Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cuttability assessment using the Drilling Rate Index (DRI)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

For given geological conditions, cuttability or performance prediction can be expressed by specific cutting force (SFC), specific normal force (SFN), specific energy (SE), and pick wear rate. These parameters are difficult to determine. For this reason researchers try to assess these parameters indirectly by rock mechanical parameters. The Drilling Rate Index (DRI) is the most important input parameter of a commonly used performance prediction model for tunnel boring machines. However, little research has been seen in the literature about assessing cuttability indirectly by DRI. In this study, different types of rock and ore samples were subjected to a small-scale rock cutting test, the Cerchar abrasivity test, the Sievers J miniature drill test, and the brittleness (S 20) test. With the aid of the Sievers and brittleness test results, the DRI parameter was determined. SFC, SFN, and SE, which are the output parameters of small scale rock cutting tests, and the Cerchar abrasivity index values were correlated with Sievers J (S j ) value and DRI. It was seen that SFC, SFN, SE and CAI parameters slightly decreased with increasing Sievers J value and DRI. With these results, it can be stated that DRI and S j could be an alternative to other mechanical rock parameters for assessing cuttability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abu Bakar MZ, Gertsch LS (2013) Evaluation of saturation effects on drag pick cutting of a brittle sandstone from full scale linear cutting tests. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 34:124–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Ameen SI, Waller MD (1994) The influence of rock strength and abrasive mineral content on the Cerchar abrasivity index. Eng Geol 36:293–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altindag R (2003) Correlation of spesific energy with rock brittleness concepts on rock cutting. J South Af Inst Min Met 103:163–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Balci C, Bilgin N (2007) Correlative study of linear small and full-scale rock cutting tests to select mechanized excavation machines. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 44:468–476

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balci C, Demircin MA, Copur H, Tuncdemir H (2004) Estimation of optimum specific energy based on rock properties for assessment of roadheader performance. J South Af Inst Min Met 104:633–642

    Google Scholar 

  • Bamford WE (1987) ISRM-Comission on rock boreability, cuttability and drillability. Notes for Workshop, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilgin N (1977) Investigation into mechanical cutting characteristics of some medium and high strength rocks. PhD Thesis, Newcastle Upon Tyne University, England

  • Bilgin N, Demircin MA, Copur H, Balci C, Tuncdemir H, Akcin N (2006) Dominant rock properties affecting the performance of conical picks and the comparison of some experimental and theoretical results. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 43:139–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bilgin N, Copur H, Balci C (2014). Mechanical Excavation in Mining and Civil Industries, CRC Press, p 366

  • Blindheim OT (1979) Boreability predictions for tunneling. PhD Thesis, Department of Geological Engineering, The Norwegian Institute of Technology, Norway

  • Bruland A (1998) Hard rock tunnel boring. PhD Thesis, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway

  • Capik M, Yilmaz AO, Yasar S, Yarali O, Cavusoglu I (2013) Comparison of drillability and abrasivity properties of rocks (in Turkish). In: 23rd IMCET, Antalya, pp 659–669

  • Comakli R, Kahraman S, Balci C (2014) Performance prediction of roadheaders in metallic ore excavation. J TUST 40:38–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Copur H, Tuncdemir H, Bilgin N, Dincer T (2001) Specific energy as a criterion for use of rapid excavation systems in turkish mines. Trans Inst Min Met Sec A 110:149–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Copur H, Balci C, Bilgin N, Tumac D, Avunduk E (2012) Predicting cutting performance of chisel tools by using physical and mechanical properties of natural stones. EUROCK 2012, 28–30 May, Stockholm, p 14

  • Dahl F (2003) Draft of DRI, BWI, CLI standard. Available at http://www.drillability.com. Accessed 02 July 2014

  • Dahl F, Bruland A, Jakobsen PD, Nilsen B, Grøv E (2012) Classifications of properties influencing the drillability of rocks based on the NTNU/SINTEF test method. J TUST 28:150–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Dursun AE, Gokay MK (2014) Determination of cutting force from some rock properties of rock using statistical method (in Turkish). In: ROCMECH 2014, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, pp 335–342

  • Evans I (1962) A theory of the basic mechanics of coal ploughing, In: International Symposium on Mining Research, Missouri, pp 761–798

  • Fowell RJ, Gillani T, Altınoluk S (1992) Wear characterization of rock. EUROCK 92. Chester, England, pp 13–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemphill GB (2013) Practical tunnel construction. John Wiley Sons, Inc., p 415

  • Johnson ST, Fowell RJ (1986) Compressive strength is not enough: assessing pick wear rates for drag tool equipped machines, In: 27th U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium, Tuscaloosa, pp 840–845

