Numerical study of fracture plane control in laboratory-scale blasting

One way of achieving controlled crack growth is to introduce notches into the surface of the guide hole wall. This results in high stress concentration at the notch tips when the stress wave reaches the guide hole. This paper presents the estimated fracture properties for analyzing blasting-induced fracture processes in PMMA specimens. The model experiments, which have a notched guide hole between the charge holes, were simulated using dynamic fracture process analysis (DFPA) software to examine the effect of the notched guide hole on fracture plane control. The influence of the location of the guide hole and the initiation time lag on the crack propagation control is discussed, as is the relationship between the applied fracture energy and crack extension.