Abstract
Microwave fracturing has a great potential in assisting the breakage of hard rocks using impact hammers by inducing artificial cracks and downgrading the rock mass quality. In this article, the techno-economy of microwave-assisted impact hammer breakage of hard rocks was investigated. Microwave heating tests of 50-cm cubic biotite diorite blocks were carried out, followed by temperature measurement, ultrasonic velocity tests, Schmidt hammer rebound tests and rock breakage tests. The fracturing characteristics, the interaction between the radiation locations and the rock breaking by impact hammer were comprehensively investigated. The results show that the microwave system is efficient in fracturing the diorite. Cracks generated by the subsequent radiation tend to develop toward the centre of, or the cracks generated by, the previous radiation. Cracks produced by the previous radiations can be widened and extended by a following radiation. The maximum length and width of crack increase with the increase of the microwave power and heating time. Rock breakage tests demonstrate that microwave treatment greatly weakens the specimens and improves the efficiency of rock breaking by impact hammer. It is technologically feasible and economically viable to conduct microwave-assisted rock breakage by impact hammers.
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Acknowledgements
The tests presented in this article were conducted in association with a project titled “Developing low-power microwave tools to assist rock excavation for underground caverns”, led by Professor Jian Zhao of Monash University Australia, and funded by Singapore JTC Corporation. The article has been reviewed by Professor Jian Zhao. The authors also appreciate the help of Qinhua Zhao, Julong He and Feng Zhu in conducting the experiments.
Funding
The authors received financial support from Singapore JTC Corporation, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52104121 and 41831281), the Innovative and Entrepreneurial Team Program of Jiangsu Province, China (JSSCTD202140), the Innovative and Entrepreneurial Doctor Program of Jiangsu Province, China, as well as the Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (No. KYCX20_0114).
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Ma, Z., Zheng, Y., Zhao, X. et al. Microwave-assisted hard rock breakage by impact hammers: heating, fracturing and mechanical breakage. Bull Eng Geol Environ 81, 308 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02808-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02808-7