behaviour during unconfined compression (class I beha-
vior). In contrast to the phyllites the marbles indicated a ty-
pical brittle behaviour with no post-failure section at all
(class II behavior). Whereas in phyllites drilling conditions
were poor, submitting low drilling rates, the marbles were
quite easy to drill, providing high drilling performance. It is
obvious, that the area under the envelope of the stress-strain
diagram of the phyllite sample is much larger than the area
of the marble sample (Fig. 10) - so why not connect those
results? From the physical sight, the envelope curve is not-
hing else but the energy (or work), required for destruction
of the rock sample.
perform a method, where a rock sample is crushed by a
weigth (represents a definite destruction work) and the
obtained grain size is a measure for brittleness. The only
disadvantage is, that this sort of rock property is not a
real physical quantity but an index value lacking a phy-
sical unit.
Very similar to the destruction work is the specific
energy es introduced by HUGES (1972). It may be
until the failure of the sample occures during uncon-
fined compression. In this property, however, is missing
the post-failure section of the curve and thus the main point
of the newly defined quantity.
Returning to our example of the Inntaltunnel, the de-
struction work WZ proved as a highly significent parameter
for correlation with the drilling performance. Fig. 12 shows
the mean values of drilling rates recorded in 20 different
tunnel sections of the Inntal tunnel compared with the de-
struction work of the rock material belonging to them. The
diagramm indicates the close correlation between drilling
velocity and destruction work.
drilling velocity
5
marbles COP 1440 - 20 kW very high
4
sericite-chlorite-phyllite
drilling rate [m/min]

The newly defined rock property has been determined high

as the specific destruction work (in short: destruction work) 3

quartz phyllites
WZ [kJ/m³] and gives the possibility to compare rock mate- medium
rials refering to brittleness/toughness using drills or cutters. 2
sericite-chlorite-gneisses
Whereas the YOUNG´s modulus submits the gradient carbonite phyllites low
(derivation) of the linear section, the destruction work is 1
estimated out of the area under the stress-strain-envelope y=a+b·ln x yσ =0,17 m/min n=20 R =96%
(n-1)
2
very low
(integral, Fig. 11). As a product of both - stress and strain - 0
destruction work represents the work of shape altering in- 0 50 100 150 200 250
destruction work Wz [kJ/m3]
cludung the post failure section.
Fig. 12: Drilling rate correlated with destruction work. The quality of
pre-failure section post-failure section the correlation is very good.

A B C D
σu Applying expertise to other projects
Youngs modulus
stress σ

E=δσ/δε destruction work But not only in foliated rock mass the specific destruction
WZ = σdε work has turned out as a suitable rock property for monito-
ring drilling rates. As can be seen in Fig. 13 a large variety
δσ
of rocks were tested, showing a high significant correlation
δε graph. The rock material plotted in this diagram includes
clay-siltstones, sand- and limestones, conglomerates, marls,
strain ε marbles, schists and different cristalline rocks derived from
Fig. 11: Stess-strain curve with a distinctive post-failure behaviour of seven tunnel projects in Germany and Austria.
the sample. Determination of Young´s modulus E and specific de-
struction work WZ.

The destruction work has proved as a highly significant pa-

rameter for the evaluation of net drilling rates in drill and
blast tunnelling and therefore is the most important mecha-
nical rock property for the investigation of drillability.
Felsbau 14 (1996) Nr. 2 4
 GEOMECHANICS

drilling velocity
5
COP 1440 - 20 kW very high
4 dip angle of
90 foliation
high
drilling rate [m/min]

75
3 100
60
medium
2
80 45

destruction work [%]

low
standard deviation
1
60
y=a+b·ln x yσ(n-1)=0,33 m/min n=64 R2=85% very low 30
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 40
destruction work [kJ/m3] 15
20
Fig. 13: Drilling rate plotted against destruction work. The quality of
the correlation is very good.

