HYDRAULIC EXPLOSIVE TECHNIQUE FOR RAPID EGRESS

THE PROPOSED PROJECT ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR CONTINUOUS HARD ROCK EXCAVATION TECHNIQUES WHICH EXPLOIT THE EFFICIENCY AND VERSATILITY OF EXPLOSIVE ROCK FRAGMENTATION WHILE OVERCOMING THE DELAYS AND HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES. AN EVALUATION WILL BEMADE OF THE FEASIBILITY OF USING A HYDRAULIC EXPLOSIVE DEVICE FOR RAPID, ENERGY EFFICIENT EXCAVATION OF HARD ROCK. THE DEVICE WOULD USE THE ENERGY STORED IN A VOLUME OF WATER COMPRESSED TO VERY HIGH PRESSURES TO GENERATE A POWERFUL HYDRAULIC SHOCK WITHIN A CAVITY DRILLED INTO A ROCK FACE. ROCK FRAGMENTATION WITH THIS DEVICE SHOULD BE COMPARABLE TO THAT ACHIEVED BY EXPLOSIVE CHARGES WITHOUT THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH FLY ROCK AND TOXIC FUMES. THE DEVICE WOULD FORM THE BASIS FOR A CONTINUOUS HARD ROCK EXCAVATION SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR RAPID EGRESS FROM A DEEP BASE.