Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1467-3852

Date Available

12-15-2023

Year of Publication

2023

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mining Engineering (MSMIE)

Document Type

Master's Thesis

College

Engineering

Department/School/Program

Mining Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Joshua Calnan

Second Advisor

Dr. Zach Agioutantis

Abstract

Air overpressure is a shock wave that occurs when explosives detonate and travel through the air. This can cause damage and annoyance in mining blasts, making it a significant concern for the surroundings of the operation. Currently, the cube root scale distance is used to predict air overpressure, but this method has limitations. To accurately determine air overpressure behavior, a new method is needed. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a reliable and advanced technique that can simulate and solve complex physical problems, including the behavior of air overpressure. In this thesis, two techniques, the bursting balloon, and total pressure boundary, have been used to create numerical models for air overpressure. In the bursting balloon technique, a compressed closed volume is released, creating a pressure wave that is analyzed while it travels from the source. In the total pressure boundary technique, a time vs pressure curve is used as input against a surface and then released. Both techniques have been used to model a signature hole, while the total pressure boundary technique has also been used to model a blasting pattern composed of 21 blasting holes. These models only consider the physical interaction among the elements of fluid motion without including any chemical reactions from the explosives. To reduce computational time, a simplified simulation is key, as the simulation can run from minutes to days, weeks, or months.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2023.481

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