  • Matern N von, Hjelmer A (1943) Försök med pågrus (Tests with Chippings), Medelande nr. 65, Statens väginstitut, Stockholm, pp 65 (English summary, pp 56–60)

  • McFeat-Smith I, Fowell RJ (1979) The selection and application of roadheaders for rock tunneling. In: RETC 79, Georgia, pp 261–279

  • Merchant ME (1945) Basic mechanics of metal cutting process. J App Mech 11: A-168

  • Nishimatsu Y (1972) The mechanics of rock cutting. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 9:261–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plinninger RJ, Spaun G, Thuro K (2002) Predicting tool wear in drill and blast. Tunnels and Tunnelling International pp 1–5

  • Plinninger R, Kasling H, Thuro K, Spaun G (2003) Testing conditions and geomechanical properties influencing the Cerchar abrasiveness index (CAI) value. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40:259–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rostami J (1997) Development of a force estimation model for rock fragmentation with disc cutters through theoretical modeling and physical measurement of crushed zone pressure. PhD Thesis, Colorado School of Mines, USA

  • Rostami J, Ozdemir L (1993) A new model for performance prediction of hard rock TBM, In: RETC 93, Boston, pp 793–809

  • Roxborough FF (1985) Research in mechanical rock excavation: progress and prospects. In: RETC 85, Las Vegas, pp 225–244

  • Roxborough FF (1987) The role of some basic rock properties in assessing cuttability. Seminar on Tunnels, In: Wholly Engineered structures, Sydney, Australia, p 21

  • Roxborough FF, Pedroncelli EJ (1982) A practical evaluation of some coal-cutting theories using a continuous miner. Min Eng pp 145–155

  • Roxborough FF, Philips HR (1974) Experimental studies on the excavation of rocks using picks. In: Third ISRM Congress, Denver, pp 1407–1412

  • Roxborough FF, Rispin A (1973) The mechanical cutting characteristics of the lower chalk. Tunnels and Tunnelling pp 45–67

  • Selmer-Olsen R, Lien R (1960) Bergartens borbarhet og sprengbarhet. Teknisk Ukeblad nr. 34, Oslo, pp 3–11

  • Sievers H (1950) Die bestimmung des bohrwiderstandes von gesteinen. Glückauf 86:776–784

    Google Scholar 

  • Suana M, Peters T (1982) The Cerchar abrasivity index and its relation to rock mineralogy and petrography. Rock Mech 15:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiryaki B, Dikmen AC (2006) Effect of rock properties on spesific cutting energy in linear cutting of sandstones by picks. Rock Mech Rock Eng 39:89–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tumac D, Bilgin N, Feridunoglu C, Ergin H (2007) Estimation of rock cuttability from shore hardness and compressive strength properties. Rock Mech Rock Eng 40:477–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West G (1986) A relation between abrasiveness and quartz content for some Coal Measures sediments. Int J Min Geol Eng 4:73–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yagiz S (2006) An investigation on the relationship between linear cutting force and some engineering properties of rocks (in Turkish). In: VIII. Regional Rock Mechanics Symposium, pp 99–106

  • Yarali O, Kahraman S (2011) The drillabilty assessment of rocks using the different brittleness values. J Tust 26:406–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Yarali O, Soyer E (2013) Assessment of relationships between drilling rate index and mechanical properties of rocks. J Tust 33:46–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Yasar S, Yilmaz AO, Capik M (2013) Investigation on relations between tool forces and mechanical characteristics of rocks (in Turkish). 3. UYAK, Istanbul, pp 83–90

  • Yasar S, Yilmaz AO, Capik M (2014) Investigation on relationships between brittleness properties and cuttability parameters of rocks (in Turkish). ROCMECH 2014. Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, pp 343–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Zare S, Bruland A (2013) Applications of NTNU/SINTEF drillability indices in hard rock tunneling. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46:179–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Especially to Prof. Dr. Nuh Bilgin, Prof. Dr. Hanifi Copur and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Tumac, the authors would like to thank to all the crew of the Mine Mechanization and Technology Division of Istanbul Technical University for their generous help. Additionally, the authors would like to acknowledge Prof. Dr. Bjorn Nilsen (NTNU, Norway), Filip Dahl (SINTEF, Norway), and Prof. Dr. Amund Bruland (NTNU, Norway).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Karadeniz Technical University, 61080, Trabzon, Turkey

    Serdar Yasar, Mehmet Capik & Ali Osman Yilmaz

Authors
  1. Serdar Yasar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mehmet Capik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ali Osman Yilmaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Serdar Yasar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yasar, S., Capik, M. & Yilmaz, A.O. Cuttability assessment using the Drilling Rate Index (DRI). Bull Eng Geol Environ 74, 1349–1361 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-014-0715-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-014-0715-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation