Drop Tower Impact Testing of Rocks and Stones

We have recently been in contact with a customer interested in a non-standard, but extremely interesting, way to perform impact tests. This company is specialized in the development of systems for selective fragmentation of various solids, especially in the mining and geosciences circuits. In these environments, improved methods for mineral comminution are continually being sought, pursuing the goal of achieving the required size reduction at a lower energy consumption level than conventional technology allows. Comminution is probably the largest energy consumer in most mine sites, with major implications for costs as well as environmental pollution. Applying different working conditions with their units they are able to pre-weak the rock or the stone to be comminuted. To understand how much their process is affecting the raw material, we suggest them a basic impact test by a means of a drop tower.

To help them to completely characterize the process, we have offer a 9450 drop tower equipped with a special support and a dedicated tup plus insert. The pre-weakened rock/stone will be placed for the test on the dedicated flat support. This support is connected to a reinforced adjustable height stand, which allows the proper positioning of the specimen for the impact. A dedicated tup, including a special reinforced flat insert, is used in combination with a reinforced tup-holder to impact the stone to be pulverized. Just selecting a specific mass and some basic test conditions (like the impact velocity or a drop height), it is possible to deliver on the specimen a well known amount of energy. The antirebound system is able to catch the tup preventing a second impact on the specimen. The weakened specimen will absorb a part of the impact energy fragmenting in many small pieces. The special box that is covering the impact area will allow to contain all pieces generated during the test, in order to perform further analysis and checks on the tested specimen.

To improve the understanding of the fragmenting process, is also possible to exchange the un-instrumented tup with a special one including a force sensor. The sensor, used in combination with a DAS and its related Bluehill software, will allow acquire the whole impact event and to perform more deeper analysis and studies.