As can be seen in Fig. 14, drilling rates are especially 0 0

dependent on the impact power of the rock drill. There is a Fig. 15: Correlation between destruction work and the orientation of
distinct improvement of drilling performance from the COP foliation for a quartzphyllite with flat and smooth (continuous line) re-
spectively uneven, undulating discontinuities (broken line).
1238 (15 kW) to the COP 1440 (20 kW) resulting in up to
40% higher penetration rates.
drilling velocity
5
COP 1440 - 20 kW very high dip angle of
4 90 foliation
75
high
drilling rate [m/min]

100
3 60
unconfined compressive strength [%]

2
1 60
COP 1238 ME - 15 kW
0 40
0 100 200 300
destruction work [kJ/m3]
Fig. 14: Drilling rate plotted against destruction work for both rock
drills. There is a distinct improvement of drilling performance from
the 15 kW to the 20 kW type.
Influence of anisotropy
Of course, rock properties and drilling rates are also highly
dependent on the orientation of weakness planes related to
the direction of testing or drilling. In the following figures
(Fig. 15 - Fig. 18) the correlations between rock properties
and the orientation of foliation for a quartzphyllite with flat
and smooth discontinuities (continuous line) and a quartz-
phyllite with uneven, undulating sericite-chlorite-partings
(broken line) are shown.
The striking point is, that whereas the highest values of
destruction work are gained parallel to foliation, the uncon-
fined compressive strength is higher perpenticular to the
discontinuities - and vice versa. In both cases, the minimum
is located between 45° and 60°. This is set in advance by
the geometry of the sample (length to diameter ratio 2 : 1).
medium
80 45
low
30
very low
400 500
15
20
0 0
Fig. 16: Correlation between unconfined compressive strength and
the orientation of foliation for a quartzphyllite with flat and smooth
(continuous line) respectively uneven, undulating discontinuities
(broken line).
Regarding indirect tensile strength, the minimum values are
obtained parallel to foliation, presuming that in this case re-
al stresses turn up perpendicular to both foliation and force
direction (Fig. 17). By an angle of 45°, stresses are pure
shear stresses and the test turns out to be a shear test along
a forced gap. It is certainly for this reason that the diagram
of drilling rates looks quite the same (Fig. 18) but velocity
is high, where tensile strength is low.
In Fig. 19 a mathematical model is given to describe the
behaviour of both drilling and shear (tensile) strength. As
supposed, strength and drilling rate are connected with the
geometry of induced stress.

Felsbau 14 (1996) Nr. 2 5

THURO & SPAUN: Drillability in hard rock drill and blast tunnelling

To understand the connection between stress field and dril-

ling rates one has to study the destruction process down the
dip angle of borehole once again (Fig. 20 and Fig. 21).
90 foliation
compressive/tensile stress
75
100
60 shear stress shear stress

80 45
tensile strength [%]

60
30

40

15
20

0 0

Fig. 17: Correlation between tensile strength and the orientation of

foliation for a quartzphyllite with flat and smooth (continuous line) re-
spectively uneven, undulating discontinuities (broken line). testing
arrangements

UCS TS UCS TS
dip angle of
Fig. 20: Drilling process according to different orientations of dis-
90 foliation continuities (foliation).
75
100
60 When the direction of drilling is right-angled to the orien-
tation of foliation, rock material is compressed right-angled
80 45 but sheared parallel to it (Fig. 21/1). Although cracks will
develop radial to compression, the cracks parallel to the
drilling rate [%]

