Rock masses have inherently different resistance to fragmentation by blasting. This property is hereafter referred to as the blastability of a rock mass. Empirical models for the estimation of blastability have been developed. In this study, the Mamdani fuzzy algorithm was used to express the blastability index by fuzzy sets. We use Lilly and Ghose blastability models which are important models of blastability. Parameters of these models were represented by fuzzy sets as the input variables of the fuzzy model. The output of the fuzzy model is a final blastability index rating. Experimental data is obtained from seven mine and one dam sites in Iran. BI values are obtained from both BI fuzzy inference system and conventional BI; Fuzzy sets have more adjustment than conventional model.
The present paper tries to investigate the influence of rock mass quality characteristics on blasting results. In order to come to some conclusions, blastability and quality of rock mass were put together using the already known classification systems. Taking into account the quantity of blastability index (BI) for every possible structural appearance of the poor rock mass, the relation of discontinuities characteristics and blastability index are investigated. The estimations of the above trial gave arise on a new classification system being called “Blastability Quality System (BQS)”, which can be an easily and wide use tool as it is a quickly calculator for blastability index (BI) and rock mass quality.
Application of rock mass classification and Blastability Index for the improvement of wall control: a hard-rock mining case study