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Blast Design Documents

The checks, calculations and paperwork for blast blocks: the blast calculation, the delay network, drilling and vibration checks, explosive energy, the block-model commands, the passports, journal, cost, indicators and the explosives store. Each command has its own section; press F1 over a ribbon button, or the ? in the title bar of a command's window, to open it.

Most commands work on a blast block that you build with Design Block (see Design Block). Select the block in the 3D view before you start.

Blast Calculation

Works out the selected block's volume and tonnage, specific charge, fragment sizes, ground vibration, air blast, fly rock and muckpile. Every section is recalculated as you type, so you see the result before you save it.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Calculation group → Blast Calculation. The same button is on the Blast block tab, in the Calculation group.

Before you start

• Select one blast block with holes.
• For a calculation from a block model: a block model in the project that the block lies in.
• For costs and charges: the holes should be charged (the muckpile and the rock movement are worked out once the holes are charged).

How to

1. Select the block and click Blast Calculation. The Blast calculation window opens.
2. Set the values in the five sections (below). The result of each section is shown in white under its fields.
3. Click Fragmentation sheet… or Comparison sheet… if you want a printed sheet (see below).
4. Click Save calculation. The settings are kept on the block as one undo step. Click Cancel to leave the block as it was.

A block that has never been calculated starts from the values you used last time (the bench height is always the block's own).

Parameters

A value that is left at zero where the table says "zero" is not given: the program works it out.

1. Block volume

The model fields are enabled only while Grade the block from the block model is ticked.

2. Specific charge

No fields: the window shows the specific charge as charged, in the reference explosive, and by the design for the fragment wanted, and how the charged value compares with the design.

3. Fragments

Design variants. Under the fields there is a table of up to three variants of the same holes: the same block at another spacing, charged anew by the block's rule where the explosive, stemming or diameter is another. The table shows the block's own spacing as designed. For each of Variant 1, Variant 2 and Variant 3 you can set:

A value left empty is as designed. The window then shows a comparison table of the design and the variants (pattern, specific charge, X50, X80, oversize %, fines %) and a size chart.

4. Ground vibration

The result says the explosive per delay, the seismically safe distance, and (when a building distance is given) whether the building is inside or outside the dangerous zone.

5. Air blast and fly rock

The result gives the air blast safe distance for glazing, the fly-rock distance by the formula and the danger zone for people.

Muckpile

The result gives the width of the muckpile from the last row, how far it is past the first row, and its height.

Printed sheets

• Fragmentation sheet… — the size chart, the sizes and the pattern variants on a sheet, in the report designer.
• Comparison sheet… — the design and its variants side by side on a sheet, in the report designer.

If something goes wrong

A number the window refuses (a negative value, or zero where the value divides) is not accepted; the field is marked.

What next

Blasting Cost · Compare Blocks · Blast Passport

Blast Passport

Prints the selected block's passport: its data, charge, delay network, explosive materials, safe distances and fragmentation forecast, on the sheets you choose.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Reports group → Blast Passport. On the Blast block tab it is in the Reports group, in the Documents drop-down.

How to

1. Select one blast block with holes.
2. Click Blast Passport. The Blast passport window opens.
3. Fill in the company particulars and tick the sheets.
4. Click Open in FastReport. The filled passport opens in the FastReport Designer, where you look at it, change its layout and print.

Parameters

Company particulars. Kept for every passport and journal.

Sheets.

If something goes wrong

What next

Blast Journal · Row Section · Hole Passport

Blast Journal

The catalogue of the project's blast blocks with where each is in its life, each block's journal (drilled, charged, fired, results, notes), and the printed journal of blasts for a period.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Reports group → Blast Journal. The same button is on the Blast block tab.

Before you start

The project must have at least one blast block. Otherwise the button is unavailable ("The project has no blast blocks.").

How to

1. Click Blast Journal. The Blast journal window opens; it does not block the program and follows changes to the project.
2. In Blocks pick a block. Click Select in the project to select it, so Properties and the view show it.
3. Under Journal record what was done with the buttons Drilled…, Charged…, Fired…, Result…, Note…. A form opens; click Record to add the entry or Cancel.
4. To print the journal of blasts, enter the period (Journal of blasts from … to) and click Print journal.

Entry forms

Every form has an Event section: When (date and time), Who (who did it or led it) and Notes. Each entry is one undo step.

Charging and firing need holes to act on. Deleting an entry (the delete button next to the list) removes the record only; the holes keep their status. You are asked to confirm.

Printing the journal

The period defaults to the current month. Print journal opens the blasts recorded in the blocks' journals for the period in FastReport.

If something goes wrong

What next

Blast Indicators · Explosives Store

Row Section

Shows each row of the selected block's holes side by side in true elevations (geology, charge, water, the bench floor), one row at a time, and prints the rows you tick.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Reports group → Row Section, in the Sheets drop-down. On the Blast block tab it is in the Reports group, Documents drop-down.

How to

1. Select one blast block with holes. If you pick a single hole of the block, its row is the one shown first.
2. Click Row Section. The Row section window opens with the rows listed at the left.
3. Pick a row to see it in section. A line under the picture says which row it is and how many holes it has; holes placed by hand belong to "No row".
4. Tick the rows to print (all are ticked to begin with; the All rows tick ticks or unticks them all), then click Print ticked rows. A landscape sheet for each ticked row opens in FastReport.

If something goes wrong

What next

Hole Passport · Blast Passport

Hole Passport

Prints a passport sheet for each picked hole (or for every hole of the selected block): section, data, charge and initiation.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Reports group → Hole Passport, in the Sheets drop-down. On the Blast block tab: Reports group, Documents drop-down.

How to

1. Pick the holes in a blast block, or select the block itself to print all its holes.
2. Click Hole Passport. The sheets open in FastReport. The company particulars are those set in Parameters.

If something goes wrong

Charging Sheet

Prints the charging sheet of the picked holes (or every hole of the selected block): a row per hole with its charge, sleeve and detonators, and the totals.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Reports group → Charging Sheet, in the Sheets drop-down. On the Blast block tab: Reports group, Documents drop-down.

How to

1. Pick the holes in a blast block, or select the block to take every hole.
2. Click Charging Sheet. The sheet opens in FastReport. The company particulars are those set in Parameters.

If something goes wrong

Delay Network Check

Checks the delay network of the selected blast blocks against limits and lists every remark.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Delay network group → Delay Network Check. The same button is on the Blast block tab, in the Delay network group.

Before you start

Select one or more blast blocks that have a delay network (see Delay Network). With nothing selected the command says "Select the blast blocks to check first.". Run it again with other blocks selected and the open window takes them.

How to

1. Select the blocks and click Delay Network Check. The Delay network check window opens.
2. Read the summary line of each block and the Remarks table (Block, Check, Holes, Finding).
3. Change the limits if needed; the check is repeated.
4. Click Report… for the sheet.

Parameters

The same limits are on the Delay network limits page of Blast Design Settings.

What the checks are

Network start; Not reached; Connections; Neighbours too close in time; Holes in 8 ms; Charge in 8 ms; Delay between rows; and, for blocks with a wall, Charge in 8 ms at the wall, Pre-split lead and Trim holes last. For example: "The network does not reach N hole(s).", "N holes fire within 8 ms (allowed M)." When the network is within every limit the window says "No remarks: the network is within every limit.".

If something goes wrong

Drilling Quality

Checks the drilled holes of the selected blast blocks against their design and marks holes for redrill.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Drilling group → Drilling Quality. The same button is on the Blast block tab, in the Drilling group.

Before you start

Select one or more blast blocks whose holes have recorded drilling facts (actual collar, depth, toe or angle). With nothing selected the command says "Select the blast blocks to check first.". Run it again with other blocks selected and the open window takes them.

How to

1. Select the blocks and click Drilling Quality.
2. Set the Tolerances. Each hole in the table gets a Result: "Within tolerance", "No fact" (nothing drilled yet) or "Out: …" naming what is out (collar in plan, collar height, underdrilled or overdrilled, toe, angle).
3. Tick Only the holes out of tolerance to narrow the table.
4. Pick holes in the table and click Mark for redrill; Clear the mark removes the mark. The message says how many were changed.
5. Report… opens the sheet, CSV… saves the table as a CSV file.

Parameters

The same tolerances are on the Drilling tolerances page of Blast Design Settings. All are zero or more.

The table columns are Block, Hole no., Design depth, m, Actual depth, m, Δ depth, m, Collar in plan, m, Collar height, m, Toe, m, Δ azimuth, °, Δ angle, °, Redrill and Result.

If something goes wrong

What next

Blast Journal

Explosive Energy

Shows the explosive energy of the selected blast blocks on a section coloured by the local specific charge, and the shares of rock undercharged, within the limits and overcharged. It can also build the overcharged zone as a 3D object.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Calculation group → Explosive Energy. The same button is on the Blast block tab, in the Calculation group.

Before you start

Select the blast blocks to show. Without a design specific charge (see Blast Calculation) the shares cannot be judged: the window says "The design specific charge is not known (Blast calculation): the shares cannot be judged.".

How to

1. Select the blocks and click Explosive Energy. The Explosive energy window opens.
2. In Section choose the Block, then either Horizontal at an elevation or Vertical along row a row of holes.
3. Set the Limits. The picture and the summary update.
4. Click Report… for the sheet of the section shown.
5. To build a 3D zone, set Zone in 3D and click Build the zone.

Parameters

The limits and the section cell (0.5 m) are also on the Explosive energy page of Blast Design Settings.

What is created

Build the zone adds the zone to the project as a closed wireframe on the current layer, as one undo step, and says "Zone above … kg/m³: … m³.".

If something goes wrong

Blasting Cost

Counts the cost of blasting by the design and as done, for the selected blast blocks or for the blocks fired in a period.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Calculation group → Blasting Cost. The same button is on the Blast block tab, in the Calculation group.

How to

1. Select blast blocks and click Blasting Cost, or click it with none selected to count the blocks fired this month. Run again with another selection and the open window takes it.
2. Choose The selected blocks, or Fired from … to a period. A block counts as fired by its journal, else by its blast date.
3. Read the Blocks table and the Cost table. The window follows the project, undo included.
4. Report… opens the sheet, CSV… saves the cost lines and the blocks.

What is counted

Explosives by the tonne, means of initiation by the piece (detonating cord by the metre), sleeves by the metre and inert pieces by the piece at the prices of the project's reference tables, and the works at the project's cost rates: drilling by the metre, charging by the kilogram, by the hole, by the cubic metre, by the tonne or by the block. A rate that names diameters counts only the holes of those diameters. "As done" uses the quantities recorded in the journal or on the holes, else the design. One currency, set as Currency in Blast Design Settings; prices are taken as they are, not converted.

If something goes wrong

What next

Compare Blocks · Blast Indicators

Compare Blocks

Puts the selected blast blocks side by side: size curves on one chart and the figures a line each.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Calculation group → Compare Blocks. The same button is on the Blast block tab, in the Calculation group.

How to

1. Select two to six blast blocks and click Compare Blocks. Run it again with other blocks and the open window takes them.
2. Read the Fragments chart and the table The blocks side by side: each block as designed, with the calculation settings it keeps, and its cost by the design. The least specific charge, oversize, fines, cost and safe distance are marked.
3. Report… opens the sheet; CSV… saves the table.

The table has rows such as pattern, explosive, hole diameter, stemming, volume, rock mass, explosive mass, charge, oversize, fines, cost (total, per m³, per t), seismically safe distance and fly-rock danger zone; with a block model it adds mean grade, ore, dilution and ore lost.

If something goes wrong

Grade Holes from Model

Gives the holes of blast blocks the grade of the block model cells they run through, and tells ore from waste.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Grid group → Grade Holes from Model (in the Holes drop-down). On the Blast block tab: Holes group.

Before you start

The blocks must lie in a block model that has values. The calculation of each block (see Blast Calculation) names the model, the grade column and the cut-off.

How to

1. Select the blocks to work on. With none selected, every block of the project is taken. Blocks on locked layers are left out.
2. Click Grade Holes from Model. All blocks are updated as one undo step.
3. A message gives the numbers: blocks, holes, graded from the model and, when a cut-off is set, how many are in ore. A block with a cut-off is coloured by ore and waste.

If something goes wrong

Model on the Bench

Shows the block model as a horizontal section through the middle of the selected blast block's bench, coloured by grade.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Calculation group → Model on the Bench. The same button is on the Blast block tab.

How to

1. Select a blast block.
2. Click Model on the Bench. The model the block's calculation names (or the one the block is in) is cut by a horizontal plane at the middle of the bench, under the middle of the contour, shown alone and coloured by its grade column. The model's other planes are kept, switched off. One undo step.

If something goes wrong

Ore Outlines

Outlines the ore of the blast blocks on their bench from the block model, and counts the dilution of digging by the outlines.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Calculation group → Ore Outlines. The same button is on the Blast block tab.

Before you start

Each block needs a block model and a Cut-off in Parameters.

How to

1. Select the blocks, or select none to take every block of the project.
2. Click Ore Outlines. The outlines are added as polylines at the level of the block's collars, on the current layer, as one undo step.
3. A message gives, for each block, the number of outlines, the ore and waste dug inside them, the dilution and the ore left outside.

If something goes wrong

What next

Outlines After the Blast

Outlines After the Blast

Moves the selected lines, or the block's ore outlines, as the rock moves in the blast, and draws them as new polylines: the dig lines.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Calculation group → Outlines After the Blast. The same button is on the Blast block tab.

Before you start

Select a blast block, and, if you want to move your own outlines, the polylines with it. With no lines selected, the block's ore outlines are used (they need a block model and a cut-off). The rock's movement is worked out once the holes are charged.

How to

1. Select the block and optionally the lines.
2. Click Outlines After the Blast. New polylines are added on the current layer as one undo step.
3. A message gives how many lines moved, the average and the largest shift in metres, and how much of the outlines' area moved out of where it was. The Movement factor of the calculation scales the movement.

If something goes wrong

Muckpile Surface

Lays the selected block's muckpile out in its place: its surface as a mesh and the line of its toe on the bench floor.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Calculation group → Muckpile Surface. The same button is on the Blast block tab.

How to

1. Select a blast block with charged holes.
2. Click Muckpile Surface. A mesh and a polyline are added on the current layer as one undo step.
3. A message gives the width of the muckpile from the last row, how far it is past the first row, and its height at the last row. The width depends on the Blastability Kв, Delay Kз and the rest of the calculation.

If something goes wrong

Blast Indicators

Shows what the blasts came to: holes, metres drilled, volume, specific charge, yield per metre, misfires, explosives used, and, where the project gives them, fragments, cost and dilution. By block or by month.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Reports group → Blast Indicators. The same button is on the Blast block tab.

How to

1. Select blast blocks and click Blast Indicators, or click it with none selected to take the blocks fired this month. Run again to give the open window another selection.
2. Choose The selected blocks, or Fired from … to a period. Tick By month to get a line a month rather than a block.
3. Read the Indicators table and Explosives and initiation used (Material, Quantity, Unit). The total comes last.
4. Report… opens the sheet; CSV… saves the indicators and materials.

Columns

Block or month, Blast date, Holes, Metres drilled, Volume, m³, Explosive by the design, kg, Explosive loaded, kg, q by the design, kg/m³, q as loaded, kg/m³, Yield, m³/m, Misfires, Misfires, %, X50, m, Oversize, %, Cost per m³, Dilution, %. The quantities are as recorded in the journal, else as designed. Dilution needs a block model and a cut-off.

If something goes wrong

What next

Blasting Cost · Explosives Store

Explosives Store

The store of explosives and means of initiation: receipts, what the fired blocks took, what is left, and what the planned blasts need.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Reports group → Explosives Store. The same button is on the Blast block tab.

How to

1. Click Explosives Store. The Explosives store window opens.
2. Set the period From … To (the current month to begin with) and Blasts planned up to (the blocks not fired yet that are planned up to that day, or not dated, make the demand).
3. Read the Balance: Material, Unit, At the start, Received, Used, At the end, Demand of the plan, Shortfall.
4. To take material in, choose the material and the quantity in the Receipts list and click Take in. The quantity below zero is a write-off or a return; the waybill is the paper it came by. Pick receipts and click Delete to remove them. Each is one undo step.
5. CSV… saves the balance.

Nothing is kept but the receipts: what the blocks used is counted from the project, as charged where the journal recorded it, else as designed.

If something goes wrong

Protected Objects

The objects the ground vibration of a blast is checked at (a building, a pipeline, a slope), and the velocity each may take.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Seismic group → Protected Objects, in the Seismic data drop-down.

How to

1. Click Protected Objects. The window does not block the program; the view stays free to select objects in.
2. Under Add: choose a Layer and the Objects kind and click Add by the filter (every object of that kind on the layer becomes a protected object), or select objects in the view and click Add the selected.
3. For each row set Name, Allowed velocity (the peak vibration velocity the object may take, by the norms for it, cm/s; new objects start at 2) and Category. The delete button removes the row; the object stays in the project.

The vibration is judged at the object's point nearest the blast. A blast block cannot be a protected object. Every change is one undo step.

If something goes wrong

What next

Site Vibration Law · Vibration Check

Vibration Measurements

The ground vibration measured at blasts: distance, charge per delay, velocity, frequency. The site's vibration law is fitted to them.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Seismic group → Vibration Measurements, in the Seismic data drop-down.

How to

1. Click Vibration Measurements. The window lists the measurements and the values of the one picked.
2. Use the new and copy buttons to add a measurement, empty or with the values of the selected one.
3. Fill in the fields.

A measurement is complete, and so can be used in the fit, when distance, charge and velocity are all above zero. Incomplete ones are listed as "incomplete".

If something goes wrong

What next

Site Vibration Law

Site Vibration Law

The site's vibration law v = K·(r / Q^(1/n))^−β, fitted to the measurements or given by hand.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Seismic group → Site Vibration Law, in the Seismic data drop-down.

How to

1. Click Site Vibration Law. What you set is kept at once, for Vibration Check to use.
2. Choose how the charge is scaled: Scaled by √Q (v = K·(r / √Q)^−β, as SHOTPlus and O-Pitblast take it, the default) or Scaled by ∛Q (Sadovsky) (as the CIS rules take it).
3. Either let the law be fitted to the Vibration Measurements (it needs at least 3 complete ones), or tick Give K and β by hand and type them (K in cm/s, default 140; β, default 1.6; both must be above zero).
4. The window shows the fit ("Fitted to N measurements: K = …, β = …, R² = …"), the law in use, and the measurements against the law on a chart whose axes are both logarithmic: the scaled distance across, the velocity (cm/s) up.

The same settings are on the Site vibration law page of Blast Design Settings.

If something goes wrong

Vibration Check

Checks the ground vibration and the air blast of the selected blast blocks at the protected objects.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Seismic group → Vibration Check. The same button is on the Blast block tab, in the Calculation group.

Before you start

• Select the blast blocks to check. With none selected the command says "Select the blast blocks to check first.".
• Add the objects in Protected Objects ("The project has no protected objects yet (Protected objects).").
• Give a site law in Site Vibration Law ("No site law: fit it to measurements or give it by hand.").
• The block should be charged. The charge per delay comes from the delay network (8 ms windows); without one the whole block is taken as one charge.

How to

1. Select the blocks and click Vibration Check. Run again with other blocks selected and the open window takes them.
2. Read the table, one row for each block and protected object: Block, Protected object, Category, Distance, m, Charge per delay, kg, Velocity, cm/s, Allowed, cm/s, Allowed charge per delay, kg, Air blast zone (inside or outside) and Result.
3. Report… opens the sheet.

The Result is "Safe", "Velocity over the allowed one" or "Not known". The check also draws the velocity contour and the air blast zone as a sketch in the 3D view.

If something goes wrong

Blast Design Settings

The settings of the blast design commands in one window: report particulars, drilling tolerances, delay network limits, explosive energy and the site vibration law.

Where to find it

Blast Design tab → Settings group → Blast Design Settings.

How to

1. Click Blast Design Settings. The Blast design settings window lists a page for each group.
2. Change the values. Defaults puts the defaults on the page you are on; they are kept when you press OK.
3. Click OK to keep the changes on every page, or Cancel.

Pages

If something goes wrong