Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Dynamic Fracture Process in Rocks Under High-Voltage Pulse Fragmentation

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

High-voltage pulse technology has been applied to rock excavation, liberation of microfossils, drilling of rocks, oil and water stimulation, cleaning castings, and recycling products like concrete and electrical appliances. In the field of rock mechanics, research interest has focused on the use of high-voltage pulse technology for drilling and cutting rocks over the past several decades. In the use of high-voltage pulse technology for drilling and cutting rocks, it is important to understand the fragmentation mechanism in rocks subjected to high-voltage discharge pulses to improve the effectiveness of drilling and cutting technologies. The process of drilling rocks using high-voltage discharge is employed because it generates electrical breakdown inside the rocks between the anode and cathode. In this study, seven rock types and a cement paste were electrically fractured using high-voltage pulse discharge to investigate their dielectric breakdown properties. The dielectric breakdown strengths of the samples were compared with their physical and mechanical properties. The samples with dielectric fractured were scanned using a high-resolution X-ray computed tomography system to observe the fracture formation associated with mineral constituents. The fracture patterns of the rock samples were analyzed using numerical simulation for high-voltage pulse-induced fragmentation that adopts the surface traction and internal body force conditions.

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
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andres U (1977) Liberation study of apatite–nepheline ore comminuted by penetrating electrical discharges. Int J Miner Process 4(1):33–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andres U, Timoshkin I, Soloviev M (2001) Energy consumption and liberation of minerals in explosive electrical breakdown of ores. Miner Proc Ext Metal IMM Trans Sect C 110:149–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bluhm H, Frey W, Giese H, Hoppe P, Schultheiß C, Straßner R (2000) Application of pulsed HV discharges to material fragmentation and recycling. IEEE Trans Dielectr Electr Insul 7(5):625–636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cho SH, Kaneko K (2004) Influence of the applied pressure waveform on the dynamic fracture processes in rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41(5):771–784

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cho SH, Mohanty B, Ito M, Nakamiya Y, Owada S, Kubota S, Ogata Y, Tsubayama A, Yokota M, Kaneko K (2006) Dynamic fragmentation of rock by high-voltage pulses, ARMA/USRMS

  • Cho SH, Yokota M, Ito M, Kawasaki S, Jeong SB, Kim BK, Kaneko K (2014) Electrical disintegration and micro-focus X-ray CT observations of cement paste samples with dispersed mineral particles. Miner Eng 57:79–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi JB, Jwa YJ, Kim KK, Hwang GC (2006) Analysis of mineral composition of Geochang granite rocks for stone specification. J Miner Soc Korea 19(4):363–381

    Google Scholar 

  • Fujita T, Yoshima I, Tanaka Y, Jeyadevan B, Miyazaki T (1999) Research of liberation by using high voltage discharge impulse and electromagnetic waves, Shigen to Sozai. J MMIJ 115:749–754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He M, Jiang J, Huang G, Jun Liu, Li C (2013) Disintegration of rocks based on magnetically isolated high voltage discharge. Rev Sci Instrum 84:024704

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inoue H, Lisitsyn IV, Akiyama H, Nishizawa I (2000) Drilling of hard rocks by pulsed power. IEEE Electr Insul Mag 16:19–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kovalchuk BM, Kharlov AV, Vizir VA, Kumpyak EV, Zorin VB, Kiselev VN (2010) High-voltage pulsed generator for dynamic fragmentation of rocks. Rev Sci Instrum 81:103506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Timoshkin I, Mackersie J, MacGregor S (2004) Plasma channel miniature hole drilling technology. IEEE Trans Plasma Sci 32(5):2055–2061

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Usov A, Potokin A (2014) Strategy of electric-pulse installation development for electrical disintegration of materials. www.kolasc.net.ru/spark/download/15_EMP_presentation.ppt

  • Zhu WC (2008) Numerical modelling of the effect of rock heterogeneity on dynamic tensile strength. Rock Mech Rock Eng 41(5):771–779

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu WC, Tang CA (2006) Numerical simulation of Brazilian disk rock failure under static and dynamic loading. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 43(2):236–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Prof. Mayumi Ito, Hokkaido University; Prof. Tsubayama, Akita University; Prof. Owada, Waseda University; Mr. Sang Sun Cheong, Kumamoto University and graduate students, Chonbuk National University, for their supports and advice. This paper was supported by research funds of Chonbuk National University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mineral Resources and Energy Engineering, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, South Korea

    Sang Ho Cho & Sang Sun Cheong

  2. Sumitomo Mining Corporation, Tokyo, Japan

    Mitsuhiro Yokota

  3. Horonobe Research Institute for the Subsurface Environment, Northern Advancement Center for Science and Technology, Hokkaido, Japan

    Katsuhiko Kaneko

Authors
  1. Sang Ho Cho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sang Sun Cheong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mitsuhiro Yokota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Katsuhiko Kaneko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sang Ho Cho.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cho, S.H., Cheong, S.S., Yokota, M. et al. The Dynamic Fracture Process in Rocks Under High-Voltage Pulse Fragmentation. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49, 3841–3853 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1031-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1031-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation