SpringerLink
Log in

The Influence of the Rotary Speed of a Microwave Applicator on Hard-Rock Fracturing Effect

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Microwave-induced hard rock fracturing technology has potential application prospects in tunnel boring machine (TBM) hard tunnel excavation. It is of great significance to research the hard rock cracking induced by rotary microwave applicator irradiation to promote the application of microwave–TBM coupling. Based on a rotary open microwave irradiation hard rock fracturing true triaxial test system independently developed by Northeastern University, Chifeng basalt is taken as the research object. The crack propagation characteristics of hard rock irradiated by a microwave applicator at different rotation speeds under the conditions of no stress and true triaxial stress are studied, and the fracturing mechanism of hard rock irradiated by rotary microwave applicator is revealed. The results show that the temperature in the same area of hard rock rises in a “step shape” under rotary microwave applicator irradiation. The faster the microwave applicator rotation speed is, the shorter the intermittent irradiation time of the same area of hard rock, the quicker the temperature rise is, and the earlier the hard rock cracking time is first detected. The degree of crack propagation and the decrease in compressional wave velocity are positively correlated with the microwave applicator rotation speed. In the process of rotary microwave applicator irradiation, the cracks in the irradiated hard rock surface develop and expand from the high principal strain region at the boundary to the central region of the irradiated surface. Under the condition of no stress, tensile failure in hard rock is induced by rotary microwave applicator irradiation. Under the condition of true triaxial stress, tensile failure induced by rotary microwave applicator irradiation mainly occurs in hard rock, although shear failure occurs at the same time. This makes the crack development in the irradiated hard rock surface denser and the crack network more complex. This research provides a new perspective for microwave–TBM coupled tunneling in hard rock tunnel engineering.

Highlights

  • A rotary open microwave irradiation hard rock fracturing system is developed independently.

  • The influence of microwave applicator rotation speed on cracking effect of hard rock under a true triaxial stress condition is studied.

  • The fracturing mechanism of hard rock irradiated by rotary microwave applicator is revealed.

  • This study provides a new perspective for microwave–TBM coupled rock breaking in hard rock engineering.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aggelis DG (2011) Classification of cracking mode in concrete by acoustic emission parameters. Mech Res Commun 38(3):153–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bisai R, Palaniappan SK, Pal SK (2019) Influence of individual and combined pre-treatment on the strength properties of granite and sandstone. Arab J Geosci 13(1–2):541–544

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciccu R, Grosso B (2014) Improvement of disc cutter performance by water jet assistance. Rock Mech and Rock Eng 47(2):733–744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deyab SM, Rafezi H, Hassani F, Kermani M, Sasmito AP (2021) Experimental investigation on the effects of microwave irradiation on kimberlite and granite rocks. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 13(2):267–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farhidzadeh A, Salamone S, Singla P (2013) A probabilistic approach for damage identification and crack mode classification in reinforced concrete structures. J Intell Mater Syst Struct 24(14):1722–1735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng XT, Zhang JY, Yang CX, Tian J, Lin F, Li SP, Su XX (2021) A novel true triaxial test system for microwave-induced fracturing of hard rocks. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 13(5):961–971

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frenzel C, Käsling H, Thuro K (2008) Factors influencing disc cutter wear. Geomechanik Und Tunnelbau 1(1):55–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartlieb P, Grafe B (2017) Experimental study on microwave assisted hard rock cutting of granite. BHM Berg-Und Hüttenmännische Monatshefte 162(2):77–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartlieb P, Leindl M, Kuchar F, Antretter T, Moser P (2012) Damage of basalt induced by microwave irradiation. Miner Eng 31:82–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartlieb P, Grafe B, Shepel T, Malovyk A, Akbari B (2017) Experimental study on artificially induced crack patterns and their consequences on mechanical excavation processes. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 100:160–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartlieb P, Kuchar F, Moser P, Kargl H (2018) Reaction of different rock types to low-power (3.2 kW) microwave irradiation in a multimode cavity. Miner Eng 118:37–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hassani F, Nekoovaght PM, Gharib N (2016) The influence of microwave irradiation on rocks for microwave-assisted underground excavation. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 8(1):1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jamali S, Wittig V, Börner J, Bracke R, Ostendorf A (2019) Application of high powered laser technology to alter hard rock properties towards lower strength materials for more efficient drilling, mining, and geothermal energy production. Geomech Energy Environ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gete.2019.01.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones DA, Kingman SW, Whittles DN, Lowndes IS (2005) Understanding microwave assisted breakage. Miner Eng 18(7):659–669

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahraman S, Canpolat AN, Fener M (2020) The influence of microwave treatment on the compressive and tensile strength of igneous rocks. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2020.104303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim S, Santamarina JC (2016) Rock crushing using microwave pre-treatment. Geo-Chicago 2016: sustainable materials and resource conservation. Illinois, Chicago, pp 720–729

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kingman SW, Vorster W, Rowson NA (2000) The influence of mineralogy on microwave assisted grinding. Miner Eng 13(3):313–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kingman SW, Jackson K, Bradshaw SM, Rowson NA, Greenwood R (2004) An investigation into the influence of microwave treatment on mineral ore comminution. Powder Technol 146(3):176–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin F, Feng XT, Lu GM, Su XX, Li SP, Zhang JY (2021) Study on microwave heating order and electromagnetic characteristics of copper and gold ores. Rock Mech Rock Eng 54(5):2129–2143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu P, Liang WH (2000) Design considerations for construction of the qinling tunnel using TBM. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 15(2):139–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu QS, Huang X, Gong XM, Du LJ, Pan YC, Liu JP (2016) Application and development of hard rock TBM and its prospect in China. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 57:33–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu GM, Li YH, Hassani F, Zhang XW (2017) The influence of microwave irradiation on thermal properties of main rock-forming minerals. Appl Therm Eng 112:1523–1532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu GM, Feng XT, Li YH, Hassani F, Zhang XW (2019a) Experimental Investigation on the effects of microwave treatment on basalt heating, mechanical strength, and fragmentation. Rock Mech and Rock Eng 52(8):2535–2549

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu GM, Feng XT, Li YH, Zhang XW (2019b) The Microwave-induced fracturing of hard rock. Rock Mech Rock Eng 52(9):3017–3032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu GM, Feng XT, Li YH, Zhang XW (2020) Influence of microwave treatment on mechanical behaviour of compact basalts under different confining pressures. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 12(02):213–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Satish H, Ouellet J, Radziszewski P (2006) Investigating microwave assisted rock breakage for possible space mining applications. Min Technol 115(1):34–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shang YJ, Shi YY, Zeng QL, Yin JT, Xue JH (2005) TBM Jamming and deformation in complicated geological conditions and engineering mesures. J of Rock Mech Eng 24(21):3858–3863 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Summers DA, Henry RL (1972) Water jet cutting of sedimentary rock. J Pet Technol 24(07):797–802

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang YC, Djordjevic N (2014) Thermal stress FEM analysis of rock with microwave energy. Int J Miner Process 130:74–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whittles DN, Kingman SW, Reddish DJ (2003) Application of numerical modelling for prediction of the influence of power density on microwave-assisted breakage. Int J Miner Process 68(1):71–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng JS, Hu QJ, Chen Y, Shu XY, Chen SZ, He LP, Tang HX, Lu XR (2019) Experimental investigation on structural evolution of granite at high temperature induced by microwave irradiation. Min Pet 113(3):745–754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng YL, Zhang QB, Zhao J (2017) Effect of microwave treatment on thermal and ultrasonic properties of gabbro. Appl Therm Eng 127:359–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng YL, Ma ZJ, Zhao XB, He L (2020) Experimental investigation on the thermal, mechanical and cracking behaviours of three igneous rocks under microwave treatment. Rock Mech and Rock Eng 53(8):3657–3671

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41827806) and the Liao Ning Revitalization Talents Program (Grant No. XLYC1801002). The authors are also grateful to Mr. Jun Tian, Ms. ** Li, Cheng-xiang Yang, Feng Lin, Tian-yang Tong, **ang-xin Su & Jiu-yu Zhang

Authors
  1. **a-ting Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in Shi-** Li

    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cheng-xiang Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Feng Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tian-yang Tong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. **ang-xin Su
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jiu-yu Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to **a-ting Feng.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Feng, Xt., Li, Sp., Yang, Cx. et al. The Influence of the Rotary Speed of a Microwave Applicator on Hard-Rock Fracturing Effect. Rock Mech Rock Eng 55, 6963–6979 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-022-02956-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-022-02956-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation