Estimating mechanical properties of rocks with sound generated from la-ser-induced blasts.

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School of Engineering | Master's thesis

Date

2024-12-31

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Mcode

Degree programme

Master's Programme in Geoengineering

Language

en

Pages

78

Series

Abstract

Abstract This study focuses on characterizing the mechanical properties of rocks, such as hardness, to enhance energy efficiency in the mining industry and advance rock excavation techniques. It explores the theory behind mechanical property testing, alongside an analysis of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) scanning test and its associated acoustic emissions, considering their potential role in determining the hardness of minerals. We hypothesize that the acoustic signals generated by LIBS scanning test can be used to characterize the hardness of minerals, similar to traditional mechanical property tests such as Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS) and the Leeb Equotip Hardness test. To evaluate this hypothesis, a LIBS scan and mechanical hardness tests (UCS and Equotip) were conducted on two sets of drill core samples. These samples included copper ore from Kennecott, US, and iron ore from Australian site. Statistical methods, such as linear regression, were applied to analyse the data obtained from LIBS, UCS, and Equotip tests. The results revealed no straightforward correlation between the acoustic signals from LIBS and the mechanical properties of the samples, indicating a complex relationship influenced by multiple factors. However, a clear direct proportional relationship was observed between UCS and Equotip hardness tests. Future research will aim to expand the dataset, enabling the application of machine learning techniques. By integrating additional variables such as mineral colour and acoustic signals, we aim to improve the predictive accuracy for mineral hardness characterization.

Description

Supervisor

Leveinen, Jussi

Thesis advisor

Kangas, Lasse
Cambio, Domenica

Keywords

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy(LIBS), Audio Signal, Uniaxi-al Compressive Strength UCS, Equotip Leeb Harness., Rocks Mechanics, Modelling

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