Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Drillability in Hard Rock Drill and Blast Tunneling - K. Thuro 1996
Drillability in Hard Rock Drill and Blast Tunneling - K. Thuro 1996
net/publication/293385972
CITATIONS READS
30 2,716
2 authors, including:
Kurosch Thuro
Technische Universität München
193 PUBLICATIONS 2,327 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE
All content following this page was uploaded by Kurosch Thuro on 01 February 2018.
drilling velocity
tunnelling performance
Drillability
wear of drilling tools
drilling bit wear
Working Process
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).
running excavation works of the Inntal- rounds per day difference in percent 3,7 rounds/day 3,8 rounds/day
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
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.
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.
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
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 [%]
medium
80 45
2
low
1 60
30
COP 1238 ME - 15 kW very low
0 40
0 100 200 300 400 500
15
destruction work [kJ/m3]
20
Fig. 14: Drilling rate plotted against destruction work for both rock
drills. There is a distinct improvement of drilling performance from
0 0
the 15 kW to the 20 kW type.
Fig. 16: Correlation between unconfined compressive strength and
Influence of anisotropy the orientation of foliation for a quartzphyllite with flat and smooth
(continuous line) respectively uneven, undulating discontinuities
Of course, rock properties and drilling rates are also highly (broken line).
dependent on the orientation of weakness planes related to Regarding indirect tensile strength, the minimum values are
the direction of testing or drilling. In the following figures obtained parallel to foliation, presuming that in this case re-
(Fig. 15 - Fig. 18) the correlations between rock properties al stresses turn up perpendicular to both foliation and force
and the orientation of foliation for a quartzphyllite with flat direction (Fig. 17). By an angle of 45°, stresses are pure
and smooth discontinuities (continuous line) and a quartz- shear stresses and the test turns out to be a shear test along
phyllite with uneven, undulating sericite-chlorite-partings a forced gap. It is certainly for this reason that the diagram
(broken line) are shown. of drilling rates looks quite the same (Fig. 18) but velocity
The striking point is, that whereas the highest values of is high, where tensile strength is low.
destruction work are gained parallel to foliation, the uncon- In Fig. 19 a mathematical model is given to describe the
fined compressive strength is higher perpenticular to the behaviour of both drilling and shear (tensile) strength. As
discontinuities - and vice versa. In both cases, the minimum supposed, strength and drilling rate are connected with the
is located between 45° and 60°. This is set in advance by geometry of induced stress.
the geometry of the sample (length to diameter ratio 2 : 1).
80 45
tensile strength [%]
60
30
40
15
20
0 0
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 [%]
penetration
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
rotation
drilling bit rotation
2 cracks, rigth-angled to foliation spongy fabric with the possibility to absorb
high distortions but not as tough as the
button button structure described above.
1 Drilling is controlled Of course there are a lot of other geolo-
by shear strength gical parameters strongly influencing dril-
1 1 ¦ minimum destruction work ling performance - not possible to be
¦ large sized fragments
¦ maximum drilling performance discussed in this paper - such as spacing of
2
discontinuities, hydrothermal decompositi-
on, status of weathering and porosity of the
penetration
micro fabric.
Drilling bit wear
In the second place, the wear of drilling
rotation rotation
drilling bit equipment may be a severe factor of costs in
tunnelling. As a leading parameter, the wear
button button
of drilling bits has been examined in diffe-
2 Drilling is controlled rent rock types. Other tools such as drifter
by the dip angle of foliation rods, couplings and shank adapters have a
¦ medium sized fragments
1 1 ¦ drilling performance is a
life-span in average ten times the one of
2 cos-function of the dip angle button bits.
An important hint for surveying abrasi-
vity of rock is the analysis of worn-out dril-
penetration
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
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).
500
very high
extreme high
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
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
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 RABIA, H. & BROOK, N. (1980): An empirical equation for drill perfor-
mance prediction. - 21st Symp. on Rock Mech. Univ. Missouri-Rolla,
words of Priscilla P. NELSON (1993: 261): May, 103-111.
„Whatever the reasons, it is clear, that neither geology
RABIA, H. & BROOK, N. (1981): The effects of apparatus size and
alone, laboratory and field testing alone, experience alone
surface area of charge on the impact strength of rock. - Int. J. Rock
nor equipment design and operation expertise alone can Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr., 18., 211-219.
get an engineer to the point where underground excavation
ROSIWAL , A. (1896): Neue Untersuchungsergebnisse über die Härte
is a clearly defined engineering process. Integration of all von Mineralien und Gesteinen. - Verhandlg. d. k.k. geol. R.-A. Wien,
these knowledge bases is required to raise the level of en- 475-491.
gineering contribution to underground construction, and ROSIWAL , A. (1916): Neuere Ergebnisse der Härtebestimmung von
the entire excavation system must be understood before Mineralien und Gesteinen. Ein absolutes Maß für die Härte spröder
applying engineering expertise to the solution of expected Körper. - Verhandlg. d. k.k. geol. R.-A. Wien, 117-147.
or developing problems.“ SELMER-OLSEN, R. & BLINDHEIM , O.T. (1970): On the drillability of
rock by percussive drilling. - Proc. 2nd Cong. of the Int. Soc. for
References Rock Mech., Belgrade, 65-70.
BLINDHEIM , O.T. (1979): Drillability predictions in hard rock tunnel- SPAUN, G. & THURO, K. (1994): Untersuchungen zur Bohrbarkeit und
ling. - Tunnelling 1979, London, Inst. Min. Metall., 284-289. Zähigkeit des Innsbrucker Quarzphyllits. - Felsbau, 12., 2, 111-122.
HOWARTH , D.F. & ROWLANDS, J.C. (1987): Quantitative assesse- THURO, K. (1995): Geologisch-felsmechanische Untersuchungen zur
ment of rock texture and correlation with drillability and strength Bohrbarkeit von Festgesteinen beim konventionellen Bohr- und
properties. - Rock Mech. & Rock Eng., 20., 57-85. Sprengvortrieb anhand ausgewählter Tunnelprojekte. - 156 S. Dis-
sertation TU München.
HUGHES, H.M.(1972): Some aspects of rock machining. - Int. Journal
of Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 9., 205-211. THURO, K. (1996): Bohrbarkeit beim konventionellen Sprengvortrieb.
Geologisch-felsmechanische Untersuchungen an sieben ausge-
MÜLLER-SALZBURG, L. (1963): Der Felsbau. Bd.I, Theoretischer Teil, wählten Tunnelprojekten. - Münchner Geologische Hefte, Reihe B:
Felsbau über Tage, 1. Teil. - 624 S., Nachdruck 1980, Stuttgart Angewandte Geologie, 1., 1 - 152.
(Enke).
W ANG, F.-D., OZDEMIR, L. & SNYDER, L. (1978): Prediction and ex-
NELSON, P.P. (1993): TBM performance analysis with reference to perimental verification of disk cutter forces in hard rock. - in: Euro-
rock properties. - in: HUDSON, J. (ed.-in-chief): Comprehensive rock tunnel '78 conference, Basle, Switzerland (Basle: Congress Centre,
engineering. Principles, practice & projects. Vol. 4. Excavation, Sup- 1978), 1st day, March 1st, 1978, pap. 4, 44 S.
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.