Development of a portable rock cutting rig for rock cuttability determination

A portable linear rock cutting machine (PLCM)(TM) using mini discs is developed by the members of Mining Engineering Department, ITU. A groove is cut on the surface of a rock sample with a small disc cutter with constant depth of cut. Tool forces and specific energy values are recorded in 14 different rock samples having compressive strength values changing between 30 and 170 MPa. The results are compared with the results obtained from full scale rock cutting tests using 13 inch disc cutter with 1.2 cm cutter tip width and full size conical cutters. It is found that there is close correlation between test results obtained from both cutting tests. Using PLCM some graphs are given to estimate cutting forces of full size disc cutters used in TBMs and to predict the performance of roadheaders for tunnel excavation.