As part of the Hybrid Stress Blast Model (HSBM) project, Itasca has developed software to model the rock blasting process. The code, called Blo-Up 2.5, uses a unique combination of three-dimensional continuous and discontinuous numerical methods to represent the key processes occurring in non-ideal detonation, rock fracturing and muck pile formation. Itasca’s continuum rock mechanics code FLAC is used to represent the shear failure characteristic of the near field. FLAC is coupled to a custom discrete element (DEM) code which models the wave propagation and initial fragmentation through to muck pile formation. Recently, significant work has been undertaken by the project sponsors and researchers to design and evaluate a series of validation cases for this new technology. The HSBM project has had an ongoing collaboration with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) involving blasts experiments on concrete cubes. HSBM sponsor and research partner AEL Mining Services performed a series of instrumented test blasts on concrete cubes. This paper compares the Blo-Up 2.5 numerical model to these validation experiments.
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Furtney, J. K., P. A. Cundall, I. Onederra and E. Sellers. (2011) “Numerical Modeling of Rock Blasting: Validation Tests for Blo-Up 2.5,” in Continuum and Distinct Element Modeling in Geomechanics --- 2011 (Proceedings, 2nd International FLAC/DEM Symposium, Melbourne, February 2011), 359–367, D. Sainsbury, R. Hart, C. Detournay, and M. Nelson, Eds. Minneapolis: Itasca International Inc.