A STUDY OF DISC CUTTING IN SELECTED BRITISH ROCKS

A programme of laboratory experiments has been performed which study the mechanical cutting characteristics of rocks with compressive strengths in the range 50-340 mpa. Tool forces and specific energies at various spacing and penetration levels using a single disc cutter in blocks of sandstone, limestone, dolerite and granite have been analysed and simple relations produced. The results show that: (I) for each rock type there is a constant spacing to penetration ratio for minimum specific energy; (II) as penetration increases the specific energy decreases asymptotically indicating tht there is a "critical" penetration beyond which there will be no significant reduction in energy; (III) this "critical" penetration occurs at a higher thrust force than disc cutters would normally be able to withstand and its exploitation will require the evolution of stronger disc assemblies and higher thrusts per cutter; (IV) normal and rolling force components for different spacings and penetrations can be predicted from non-interacting normal forces, obtainable from simple indentation tests. It is also suggested that a fixed disc layout could be designed which is capable of operating throughout the rock strength range normally associated with the use of disc cutters on tunnelling machines. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01489062
• Corporate Authors:

  Pergamon Press, Incorporated

  Headington Hill Hall
  Oxford OX30BW,    
• Authors:
  • SNOWDON, R A
  • RYLEY, M D
  • TEMPORAL, J
• Publication Date: 1982-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 107-121
• Serial:
  • INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND MINING & GEOMECHANICS ABSTRACTS
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue Number: 3
  • ISSN: 0148-9062

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Compression; Compression tests; Dolerite; Drilling; Energy; Equipment; Granite; Laboratories; Laboratory tests; Limestone; Mathematical models; Pendulum tests; Rock excavation; Rocks; Sandstones; Spacing; Specific energy; Strength of materials; Tests; Tunnels
• Old TRIS Terms: Compressive strength tests
• ITRD Terms: 5532: Compression; 3871: Drilling; 213: Energy; 3674: Equipment; 4101: Granite; 6237: Laboratory (not an organization); 4131: Limestone; 6473: Mathematical model; 4154: Rock; 4104: Sandstone; 5544: Strength (mater); 6255: Test; 3374: Tunnel
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Energy; Geotechnology; Highways; I43: Rock Mechanics; I54: Construction of Tunnels;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00367566
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 30 1982 12:00AM