Precision Presplitting Optimization

Anthony J. Konya, Missouri S & T University

&

Calvin J. Konya Ph.D., Precision Blasting Services

Abstract

Mine sites and construction projects have faced problems with blasting a smooth back wall. This lead to
safety concerns with slope stability and rock falls from the walls. Decades ago Dr. Calvin Konya began a
special type of blasting called “Precision Presplitting”. This form of presplitting used relatively light loads
based on the rock type being blasted. The explosive loads were estimated for each rock type and adjusted
as blasting progressed. This current research project also determined a new equation for prediction of the
ground vibration from one type of presplitting and compared it to vibration from production blasting. We
developed a new equation for determining the explosive loads on one type of presplit based on the rock
properties. With these new equations and the previously published Air Overpressure equation one can
now optimize a specific type of presplit blast for explosive load and the environmental factors caused by
it. This will ensure a safer blasting operation, increased wall control, and better slope stability for a
reasonable cost.

Background
Presplitting has been used since 1957 to help form a consistent, smooth, back wall. This can help reduce
toes and back break, along with creating a safer working condition near the face. The older methods used
presplit explosives for the explosive loads that would break even the strongest rocks encountered. This
would create problems with weaker rocks, as the presplit would cause damage to the back wall and cause
much greater breakage than intended. A few decades ago Dr. Calvin Konya introduced a form of
proprietary form of presplitting. This form of presplitting would use only enough explosive load for the
specific rock strength, without causing additional breakage. This specific type of presplitting uses
extremely light explosive loads and because of this the explosive load is generally referred to in grains of
detonating cord per foot in US units and kilograms or grams per meter in Metric units. The method was
tested repeatedly to find the spacing and explosive loads for the rock type. This current study considered
multiple rock characteristics to determine the explosive loads, along with presenting new equations for
predicting air overpressure and ground vibration.

Explosive Loads
Explosive Loads are the amount of explosive used as a column load placed in each hole in order to achieve
the desired results. For this research paper we looked at past company presplit projects and the different
rock properties that were associated with those projects. We then analyzed many different properties to
determine which had an effect on predicting the explosive load. Some of the properties considered were:
Tensile Strength, Shear Strength, Compressive Strength, Young’s Modulus, and Poisson’s Ratio. These
were all computed at a fixed 24 inch (0.6 meter) spacing.

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The only property that seems to have a large influence on the explosive load was Young’s Modulus or the
Modulus of Elasticity

(E) = stress / strain = σ / ε.

where
E = Young's modulus (N/m2), (lb/in2), (GPa)

The Young’s Modulus seems to have a linear relationship with explosive loads for the specific type of
presplitting (Figure 1). Young’s Modulus is defined as the forced needed per unit area to stretch or
compress a material. In terms of blasting mechanics, we can think of the explosive load as providing a set
amount of force and the rock is the material we want to stretch. When we look at the blast in this these
terms, it makes sense that explosive load would correlate well with the Young’s Modulus.

Young's Modulus (GPa) vs Kilograms/Meter

0.160
Granite
y = 0.004x - 0.0118
0.140 R² = 0.9957
Limestone
0.120

0.100
Kg/m

0.080 Shale
Sandstone
0.060

0.040
Siltstone
0.020

0.000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Young's Modulus (GPa)

Figure 1 – Young’s Modulus vs. Kilograms/meter

Figure 1 shows how Young’s Modulus relates to the explosive load in kilograms/meter. While this
equation would work well for determining explosive loads, this type of presplitting’s explosive loads are
normally determined in grains of detonating cord per foot in the USA.

Kilograms/meter can be converted to grains of detonating cord per foot by using the equation below:

𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑒𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑑 =
0.000213

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Konya Equations for Determining Explosive Load for 24 inch (0.6 Meter) Spacing
The results of specific presplit blasting conducted on construction projects were used to develop the
specialized proprietary presplit column load prediction equations shown below

Metric Units:

𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 0.004 (𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑔′ 𝑠 𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑠(𝐺𝑃𝑎)) − 0.0118

𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 4.0 (𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑔′ 𝑠 𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑠(𝐺𝑃𝑎)) − 11.8

US Units

𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡 = 18.78 (𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑔′ 𝑠 𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑠(𝐺𝑃𝑎)) − 36.76

Figure 2 – A test of the proprietary presplit method

The first specialized proprietary presplit was fired by Dr Konya in sandstone. The blasthole spacing was
24 inches or 60.96 cm. The results of this test blast are shown in Figure 2. When explosive column loads
are small such as 100 to 500 grains per foot it is necessary and convenient to use multiple strands of
detonating cord for the explosive load. Many large projects are now completed using this proprietary
presplitting method for both mining and construction. The USACE Grundy Remediation Project in
Grundy, VA, utilized over 1.5 million feet of detonating cord for this proprietary method of presplit
blasting (Figure 3).

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 Figure 3 - Over 1.5 million Feet of Detonating Cord used on a project employing a proprietary method
of presplitting in Grundy, VA

Geologic Conditions
With these equations, we can calculate values for the explosive column loads for test blasts. These will be
for the average Young’s Modulus for the rock, but the Young’s Modulus may vary at every site. Table1
lists the beginning values for test blasts in different rock types when blast hole spacing is 24 inches or
60.96 cm.

Table 1 - Rock Type Calculations

Rock Type Young’s Modulus (GPa) Explosive Load Explosive Load
(grains/foot) (kg/m)
Siltstone 8.5 100 0.021
Sandstone 15 250 0.053
Shale 20 300 0.064
Limestone 30 550 0.117
Granite 40 700 0.149

Ground Vibration Scaled Distance

This proprietary type of presplitting produces different vibration levels than normal production blasting
with the same size blastholes. With standard presplitting methods it has been found that the vibration can
be as much as five times greater than a production blast using the same diameter blasthole and the same
scaled distance. This is because all holes are confined at the time they fire, producing greater particle
velocity than a normal blast would at the same scaled distance. The formula for ground vibration scaled
distance is shown below:

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2016G - Precision Presplitting Optimization 4 of 10
 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡
𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 =
√𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑦

This proprietary method of presplitting is normally done in the USA using very light explosive loads of
detonating cord. We can change the scaled distance equation for an easy calculation to the version
below for detonating cord with values in grains per foot:

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡

𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 =
√𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑦⁄
7000

Using this scaled distance we can evaluate the ground vibration produced by this specific style of presplit.

Ground Vibration Analysis

For this research we recorded the results of 249 production blasts and 74 different proprietary presplit
blasts in granite and limestone to get a large sampling of data at many different scaled distances. These
were then plotted on a log-log paper and a linear regression analysis was used to get a mean value equation
and to model production blasting and the proprietary presplitting method’s ground vibration levels for the
same size blastholes, in the same rock types and at the same scaled distances. In order to develop an
appropriate envelope we calculated two standard deviations above the mean to arrive at a 95% confidence
level equation. These equation are shown modeled below (figure 4, 5) along with the mean value equation.
These equations can then be used to predict the maximum ground vibration levels for a presplit blast using
this specific proprietary method with similar conditions.

Figure 4 - Vibration from Production Blast with 3.5 to 4 inch Diameter holes

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 Figure 5 - Vibration from presplit blasts fired with a proprietary method using 3.5 to 4 inch Diameter
holes

Konya equations for predicting ground vibration from proprietary method presplitting:

U.S. Units:
𝑖𝑛
𝑃𝑃𝑉 ( ) = 26.79 ∗ (𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)−0.92
𝑠

Metric Units:
𝑚𝑚
𝑃𝑃𝑉 ( ) = 327.57 ∗ (𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)−0.92
𝑠

Konya equations for predicting ground vibration from production blasts:

U.S. Units:
𝑖𝑛
𝑃𝑃𝑉 ( ) = 50.87 ∗ (𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)−1.15
𝑠

Metric Units:
𝑚𝑚
𝑃𝑃𝑉 ( ) = 520.06 ∗ (𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)−1.15
𝑠

The graph below shows how this proprietary method of presplitting compares to production blasting in
terms of ground vibration (in/sec). As we can see, for lower scaled distances this proprietary method of
presplitting actually produces lower vibration levels than a production blast. At the larger scale distances,
this proprietary method of presplitting produces more vibration, but significantly less than a regular
presplit blast would.

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 Ground Vibration (in/sec)
100

Ground Vibration (in/sec)

10

0.1
1 10 100
Scaled Distance

Precision Preplit PPV (in/sec) Production PPV (in/sec)

Figure 6 - Ground Vibration Graph

These equations and Table 2 below show that when this proprietary method of presplitting is used the
ground vibration is similar to that which results from the same scaled distance from production blasts.
Standard presplitting methods cause the vibration to increase by as much as a factor of 5 because more
energy is used than is needed to form the presplit crack. This additional energy causes an increase in the
seismic energy (vibration) produced.
Table 2- Ground Vibration Comparison
PPV PPV
(in/sec) (in/sec)
Ds (PreSplit) (Production)
10 3.22 3.60
20 1.70 1.62
30 1.17 1.02
40 0.90 0.73
50 0.73 0.57
75 0.50 0.35
100 0.39 0.25
200 0.20 0.11
400 0.11 0.05

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Air Overpressure
Last year research published by Anthony Konya and Dr. Calvin Konya formed a model we could use for
predicting air overpressure from this proprietary method of presplitting. Combining this with the ground
vibration prediction equations we can predict all the maximum ground vibration levels from this
proprietary method of presplitting.

Overpressure and Decibels

Air overpressure is most commonly measured in decibels (dB) or pascals(Pa). It is also measured in
pounds per square inch (psi). The decibel is defined in terms of the overpressure by the equation:
𝑃
𝑑𝐵 = 20 ∗ 𝐿𝑜𝑔( )
𝑃𝑜
dB = Sound levels in decibels (dB)
P = Overpressure in psi (lb/in2)
P0 = Overpressure of the lowest sound that can be heard
P0 = 2.9 x 10-9 = 3 x 10-9 psi (lb/in2)

Scaled Distance for Air Overpressure

Air overpressure is scaled according to the cube root of the charge weight similar to what is done with
underwater blasting and not the square root of the charge weight used for ground vibration, that is:

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝑓𝑡)
𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 3
√𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝐷𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑦

This proprietary method of presplitting is normally done with detonating cord, therefore we can
manipulate this equation to the one below for easy calculation:

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝑓𝑡)
𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 =
√𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝐷𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑦⁄
3

7000

Air Overpressure Analysis

The research included 74 different presplit blasts fired using a proprietary method in which air
overpressure was measured. They then ran a linear regression and two standard deviations above the mean
to arrive at the 95% air overpressure equation. This equation is shown graphed below (figure 7).

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 Konya 95% Air Overpressure Equations for a proprietary
method of presplitting
10.000
Air Overpressure (PSI)

1.000

0.100

0.010

0.001
1 10 100 1000
Air Overpressure Scaled Distance

Figure 7 - Konya 95% Air Overpressure Equation for a proprietary method of presplitting

Konya 95% Air overpressure equations for a proprietary method of presplitting

U.S. Units:

𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 (𝑃𝑆𝐼) = 1.55 ∗ (𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)−0.84

𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 (𝑑𝐵) = −16.77 ∗ 𝐿𝑂𝐺(𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒) + 174.57

Metric Units:

𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 (𝑘𝑃𝑎) = 4.93 ∗ (𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)−0.84

Conclusions
1. This proprietary method of presplitting is generally done using detonating cord in the USA, and
explosive loads are measured in grains of detonating cord per foot of hole. One pound of explosive
equals 7000 grains.. The Konya equations to determine explosive load for this specific proprietary
method of presplitting at 24 inch blasthole spacing are below:

Metric Units:

Kilograms per Meter = 0.004* (Young's Modulus(GPa)) -0.0118

Grams per Meter = 4.0* (Young's Modulus(GPa)) -11.8

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 US Units

Grains per foot = 18.78* (Young's Modulus (GPa)) – 36.76

2. This specific proprietary method of presplitting generally produces a similar peak particle velocity
compared to a production blast at the same scaled distance. The Konya equations for predicting
ground vibration from this proprietary method of presplitting are shown below:

U.S. Units
𝑖𝑛
𝑃𝑃𝑉 ( ) = 26.79 ∗ (𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)−0.92
𝑠
Metric Units
𝑚𝑚
𝑃𝑃𝑉 ( ) = 327.57 ∗ (𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)−0.92
𝑠

3. Air overpressure from this proprietary method of presplitting is generally higher than a production
blast at the same air overpressure scaled distance. The equations constructed by Anthony Konya
and Dr. Calvin Konya from previous published research are shown below:

U.S. Units:

𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 (𝑃𝑆𝐼) = 1.55 ∗ (𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)−0.84

𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 (𝑑𝐵) = −16.77 ∗ 𝐿𝑂𝐺(𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒) + 174.57

Metric Units:
𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 (𝑘𝑃𝑎) = 4.93 ∗ (𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)−0.84

References
1. “International Society of Explosives Engineers Blasters Handbook – 18th Edition (2011) (pp 587),
International Society of Explosives Engineers, Cleveland: ISEE
2. Konya C. J., (2015). Rock Blasting and Overbreak Control- 5th Edition, Montville: IDC Inc

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