OPERATION MANUAL

FRAGMENTATION PREDICTOR

OPERATION MANUAL

1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 2

1.1 SYSTEM REQUIREMENT ....................................................................................................................................... 3

CHAPTER 2: SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE ........................................ 4

2.1 SCREEN LAYOUT ....................................................................................................................................................... 4

2.2.1 Title Bar ........................................................................................................................................................ 5

2.2.2 Menu Bar ..................................................................................................................................................... 5

CHAPTER 3: GENERAL FUNCTIONS ............................................. 6

MINE DETAILS: .............................................................................................................................................................. 6

PREDICTION:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6

DESIGN PARAMETERS: .................................................................................................................................................... 8

FRGMENTATION TARGET PREDICTOR: ................................................................................................................................. 9

Calculation ................................................................................................................................................. 10

Graph ......................................................................................................................................................... 10

Table ........................................................................................................................................................... 13

OPERATION MANUAL

2

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

When an explosive charge, confined within a blast hole is initiated, reactions take place resulting

in production of large amount of gases at very high temperature and pressure in a very short

time. An important characteristic of high explosive is the production of very large amount of

energy per unit of time. The gas pressure acts on the walls of the hole and thus subjects the

media beyond the hole to vast stresses and strains. The primary purpose of blasting is to

fragment rock, and there are significant rewards for delivering a fragmentation size range that is

not only well suited to the mining system it feeds but also minimizes unsalable fractions and

enhances the value of what can be sold. Optimum fragmentation is very specific to each

operation.

Fig.1 Fragmentation

Fragmentation refers to the size distribution of the rock obtained after blasting. It is rather

difficult to define fragmentation since there is no generally accepted way of measuring

fragmentation. In many cases reference is made to the average size of the resulting broken rock

and sometime fragmentation refers to the largest boulders resulting from a blast.

Fragmentation Predictor Web application will allow user to ‘design most optimized blast design

with minimum cost’. Inputs to the software are Blast design information, Rock properties

information and explosive information and based on Kuz-Ram fragmentation model and Rosin

Rammler equations, this model enables to make fragmentation calculation, graph and table

between Fragment size and percentage passing. This method is able to predict the entire

fragmentation size distribution, taking into account intact and joints rock properties, the type and

properties of explosives and the drilling pattern. This type of prediction allows blasts to be

designed according to fragmentation size requirements.

OPERATION MANUAL

3

1.1 SYSTEM REQUIREMENT

Fragmentation Predictor has been developed to run on personal computer under Microsoft

XP/2007 using Microsoft Access database. Following are the recommended minimum

requirement:

Memory requirement: 32 MB of RAM for better functioning of the software

Storage requirement: Hard disk drive with 50 MB of free space

Installation requirement: CD-ROM Drive 32X Drive, USB port

Display requirement: XGA graphics (1024x768 display)

Supporting requirement: Mouse and keyboard

Fragmentation Predictor is designed for XGA graphics (1024 * 768). Although it will operate in

SVGA graphics mode (640* 480), some of the items may be obscured or cut short in the smaller

screen area, such as dialog boxes, query windows and status line messages.

OPERATION MANUAL

4

CHAPTER 2: SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

2.1 Screen Layout Once you go through this link www.mineexcellence.com

For login users can enter their user name & password to move on to the next page.

After clicking on Log in button blasting predictors & control tools are displayed.

2.2.1 Title Bar

This is top most part of the screen. This displays User name with profile picture and company logo.

OPERATION MANUAL

5

2.2.2 Menu Bar

This is portion of application screen. This consists of menu items defining the basic functionality of the

software. Following are menu items present in menu bar.

OPERATION MANUAL

6

CHAPTER 3: GENERAL FUNCTIONS

Fragmentation Predictor incorporates several functions:

Mine Details:-

This function allow user to save mine details which include Mine Name and Blast Location. This

information has to be filled as it is needed for generating Report.

To save mine details, click on Edit Mine details.

Prediction:-

This function allow user to select any one blasting predictors at a time.

After clicking on Fragmentation, design parameters of fragmentation are displayed.

Design Parameters: Following parameters are required to predict the fragmentation .These includes:

OPERATION MANUAL

7

a. Blast Design Info

Bench Height

Hole Diameter

Hole Depth

Subgrade

Burden

Spacing

Stemming

Drilling accuracy

Spacing to Burden Ratio

Drill Pattern

The user can use the default parameters by clicking on Set Default button. It also allow user to

edit these parameters as per their operational requirement. User can select either staggered or

square as their drill pattern from the drop down list.

Click Next button to head to Rock Property Info tab.

b. Rock Property Info

Specific Gravity

Young’s Modulus

USC- Compressive Strength

Rock Mass Description

Vertical Joint Spacing

Joint Plan Orientation

Sonic Velocity

OPERATION MANUAL

8

The user can use the default parameters by clicking on Set Default button. It also allow user to

edit these parameters as per their operational requirement.

Click Next button to head to Explosive Info tab.

c. Explosive Info

Explosive Diameter

Explosive Density

REE

OPERATION MANUAL

9

The user can use the default parameters by clicking on Set Default button. It also allows user to

edit these parameters as per their operational requirement.

After clicking on Fragmentation button fragmentation target predictor is displayed.

Fragmentation Target Predictor:

It will ask user the value of over size, optimum size and under size.

After clicking on ok button, will calculate and provide user the value of blast ability index,

average size of material, uniformity exponent, and characteristic size. It also calculates the

percentage of oversize, in range and under size.

The output of fragmentation prediction is in 3 options:

OPERATION MANUAL

10

1. Calculation

This will give the prediction results. It also calculates the blastability index, Average size

of material, Uniformity exponent and Characteristic size.

2. Graph

The results will be displayed in the graph format in which x-axis defines the fragment size (in

meters) and y axis will shows the cumulative percentage passing (in meters).

OPERATION MANUAL

11

a. Change Increment Size :-

It gives user an option to increase Fragment Size as per their requirement.

After clicking on ok button, graph will be displayed.

OPERATION MANUAL

12

b. Change Percent Passing:-

It gives user an option to change Percent Passing as per their requirement.

After clicking on ok button, graph will be displayed.

OPERATION MANUAL

13

c. Show Data Points

A show data point check box is provided, when user will check this, the data points are

displayed in the graph.

OPERATION MANUAL

14

d. Print

It will give user an option to print the graph.

After clicking on print button print preview will be displayed.

OPERATION MANUAL

15

User can edit or change the layout, color, copies etc. If user wants to print the graph, click

on print button and if not then on cancel button.

3. Table

This will give the prediction results, fragment size and cumulative percentage passing in tabular

format.

If user wants to increase or decrease the size, percentage passing will be changed according to

the size. After entering the increment size, click on ok button, table will be displayed.

OPERATION MANUAL

16

Log In Credentials

a. Edit Profile

b. Logout

a. Edit Profile

It will allow user to Edit the information.

After clicking on save button, the edited information will be saved.

b. logout

OPERATION MANUAL

17

If user wants to exit, click on logout button.