The Application of Austin Powder Company IT Systems to Optimize the Firing of Multiple-Row Patterns Using E*Star Electronic Detonators

Abstract

The use of explosives to extract resources in rock material mines is necessarily associated with the use of an appropriate initiation system that allows the firing of explosive charges with a time delay (millisecond). Such a method of charges detonation gives a wide range of possibilities when designing multi-row blasting patterns, and at the same time, it has a positive effect on the blasting impact minimization on buildings in the vicinity of mines. Selecting the right millisecond delay should be based primarily on the seismograms recorded during the firing of singular blasthole and the analysis of the vibrations frequency structure. The article presents the procedure of computer-based optimization of millisecond delay, with today's modern, electronic initiation systems, is based on data derived from firing a singular blasthole. This approach allows to verify, by means of real measurements, the simulation model (predicted values) of the multi-row blasting patterns accepted by the designer. It should be noted that both the variability of the geological and mining conditions of the mine as well as the number of factors influencing the effect of the blast works make it necessary to build a broad database of information for the computer program. It was also indicated as an important effect of the design procedure, the possibility of minimizing the impact of vibration induced during blasting, to the level of negligible vibrations in the impact assessment on the building. In addition, the ability to flexibly design the millisecond delay in electronic initiation systems with the help of computer programs is also a great potential for optimizing and controlling the effects of blast works to achieve the desired granulation of the output.