RESEARCHERS BREAK ROCK WITH ELECTRON BURSTS

IT IS CLAIMED THAT "AN INTENSE ELECTRON BURST OF MODEST ENERGY" PRODUCES A SIGNIFICANT CRATERING EFFECT IN GRANITE,LIMESTONE,BASALT AND SANDSTONE. THE EFFECT OF THE MACHINE-GUN-LIKE BURSTS OF ELECTRONS IS EVEN GREATER IF THE ROCK IS WET. ELECTRON ACCELERATORS DIGGING RAPIDLY THROUGH ROCK BY PULVERIZING IT WITH INTENSE PULSES OF ENERGY FIRED HUNDREDS OF TIMES A SECOND ARE ENVISIONED. THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACCELERATORS THAT WOULD BE PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION TOOLS WILL BE A TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGE AND THE BIGGEST TECHNICAL PROBLEM WOULD BE HOW TO FIRE HUNDREDS OF PULSES A SECOND. LABORATORY STUDIES OF POSSIBLE ELECTRON DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE OF AN ELECTRON RING ACCELERATOR, MAINLY THE SPALLING OF CONCRETE, LED TO THIS DISCOVERY WHICH COULD BE A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN UNDERGROUND EXCAVATION.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08919526
• Publication Date: 1973-4-5

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 16
• Serial:
  • Engineering News-Record
  • Volume: 190
  • Issue Number: 14
  • Publisher: McGraw-Hill, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0891-9526

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accelerators (Devices); Basalt; Concrete; Cratering; Electron beams; Electronic equipment; Excavation; Granite; Laboratory studies; Limestone; Research; Sandstones; Spalling; Underground structures
• Old TRIS Terms: Electron accelerators; Electronic devices; Underground
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00215637
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1973 12:00AM