Conventional Tunneling

Drill and Blast Method

Drill and blast method are mostly used method for the excavation throughout the world. The method can be used
in all types of rocks and the initial cost is lower than the mechanical method like TBM. This tunneling method
involves the useqsa

of explosives. Compared with bored tunneling by Tunnel Boring Machine, blasting generally results in higher
duration of vibration levels. The excavation rate is also less than TBM (usually 3 to 5m a day).

The typical cycle of excavation by blasting is performed in the following steps:

a. Drilling blast holes and loading them with explosives.

Drilling and Blasting Method Sequences

Before the blasting takes place, the drilling rig bores the drill holes – determined in advance in a blasting plan – in
the foremst front wall of the tunnel (working face). The more solid the rock, the more explosives are required.
A jumbo is used to drill holes in the rock face. This one has three drilling arms and an operator tower. It is run by
electric cable; a hose brings water to the drills. The drills are pneumatic. That means that the drill bits both
hammer and rotate. Broken bits of rock are flushed out by water. These drill holes are 2.4-3.6 metres long.

The first sets are straight holes (parallel cut) located around the edge of the face and in the middle. A second set
(V-cut) is angled toward the center. These allow the rock to be blown away from the face into the drift (tunnel).

2- Loading and Blasting

The drill holes are now filled with explosives, detonators are attached to the explosive devices and the individual
explosive devices are connected to one another. The holes are blasted in a proper sequence, from the center
outward, one after the other. Although more than 100 explosions may be set off, one after the other, the blast
sequence is completed in several seconds. The devices should not explode at the same time, but rather one after
the other at specified intervals. Only when the blast master has ensured that nobody is left in the danger zone can
the explosion be triggered by the blasting machine.

3- Ventilating
The blast causes lots of rock to be flung through the tunnel, dispersing clouds of dust that then mix with the
combustion gases of the explosion. So that the miners can resume work in the tunnel, the bad air must be
removed from the tunnel. This is done by using so-called air-ducting systems, long steel or plastic pipes, which are
attached to the roof of the tunnel and blow fresh air onto the working face. This gives rise to localized excess
pressure and the bad air is pushed towards the tunnel exit.

4. Dislodging

Dislodging refers to the stripping away and removal of loose pieces of rock, which were not completely released
from the rock during the blasting procedure. This working step is completed by a robust tunnel excavator.

5. Removing rubble

After the loose pieces of rock have been dislodged from the working face, the blasted material – the rubble or spoil
– is carried out of the tunnel. The material is either loaded onto dump trucks with wheel loaders and taken from
the tunnel to an outside landfill or it is transported from the site of excavation to the landfill on conveyer belts.
During the construction of the Brenner Base Tunnel, the transportation of the excavated material mainly takes
place automatically using conveyor belts.
6. Securing

The quickly drying shotcrete used for this purpose in particular enables a cavity-free connection of the securing
mechanism to the rock. Depending on the type of rock, a variety of securing measures can be implemented: wire
mesh, tunnel arches, stakes or so-called bolts, which can be driven into the rock.

The final method for stabilizing rock faces is most commonly rock bolting. A jumbo is used here to first drill holes
into the rock. The holes vary from 2.4-6 metres long. Next a steel rod with a wedge threaded on the end is inserted
in the hole. When it is in place, the rod is turned so that it pulls out against the wedge, forcing it into the walls of
the hole. The outside end of the rod is secured with a steel plate and large nut. Geologists and engineers at a mine
determine the spacing and depth of rock bolts required for the conditions at their site.

Under the poorest ground conditions, it may be necessary to put steel arches in place to hold up the walls and roof
of a tunnel. In other situations, a steel mesh may be secured to the walls and roof to prevent other loose materials
from falling on workers below.

7. Geological mapping
The working face is now freely accessible and the geologist has a few minutes to map it. In the process, he
determines what type of rock is present and how the rocks lie, i.e., whether they dip in a flat or steep manner,
whether they are folded or even broken. He uses a special compass as an aid to measure the angle of incidence
and direction of incidence of the rock structures. At the same time, the strength of the rock, the reaction of the
rock mass to the excavation process and any mountain water infiltration are also documented. The mapping report
created from this – with sketches and photos – serves as the basis for the selection of appropriate supporting
measures.

Drilling Pattern Design

The drilling pattern ensures the distribution of the explosive in the rock and desired blasting result. Several factors
must be taken into account when designing the drilling pattern: rock drillability and blastability, the type of
explosives, blast vibration restrictions and accuracy
requirements of the blasted wall etc. The basic drilling & blasting factors, and drilling pattern design are discussed
below. Since every mining and construction site has its own characteristics, the given drilling patterns should be
considered merely as guidelines.

Many mines and excavation sites still plan their drilling patterns manually, but advanced computer programs are
available and widely used. Computer programs make it easier to modify the patterns and fairly accurately predict
the effects of changes in drilling, charging, loading and production. Computer programs are based on the same
design information used in preparing patterns manually.
Drilling pattern design in tunneling and drifting is based on the following factors:

a. Tunnel dimensions
b. Tunnel geometry
c. Hole size
d. Final quality requirements
e. Geological and rock mechanical conditions
f. Explosives availability and means of detonation
g. Expected water leaks
h. Vibration restrictions
i. Drilling equipment

Depending on site conditions, all or some of the above factors are considered important enough to determine the
tunnel drilling pattern. Construction sites typically have several variations of drilling patterns to take into account
the changing conditions in each tunnel. Drifting in mines is carried out with 5 to 10 drilling patterns for different
tunnel sizes (production drifters, haulage drifters, draw points, ramps etc.) The pattern is finalized at the drilling
site. Tunnel blasting differs from bench blasting in that tunnels have only one free surface available when blasting
starts. This restricts round length, and the volume of rock that can be blasted at one time. Similarly, it means that
specific drilling and charging increases as the tunnel face area decreases. When designing a drilling pattern in
tunneling, the main goal is to ensure the optimum number of correctly placed and accurately drilled holes. This
helps to ensure successful charging and blasting, as well as produce accurate and smooth tunnel walls, roof and
floor. A drilling pattern optimized in this way is also the most economical and efficient for the given conditions.

Reference:

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