P0
=
2.9 10-9 = 3 10-9 psi (lbs/in2).
Some typical sound levels with values in both dB and psi are shown in Figure 1.
Air Overpressure and Wind Equivalents
For residents around blasting areas the use of wind equivalents as units for air over pressure is preferred
to decibels or pounds per square inch. Typical activities and damage criteria are expressed in Figure 1
in wind equivalents as well as pounds per square inch and decibels.
Spectral analysis of blast sounds was done by Siskind and Summers, 1974, which clearly showed the
very low sub audible frequencies.
Scaled Distance for Air Overpressure
Air overpressure is scaled according to the cube root of the charge weight similar to what is done with
underwater blasting and not the square root of the charge weight used for ground vibration, that is:
K = d/(W)1/3
where:
d
W
K
=
=
=
Distance (ft)
Maximum charge weight per delay (lbs)
Scaled distance value for air overpressure (ft/lbs1/3).
AP (mb) Metric
Equation
P=3589 SD3-1.38
AP (psi) US
equation
P=187 SD3-1.38
Source
Perkins
P=2596 SD3-1.62
P=169 SD3-1.62
USBM RI 8485
P=5.37 SD3-0.79
P=0.162 SD3-0.79
USBM RI 8485
Quarry Face
P=37.1 SD3-0.97
P=1.32 SD3-0.97
USBM RI 8485
Metal Mine
P=14.3 SD3-0.71
P=0.401 SD3-0.71
USBM RI 8485
Construction (average)
P=24.8 SD3-1.1
P=1 SD3-1.1
Oriard (2005)
P=2.48 SD3-1.1
P=0.1 SD3-1.1
Oriard (2005)
P=1.73 SD3-0.96
P=0.061 SD3-0.96
USBM RI 8485
Project Details
Air overpressure measured on major construction projects, with the use of three to four inch (75 to 100
mm) diameter blastholes, and depths to 35 feet (10.7 meters), are different than the average overpressure
results calculated from overpressure equations for construction. This size of blasthole is common in
general construction for highways, locks and dams and site preparation. Since the authors must be able
to predict the air overpressure values for these blast conditions, they evaluated air overpressure data and
determined more site-specific equations for air overpressure prediction. Three cases were studied where
researchers evaluated the results for a total of 386 blasts. The projects were in granites and sedimentary
rock such as shale, sandstone and limestone.
In general presplit blastholes are encouraged to vent to get a clean break to the collar of the holes. These
presplit blastholes were also evaluated to determine an equation for air overpressure from presplits and
compare it to production blasts.
In all cases the mean value equation was developed as well as the 95% confidence level equation.
These equations were compared to the existing published equations given in Table 1.
Figure 2 shows the air overpressure results for the same scaled distances for eight equations given in
Table 1.
AP in psi
Open Air
Coal Parting
0.1
Coal Highwall
Quarry
0.01
Metal
Cons Avg
0.001
0.0001
1
10
100
1000
SD3 (feet/pounds1/3)
Figure 3. Regression Analysis and Equations for Air Overpressure (psi) (US units)
Figure 4. Regression Analysis and Equations for Air Overpressure (dB) (US units)
Figure 5. Regression Analysis and Equations for Air Overpressure (kPa) (Metric)
1
AP in Psi
Coal Parting
Coal Highwall
0.1
Quarry
0.01
Metal
Cons Avg
0.001
0.0001
1
10
100
1000
Konya
SD3 (feet/pounds)
0.141
0.078
0.116
20
0.072
0.048
0.067
30
0.049
0.036
0.048
40
0.037
0.029
0.038
50
0.030
0.025
0.032
70
0.021
0.020
0.024
100
0.015
0.015
0.018
120
0.013
0.013
0.016
150
0.010
0.011
0.013
AP in Psi
0.1
Quarry
Metal
0.01
Konya
0.001
1
10
100
1000
SD3 (feet/pounds
Figure 7. Air Overpressure in psi for Quarry, Metal Mines, and Construction (Konya)
The question is commonly asked as to the relationship of air overpressure for production blasting verses
presplit blasts. An analysis of presplit data was done using air overpressure data regression analysis to
determine the 95% confidence level for air overpressure for precision presplit blasts fired
independently from the production blasts. The precision presplit holes were stemmed with drill
cuttings and a stemming plug. The holes were, in all cases, lightly loaded with detonating cord and
drilled on two foot centers. Figure 8 shows the results of the presplit blasts when compared to
production blast at the same site. The graph also shows the 95% confidence equation for the general
equation of the merged three production blast data used in this study.
Figure 8 shows the air overpressure for site F in granite. Data from site F was used to produce the 95%
confidence level air overpressure equations for both production and presplit blast. The equations used to
develop Table 3 are as follows:
Presplit (USA-PSI) (95 % confidence level site F), PSI = 1.55*(SD3) -0.84
Production (USA-PSI) (95 % confidence level site F), PSI = 0.56*(SD3) -0.82.
An analysis of the air overpressure data showed that presplit blasts will produce about on average about
254% higher air overpressure for the same scaled distance than would result from production blasts.
The average value can be conservatively assumed to be near 250% or 2.5 times the air overpressure for
production blasts
The equation in Granite for presplit (USA-psi) (95 % confidence level site F):
psi = 1.55*(SD3) -0.84. The equation in Granite for presplit (Metric kPa) (95 % confidence level site F):
kPa = 4.93*(SD3) -0.84
0.1
"All Production"
Presplit Site F
0.01
Production Site F
0.001
1
10
100
1000
SD3
SD
Presplit
Production
Difference
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
120
140
160
180
200
0.224
0.125
0.089
0.070
0.058
0.050
0.044
0.039
0.035
0.032
0.028
0.024
0.022
0.020
0.018
0.085
0.048
0.034
0.027
0.023
0.020
0.017
0.015
0.014
0.013
0.011
0.010
0.009
0.008
0.007
0.139
0.077
0.055
0.043
0.035
0.030
0.027
0.024
0.021
0.020
0.017
0.015
0.013
0.012
0.011
% increase
263
260
262
259
252
250
258
260
250
246
254
240
244
250
257
Conclusions
1. Air overpressure, best fit, equations for 3-4 inch (76 to 102 mm) diameter blastholes, with depths to
35 feet (10.7 meters), in both granite and limestone are:
US units (psi)
Mean value
95% confidence
US units (dB)
Mean value
95% confidence
where:
d = Distance in feet
W = Pounds/delay
Metric units (kPa)
Mean value
95% confidence
where:
d = Distance in meters
W = kilograms/delay.
2. Presplit air overpressure is about 2.5 times greater than air overpressure from normal production
blasting for the same scaled distance in this study. The equation in Granite for presplit air
overpressure (USA-psi) (95 % confidence level site F) is psi = 1.55*(SD3)-0.84. The equation in
Granite for presplit (Metric-kPa units) (95% confidence level site F) is kPa = 4.93*(SD3) -0.84.
References
1. International Society of Explosives Engineers Blasters Handbook 18th Edition (2011) (pp 587),
International Society of Explosives Engineers, Cleveland: ISEE.
2. Konya C. J., (2008). Rock Blasting and Overbreak Control- 4th Edition, Montville: IDC Inc.
3. Siskind, D.E., and Summers, C.R., (1974). "Blast Noise Standards and Instrumentation," (Report
No. TPR 78), Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Mines.