ROCK, FROZEN SOIL AND ICE BREAKAGE BY HIGH-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION: A REVIEW

In the past decade, various workers have investigated the use of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation for breaking and excavating rock and frozen ground. This report reviews the high-frequency dielectric properties of these materials, the physics of heating, and the existing literature on these subjects. The high-frequency dielectric properties of rocks and soils, and the absorption of energy by these materials, are mainly determined by their liquid water contents. Computer modeling was used to calculate absorption energy as a function of distance behind irradiated faces of earth materials. The resulting computations showed that most energy is absorbed in the first few centimeters of frozen ground and weak soils. However, in hard rocks of low water content, electromagnetic waves penetrate more deeply, and significant amounts of energy are also absorbed tens of centimeters behind the irradiated faces. Test results showed that electromagnetic rock breakage is feasible only for excavations in hard rock; test results from the use of electromagnetic radiation for excavating tunnels in weak rocks and frozen ground are not promising. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

  72 Lyme Road
  Hanover, NH  United States  03755-1290
• Authors:
  • Hoekstra, P
• Publication Date: 1976-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 21 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Absorption; Computer programs; Dielectric materials; Dielectric properties; Electromagnetic radiation; Electromagnetic waves; Energy absorption; Energy transfer; Excavation and tunneling; Excavations; Feasibility analysis; Fracture mechanics; Freezing; Frozen soils; Guides to the literature; Heating (Structures); High frequency; Ice; Literature reviews; Mathematical models; Mechanical properties; Moisture content; Pendulum tests; Reviews; Rock excavation; Rock mechanics; Rocks; Simulation; Soil mechanics; Soil water; Soils; Tunneling
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models
• Geographic Terms: Former Soviet Union
• Old TRIS Terms: Absorption physical
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Energy; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00159043
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CRREL-76-36
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1977 12:00AM