60 bottom of the borehole will be used for chipping. Usually

30 in this case the highest drilling velocities are obtained be-
cause of the favourable schist orientation. Drilling is con-
40
trolled by the shear strength of the foliated rock material.
15 The minimum destruction work causes large sized chips
20 and a maximum drilling performance.
If the drilling axis is oriented parallel to foliation, com-
0 0 pression also is parallel but shear stress is right-angled (Fig.
Fig. 18: Correlation between drilling rate and the orientation of folia-
21/3). It should be clear, that less cracks will develop for
tion for a quartzphyllite with flat and smooth (continuous line) re- reasons of higher strength right-angled to the weakness pla-
spectively uneven, undulating discontinuities (broken line). nes. Drilling is controlled by the tensile strength parallel to
the foliation producing small sized fragments and minimum
high tensile stress low tensile stress
drilling performance.
Generally, drilling is controlled by the dip angle of fo-
liation (Fig. 21/2), submitting medium sized fragments du-
ring the crushing process. Drilling performance is - by
100 100
geometrical reason - mainly a cosine function of the dip
drilling rate
angle.
indirect tensile strength [%]

Anyway, it is for sure, that in the parallel case, rock

75 75 properties are the highest and drilling rates are low. In ad-
drilling rate [%]

dition blasting conditions are often related with drilling. So

if the tunnel axis is parallel to the main foliation, drilling
50 50 and blasting conditions suppose to be very poor. In the case
of the Inntaltunnel the consequences were a lower heading
graph equation
performance and higher drilling expenses than expected.
tensile strength
25
y = a + b·cos x 25
In comparison with the crushing process under a TBM
disk cutter (WANNER 1975), the process underneath a but-
90 75 60 45 30 15 0 ton drill bit is completely different in foliated rock. In con-
dip angle of foliation trast to rotary percussive drilling, TBM penetration rates
Fig. 19: Drilling rate and tensile strength plotted against the orienta- are a maximum when foliation is ± diagonal to the tunnel
tion of foliation. axis.

Felsbau 14 (1996) Nr. 2 6


penetration
rotation
drilling bit rotation
button button
1 1
2
penetration
rotation rotation
drilling bit
button button
2 Drilling is controlled
1 1
2 cos-function
penetration
rotation rotation
drilling bit
button button
3 Drilling is controlled
1 1
2
0 5 10 mm
Fig. 21: Physical destruction process in foliated rock. Crushing mechanism below the bit
buttons depending on the dip angle.
As a further result of anisotropy, problems may occure
when drilling direction is ± diagonal to the tunnel axis:
When the angle between drilling and tunnel axis is acute-
angled, drifter rods are deviated into the dip direction of
foliation, if obtuse-angled, into the normal direction of fo-
liation. In any case, drill tracks may be seen as curvatures
and produce distinct borehole deviation.
Structure and texture of rock material and their influ-
ence on rock properties are discussed in detail by
HOWARTH & ROWLANDS (1987). Though the effect on de-
struction work is much greater than supposed. Mechanical
rock properties of the Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit are severely
dominated by the elastic-plastic behaviour of rock material.
For example high values of destruction work have been
measured in rock material showing a tight and laminated
micro fabric and high grade of interlocking between quartz-
feldspar-mouldings and mica layers. In addition, mica con-
sisted mainly of biotite, giving evidence of a higher grade
of metamorphism within the low grade (greenschist) zone.
GEOMECHANICS
Low values of destruction work have been
obtained in rock where quartz-feldspar-
mouldings often were cut through or dislo-
1 crushed rock powder
cated by internal folding. The result is a
2 cracks, rigth-angled to foliation spongy fabric with the possibility to absorb
high distortions but not as tough as the
structure described above.
1 Drilling is controlled Of course there are a lot of other geolo-
by shear strength gical parameters strongly influencing dril-
¦ minimum destruction work ling performance - not possible to be
¦ large sized fragments
¦ maximum drilling performance discussed in this paper - such as spacing of
discontinuities, hydrothermal decompositi-
on, status of weathering and porosity of the
micro fabric.
Drilling bit wear
In the second place, the wear of drilling
equipment may be a severe factor of costs in
tunnelling. As a leading parameter, the wear
of drilling bits has been examined in diffe-
rent rock types. Other tools such as drifter
by the dip angle of foliation rods, couplings and shank adapters have a
¦ medium sized fragments
¦ drilling performance is a
life-span in average ten times the one of
of the dip angle button bits.
An important hint for surveying abrasi-
vity of rock is the analysis of worn-out dril-
ling bits. Bit wear occures in six basic
forms, generally combined according to
rock mass conditions:
1) Button wear. Wear of the hard metal
buttons according to high abrasivity of
the rock, such as granite, gneiss or am-
phibolite.
by tensile strength 2) Steel wear: Wear of the steel calibre in
¦ maximum destruction work diameter as a result of chip grinding in
¦ small sized fragments
¦ minimum drilling performance
weak and moderate strong rock with
high abrasivity, such as sandstones,
schists, weathered and decomposed
rock.
3) Button damage: Breaking of drill but-
tons because of high shear stress. If the
drifter rod becomes stuck or fixed according to jointing,
hard components or steel support, severe damage of the
buttons may result.
4) Total button removal: By the same reasons of button
damage buttons may break out as a whole.
5) Total wear out: When parts of hard metal or entire
buttons are chipped off, frequently those rotating pieces
- too big to be removed by flushing - rip out more but-
tons leading to a total wear-out of the button bit.
6) Steel shaft damage: Damage of the steel shaft below
the buttons by reasons of steel quality or severe force.
In consequence it is possible to make a statistical analysis
of worn out tools to gain an impresson of the grinding ef-
fect of rock fragmentation.
Of course, the range of tool wear can be measured by
recording the quantity of worn-out button bits refering to
their total drilling length - the so called "life-span" of the
bit. Life-span is reported in boremeters per bit [m/bit].
Felsbau 14 (1996) Nr. 2 7
THURO & SPAUN: Drillability in hard rock drill and blast tunnelling

Drilling bit wear in the "Innsbrucker Fig. 23: Wear characteristic of drill bits used in rock belonging to the
"Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit".
Quarzphyllit"
It is clear, that tool wear is a result of the mineral con-
Fig. 22 gives an impression of the wide variety of the rock tent harder than steel, especially quartz (MOHS´ hardness =
types contained in the "Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit". Com- 7). To include all minerals, the equivalent quartz content is
monly quartzphyllites, sericite-chlorite-phyllites and - determined - meaning the entire mineral content refering to
gneisses are put together under the term "quartzphyllite". the abrasiveness/hardness (after ROSIWAL 1896, 1916) of
"Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit" quartz (ROSIWAL abrasiveness = 100). Therefore each mi-
neral share is multiplied with its relative abrasive-
sericite-chlorite- quartzphyllite ness/hardness to quartz (quartz = 100%). An appropriate
phyllite
27% correlation between MOHS hardness and ROSIWAL abrasi-
25% veness is given in Fig. 24. Taking the average mineral con-
tent of quartzphyllites (Fig. 25), the equivalent quartz con-
tent is approximately 46% and thus is slightly higher than
15%
10% the pure quartz content of 42%.
sericite-
4% chlorite-gneiss graph equation y=a+b·ln x
carbonate- 10% 6%
4% greenschist
quartzphyllite 9
carbonate-phyllite
quartz marble marble 8
quartz
7
Fig. 22: Rock types contained in the "Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit" and
Mohs hardness
the composition of samples taken from the Inntal tunnel. 6

In Fig. 23 an example for a statistical analysis is given 5

showing the wear characteristic of drill bits used in rock 4
belonging to the "Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit". In fact, this 3
wear statistic is something like a fingerprint of the ex-
2
amined rock. In quartzphyllites and associated rock types standard deviation = ½
steel wear is dominating compared to the marbles, where 1 n=24 R2=95%
total button removal comes first. 0

quartzphyllites, serizite- 1 10 100 1000

chlorite-phyllites & gneisses Rosiwal abrasiveness
Fig. 24: Correlation between MOHS hardness and ROSIWAL abrasi-
veness.
(3) button damage (2) steel
wear
quartz
24% 46% "quartzphyllite"

42%
feldspar
(4) total button 10% 7%
removal 12% 6%

22%
(5) total wear-out (1) button wear sericite 24%
(6) steel shaft
damage (2%)
chlorite
biotite 2%
carbonate pyllites, marbles carbonate 3%
& quartz marbles
equivalent quartz content equ=45,5%
(4) total
(3) button Fig. 25: Average mineral content of quartzphyllites, sericite-chlorite-
button damage
removal phyllites and -gneisses ("quartzphyllite") and derived equivalent
36% quartz content.
16%
In Fig. 26 the bit life-spans of rock types contained in the
12% (2) steel "Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit" are correlated with their equi-
wear
valent quartz contents. It is obvious that bit wear raises
20% 15% with increasing equivalent quartz content. The expected
relation is also detected when plotting the properties of
(5) total
wear-out (1) button wear
other rock material into the diagramm (Fig. 27). For sand-
(6) steel shaft
stones and decomposed rock other correlations than
damage (1%) discussed here have been found (THURO 1995, 1996).

Felsbau 14 (1996) Nr. 2 8

 GEOMECHANICS

limestone, marl, conglomerates, phyllites, marbles Bit Wear

2500
very low

2000 y=a+b·ln x yσ(n-1)=144 m/bit n=22 R2=95%

low

bit life-span [m/bit]

1500
standard deviation
moderate
1000
high

500
very high
extreme high
0
0 20 40 60 80 100

equivalent quartz content [%]

Fig. 26: Bit life-span of "Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit" rock types and
corresponding equivalent quartz content. Fig. 27: Bit life-span of limestone, marl, conglomerates, together with
phyllites and marbles and corresponding equivalent quartz content.
Not suitable for sandstones and decomposed or weathered rock.

Classification of drillability
Finally a classification of drillability is given,
contributing up-to-now experience. First of all, a
drillability classification should rely on values
easyly obtained on the site. Secondly, the para-
meters should be expressive and provide a good
resolution of drilling rate and wear characteristic.
The system proposed here is based on net drilling
velocity, measured at the tunnel face and drilling
bit wear recorded as the bit life-span.
To get an impression how wide values of bit
wear and drilling rates may vary, mean values of
different rock types or homogeneous areas deri-
ved from seven tunnel projects have been taken
for the diagrams of Fig. 28. The investigations
have been carried out using 15 kW and 20 kW
borehammers (Atlas Copco COP 1238 ME and
COP 1440). The matrix is based on the experi-
ence, that high drilling rates (3 - 4 m/min) and
low bit wear (1500 - 2000 m/bit) should be
described as "fair" drillability.
Conclusion
An investigation program is submitted, which
should help to improve the estimation of rock
drillability in planning future tunnel projects.
First of all, with the discovered correlation
charts for mechanical and petrographic rock
properties, it should be possible to predict dril-
ling rates and bit wear for the examined rock ty-
pes in a satisfactory manor.
Besides rock properties - the main thing in
preliminary site investigation is - first of all -
simple and basic geological mapping. This so-
unds rather simple. But it is extremely necessary
to keep in mind all the parameters possibly influ-
encing drilling performance. Therefore it is very
important to prepare all rock and soil descripti-
ons in a suitable way, engineers are able to un-
derstand.

Fig. 28: Classification diagram for two rock drills (COP 1238 - 15 kW and COP 1440 -
20kW) enclosing drilling rate and bit wear.
Felsbau 14 (1996) Nr. 2 9
THURO & SPAUN: Drillability in hard rock drill and blast tunnelling

Investigation Program

1. preliminary site investigation engineering geological mapping anisotropy

rock & soil description and classification spacing of discontinuities
quantitative description of discontinuities weathering
hydrothermal decomposition
on basis of IAEG and ISRM standardization

2. mechanical rock properties sampling out of drilling cores destruction work

if possible, out of an investigation tunnel compressive strength
Young's modulus
tensile strength
ratio of of σu/σt
rock density / porosity
ð influence of anisotropy
or other factors

3. petrographic description mineral composition equivalent quartz content

micro fabric degree of interlocking

Fig. 29: Proposal of an investigation program, which should help to improve the estimation of rock drillability in planning future tunnel pro-
jects.

For that reason we would like to finish this paper with the
words of Priscilla P. NELSON (1993: 261):
„Whatever the reasons, it is clear, that neither geology
alone, laboratory and field testing alone, experience alone
nor equipment design and operation expertise alone can
get an engineer to the point where underground excavation
is a clearly defined engineering process. Integration of all
these knowledge bases is required to raise the level of en-
gineering contribution to underground construction, and
the entire excavation system must be understood before
applying engineering expertise to the solution of expected
or developing problems.“
References
BLINDHEIM , O.T. (1979): Drillability predictions in hard rock tunnel-
ling. - Tunnelling 1979, London, Inst. Min. Metall., 284-289.
HOWARTH , D.F. & ROWLANDS, J.C. (1987): Quantitative assesse-
ment of rock texture and correlation with drillability and strength
properties. - Rock Mech. & Rock Eng., 20., 57-85.
HUGHES, H.M.(1972): Some aspects of rock machining. - Int. Journal
of Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 9., 205-211.
MÜLLER-SALZBURG, L. (1963): Der Felsbau. Bd.I, Theoretischer Teil,
Felsbau über Tage, 1. Teil. - 624 S., Nachdruck 1980, Stuttgart
(Enke).
NELSON, P.P. (1993): TBM performance analysis with reference to
rock properties. - in: HUDSON, J. (ed.-in-chief): Comprehensive rock
engineering. Principles, practice & projects. Vol. 4. Excavation, Sup-
port and Monitoring. - 849 S., Oxford, New York, etc. (Pergamon),
261-291.
OZDEMIR, L., MILLER, R. & WANG, F.-D. (1977): Mechanical tunnel
boring, prediction and machine design. - Annual report, CSM
(Colorado School of Mines) APR 73-07776-A03.
PAONE, J., MADSON, D. & BRUCE, W.E. (1969): Drillability Studies -
laboratory percussive drilling. - 22 S., USBM U.S. Bureau of Mines,
RI (Report of Investigation) 7300, Washington.
PROTODYAKANOV , M.M. (1962): Mechanical properties and drillability
of rocks. - Proc. 5th Symp. on Rock Mech. Univ. Minnesota, May,
103-118.
RABIA, H. & BROOK, N. (1980): An empirical equation for drill perfor-
mance prediction. - 21st Symp. on Rock Mech. Univ. Missouri-Rolla,
May, 103-111.
RABIA, H. & BROOK, N. (1981): The effects of apparatus size and
surface area of charge on the impact strength of rock. - Int. J. Rock
Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr., 18., 211-219.
ROSIWAL , A. (1896): Neue Untersuchungsergebnisse über die Härte
von Mineralien und Gesteinen. - Verhandlg. d. k.k. geol. R.-A. Wien,
475-491.
ROSIWAL , A. (1916): Neuere Ergebnisse der Härtebestimmung von
Mineralien und Gesteinen. Ein absolutes Maß für die Härte spröder
Körper. - Verhandlg. d. k.k. geol. R.-A. Wien, 117-147.
SELMER-OLSEN, R. & BLINDHEIM , O.T. (1970): On the drillability of
rock by percussive drilling. - Proc. 2nd Cong. of the Int. Soc. for
Rock Mech., Belgrade, 65-70.
SPAUN, G. & THURO, K. (1994): Untersuchungen zur Bohrbarkeit und
Zähigkeit des Innsbrucker Quarzphyllits. - Felsbau, 12., 2, 111-122.
THURO, K. (1995): Geologisch-felsmechanische Untersuchungen zur
Bohrbarkeit von Festgesteinen beim konventionellen Bohr- und
Sprengvortrieb anhand ausgewählter Tunnelprojekte. - 156 S. Dis-
sertation TU München.
THURO, K. (1996): Bohrbarkeit beim konventionellen Sprengvortrieb.
Geologisch-felsmechanische Untersuchungen an sieben ausge-
wählten Tunnelprojekten. - Münchner Geologische Hefte, Reihe B:
Angewandte Geologie, 1., 1 - 152.
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1978), 1st day, March 1st, 1978, pap. 4, 44 S.

Felsbau 14 (1996) Nr. 2 10


Abstract
THURO & SPAUN: DRILLABILITY IN HARD ROCK DRILL
AND BLAST TUNNELLING
The drillability of a rock mass is determined by various
geological and mechanical parameters. In this report some
major correlations of specific rock properties as well as
geological factors with measured bit wear and drilling ve-
locity are shown. Apart from conventional mechanical rock
properties (compressive and tensile strength, Young's mo-
dulus) a new property for toughness/brittleness referring to
drillability has been introduced: the specific destruction
work WZ. This new method makes it possible to understand
better the connection between drilling velocity and the main
mechanical rock character.
During running excavation works of the Inntaltunnel,
poor drilling and blasting conditions have been recorded
over long distances. Drillability of the rock mass has been
determined by foliation of the Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit and
by its geotechnical character. In this paper bit wear and
drilling velocity in correlation with main geological and
mechanical properties are discussed. Rock properties and
and drilling datas of the Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit are
shown in correlation of shist foliation. Besides, the im-
portance of the criystalline microstructure could be proved.
Authors
Kurosch Thuro, Dipl.-Geol. Dr.rer.nat
Georg Spaun, o.Univ.-Prof. Dr.phil.
Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine, Angewandte und Ingenieur-
Geologie, Technische Universität München
Lichtenbergstraße 4, D-85747 Garching
e-mail: thuro@geo.tum.de
Felsbau 14 (1996) Nr. 2
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GEOMECHANICS
Thuro & Spaun: Bohrbarkeit von Festgesteinen beim
Bohr- und Sprengvortrieb.
Die Bohrbarkeit des Gebirges wird durch unterschiedliche
geologische und felsmechanische Parameter bestimmt. In
diesem Beitrag werden die wesentlichen Abhängigkeiten
zwischen den spezifischen Materialeigenschaften von Ge-
stein und Gebirge und den meßbaren Parametern Bohrkro-
nenverschleiß und Bohrgeschwindigkeit aufgezeigt. Neben
den konventionellen felsmechanischen Kennwerten (Druck-
, Zugfestigkeit und Elastizitätsmodul) wurde ein neues Maß
für die Zähigkeit bezüglich der Bohrbarkeit von Gesteinen
eingeführt: die spezifische Zerstörungsarbeit Wz. Die neue
Auswertemethode ermöglicht es, den ursächlichen Zusam-
menhang zwischen der Netto-Bohrgeschwindigkeit und den
felsmechanischen Eigenschaften eines Gesteins besser als
bisher nachzuvollziehen. Im Verlauf des bergmännischen
Tunnelvortriebs erwies sich das Gebirge des Inntaltunnels
über weite Strecken als schwer bohrbar und ebenso als
schwer sprengbar. Die Bohrbarkeit des Gebirges wurde
zum einen durch die Schieferung des Innsbrucker Quarz-
phyllits bestimmt, zum anderen durch seine geotechnischen
Eigenschaften. In diesem Beitrag werden Bohrkronenver-
schleiß und Bohrgeschwindigkeit in Abhängigkeit der we-
sentlichen geologischen und felsmechanischen Parameter
diskutiert. Es werden felsmechanische Kennwerte des Inns-
brucker Quarzphyllits und bohrtechnische Daten in Abhän-
gigkeit von der Schieferungsrichtung vorgestellt und die
Bedeutung des Mikrogefüges nachgewiesen. Abschließend
wird ein Vorschlag für ein Untersuchungsprogramm unter-
breitet, welches bei künftigen Vorerkundungen für Tunnel-
und Stollenprojekte helfen soll, Gestein und Gebirge im
Hinblick auf die Bohrbarkeit besser zu erfassen.
11