SUBTERRENE PENETRATION RATE: MELTING POWER RELATIONSHIP

The Subterrene method of tunneling and excavating melts rock in sufficient quantities so that the melt can be manipulated to provide a glass-cased borehole or tunnel. A key factor in evaluating such a system is penetration rate. This report utilizes field test and laboratory data to verify that penetration rate is directly proportional to melting power, as anticipated on the basis of the physical principles involved. The field tests resulted in holes up to 25 m deep. The melting power is related to total heater power via system power inefficiency factors which account for heat losses to the ambient rock to the structural coolant. /AUTHOR/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Report sponsored in part by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
• Corporate Authors:

  Los Alamos National Laboratory

  P.O. Box 1663
  Los Alamos, NM  United States  87545
• Authors:
  • Gido, R G
• Publication Date: 1973-3

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 10 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Excavation and tunneling; Field tests; Laboratory tests; Melting; Pendulum tests; Rates; Rock excavation
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00126351
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: LA-5204-MS
• Contract Numbers: W-7405-ENG.36
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 21 1976 12:00AM