Study of the Double Wedge Cut Technique in Medium-Depth Hole Blasting of Rock Roadways

A double wedge cut was used to improve the cut effects in the medium-depth hole blasting of rock roadways. First, the cavity formation mechanisms of single wedge cut and double wedge cut were analysed theoretically. The results show that the cavity formation resistance of the second-order wedge cut is reduced by the first-order wedge cut. Second, simulations of the two cut modes were conducted, which visualize the stress wave evolution and indicate that the stress wave of the first-order cut holes can cause pre-damage to the rock mass in the second-order cut cavity. A comparison of the stress field distribution shows that the first-order cut holes significantly increase the stress field intensity within 0 ~ 1.6 m to enhance the failure of the rock mass in the first-order cut cavity. Hence, the rock mass in the first-order cut cavity can easily be thrown out to create a new free face, which reduces the clamping effect of the second-order wedge cut and exacerbates the tensile failure of the rock mass in the second-order cut cavity. Thus, the difficulty of second-order wedge cut is reduced. Finally, blasting experiments were performed in a rock roadway. Using the double wedge cut, the average footage increased by 0.31 m, the average utilization rate of blastholes increased by 12.4%, and the average specific charge decreased by 0.20 kg·m⁻³, which proves the superiority of this cut mode.