Effect of particle density on rock cutting performance using abrasive waterjet

Abstract

The demand for underground space development is rapidly increasing, and the necessity is emerging due to the overcrowding of urban populations and structures. However, civil complaints arise due to noise and vibration during rock excavation in downtown areas, which often results in an extension of the construction period or a halt of construction. Rock excavation using an abrasive waterjet can solve these problems with a low-noise and low-vibration method. The excavation performance of the abrasive waterjet is basically determined by the abrasive's physical properties and accelerated velocity. In this study, the abrasive particle velocity according to the density of the abrasive was numerically observed. For numerical simulation, CFD analysis was performed for the abrasive waterjet system. In addition, the effect of two abrasives with different densities on granite cutting performance was evaluated through experiments. The results of this study are expected to help in selecting an appropriate abrasive material when designing an abrasive waterjet system for rock excavation in urban areas.