This project provides laboratory and field-oriented instructions in underground mine blast design. This project significance lies in the fact that blasting is the most common and cost-effective method of breaking hard rock in mining and tunneling operations and during blasting dynamic stresses induced by the detonations create cracks thereby resulting in instabilities in the remaining rock. This project provides the students studying blasting techniques the knowledge and skill to design and monitor blasts and recommend measures to control blast damage. The major items of equipment include a signal processing system and a borescope. This award is being matched by an equal amount from the principal investigator's institution.
