Experimental investigation of rock breakage by a conical pick and its application to non-explosive mechanized mining in deep hard rock

Stress conditions around deep underground mine openings can significantly influence rock fragmentation and stability, and thus the cuttability of the targeted rock. In this study, rock breakage experiments and associated regression analyses indicate nonlinear rock cuttabilities (decreasing followed by increasing) with increases in the differences between biaxial confining stresses and the values of uniaxial confining stresses. Rock breakages...