Development of Mathematical Models for Determining Physical Properties of Igneous Rocks Through Noise Measurement using Fabricated Portable Drill

Abstract

The process of drilling is invariably associated with noise as a by-product. Scientists and engineers worldwide have widely used acoustic signatures from mechanical equipment’s to detect fault in a system. However, the application of sound in determining rock properties is limited. In the past few years, research in the area of predicting rock properties using sound level produced during drilling has been reported by various investigators. However, the equipment used by the earlier investigators was a jack hammer drill which itself was a high noise generating unit and it was believed that the noise from the drilling unit itself might be affecting the results of sound level during measurement. Further, the CNC machine used by the earlier investigators was rarely used in mines. Added to that, the cost of the machine was also high. In view of the above, it is felt necessary to fabricate a low cost and low noise generating drilling unit for the purpose of estimating rock properties. Hence the primary focus of this research work is development and fabrication of a portable, cost effective, rotary drilling set-up for drilling in rocks of varying physicomechanical properties. Further, development of general prediction mathematical models for different physico-mechanical properties of igneous rock using statistical methods is also one of the component of the research work.The purpose of this research work is to design and fabricate a low cost and low noise producing drilling setup which will be very useful in the estimation of rock properties using sound level produced during drilling. The developed models based on the results of laboratory studies, clearly indicate the prediction of the physico-mechanical properties of igneous rocks with acceptable degree of accuracy using this designed drill setup.