Abstract:
High−power pulse discharge rock breaking technology, as a novel rock fragmentation method, holds promise for providing an effective solution for ore breakage. In this study, a numerical model based on the JWL equation of state was established to investigate the rock−breaking mechanism and failure patterns. The indirect rock−breaking process using high−power pulse discharge was simulated for a 12 m deep−hole condition. The effects of input energy and electrode spacing on single−hole blasting performance, as well as the influence of borehole spacing and burden on stress wave superposition in multi−hole blasting, were analyzed and compared with conventional explosive blasting under the same conditions. The simulation results show that in single−hole blasting, the crushed zone radius increases logarithmically with input energy. Under a fixed electrode spacing, the damage effect exhibits a clear upper limit: at electrode spacings of 2, 3, and 4 m, the corresponding upper limits of the damage effect are equivalent to 90%, 135%, and 180% of that of explosive blasting under identical conditions, respectively. In multi−hole blasting, as borehole spacing and burden increase, the damage effect first intensifies and then weakens. When the borehole spacing is 3 m and the burden is 2.7 m, the stress waves superimpose sufficiently to form interconnected fractures, achieving the highest energy utilization efficiency. Under the conditions of a 12 m hole depth and a 150 mm borehole diameter, the optimal parameters for high−power pulse rock breaking are an electrode spacing of 3 m, a single−electrode input energy of 8 MJ, a borehole spacing of 3 m, and a burden of 2.7 m. These numerical simulation results provide a parameter selection basis and theoretical guidance for practical engineering applications.