Study on the influence of slit pipe wall thickness on the rock breaking effect of slit charge explosion

Abstract In this study, the influence of slit pipe wall thickness on shaped charge blasting efficiency was investigated. The influence of different slit pipe wall thicknesses on the dynamic behavior of slotted charge blasting was analyzed by a combination of experimental observations and numerical simulations. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was used as a rock simulation material to prepare slit pipes with different slit pipe wall thicknesses (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mm). A dynamic caustics system is used to capture the crack propagation process. ANSYS/LS‐DYNA was used for the numerical simulation analysis. The experimental results show that there is a positive correlation between the slit pipe wall thickness and the crack propagation length, velocity, and dynamic stress intensity factor. With increasing slit pipe wall thickness, the directional propagation and energy concentration ability of cracks are significantly improved, but an increase in the slit pipe wall thickness will also promote the propagation of secondary cracks. In addition, the numerical simulation results support the experimental observations and reveal the existence of an optimal slit pipe wall thickness that can maximize the blasting efficiency while maintaining structural integrity. This study not only deepens the understanding of the physical laws of the blasting process but also provides a practical reference for the optimal design of slotted charges in engineering applications.