TRAINING.

Overview

After participating in this course, you will be able to:

• Evaluate and optimize blast performance and productivity improvement
• Develop the documentation of safe blasting procedures
• Avoid dangerous procedures, design flaws and common blasting mistakes
• Reduce drilling and blasting costs by using realistic estimates and techniques
• Manage fly rock and other hazards associated with the blasting operation
• Limit vibration levels in accordance with existing rules and regulations
• Control costs by managing risk

Description
Understanding the dynamic fracture behaviour of rock is a key step in quantifying rock mass response to high-energy transient loads such as in drilling and crushing of rock and fragmentation due to explosive action. This is integral to all civil and mining excavation activities and determines the operations' safety, economic success, and viability.

This 3-day short course provides a state-of-the-art introduction to the subject of Blasting Technology and, in the process, removes some of the mystery and uncertainty around drilling and Blasting operations. You can study the drilling and blasting industry from initial cost estimation and site analysis to final project evaluation. Get practical experience from real-world group exercises and class discussions.

You develop, under instructor guidance, efficient blast designs based on site conditions and specifications and benefit from informal networking during breaks by sharing with and learning from peers and instructors. It is envisaged that the practices and techniques discussed in this course immediately improve the state of drilling and Blasting on your projects.

Who Should Attend
Blast Engineers • Drill and Blast Supervisors • Tunneling Engineers • Managers and Safety Supervisors • Procurement Officers • People Related to Mine Production • Estimators • Blasters • Contractors • Regulatory Authorities and Others Who Design and Manage Blasting Projects • Project Managers who use Blasting as a Tool in Construction and Public Work Projects

Textbook:

Relevant technical publications and handouts will be distributed before each lecture.

Suggested Literature:

1. Drilling and Blasting of Rocks by C. L. Jimeno, E. L. Jimeno and F.J. A. Carcedo. 
2. Explosives and Rock Blasting by Atlas Powder Company, 1987
3. Principles of Rock Drilling by Rao Karanam, B. Mistra, 1998

Please note: You can check other time zones here.

Syllabus

Day I

Introduction

• Participants' background and experience
• Course Outline

Explosives

• Explosive Properties.
• Historical perspective and type of explosives: Black powder, dynamite, TNT, ANFO and emulsion explosives.
• Principles of Priming.
• Initiation Systems of Explosions and Explosives
• Wave Transmission in Rock

Day II

• Surface Blast Design
• Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mining
• Rock Dynamics and Blasting
• Wave Transmission in Rock
• Blasting Vibrations and Blast Noise
• Blast design using software
• Case Histories

Day III

Surface Drilling And Underground Drilling

• Equipment selection
• Accessories
• Percussion Drilling
• Rotary Drilling
• Evaluating Drill Performance
• Tunnel Boring Machines, Continues Miners and Raiseborers

Questions and Answers and Feedback to Participants on Achievement of Learning Outcomes

Instructor

Derek Apel, Ph.D, P. Eng.

Dr. Derek Apel is an industry expert specializing in underground and surface mining.

His work and research have taken him from diamond mines in the Canadian Arctic to the bustling megacities of China. He has developed long-term prediction methods for rock bursting using advanced machine learning methods and is interested in developing thermo-insulating barriers for civil and mining applications.

Prof. Apel has over 30 years of experience as an engineer, mining inspector, consultant, and researcher in the mining industry. He has been a professor at the University of Alberta in the Mining Engineering department since 2008. Dr. Apel is the author of over 100 publications on topics ranging from mining drilling and blasting to machine learning in mining.