The Cutting Resistance of Rock Salt in Function of Temperature

Abstract

Abstract Currently over then 16 percent of the total worldwide salt production is excavated in underground mines. Salt deposits often lie at great depths up to 1000 m, where the temperature of the surrounding rocks reaches 50°C and even exceeds it. A large part of it is exploited using mechanical methods, mainly with the use of road headers and continuous miners. When excavating salt rock, the cutters of the road header mining head come into contact with the rock. This generate friction and in consequence a rise in temperature. In AGH University of Science and Technology the laboratory tests were carried out to determine the effect of temperature on cutting resistance and selected mechanical properties of rock salt. On the special laboratory test stand the rock salt sample was cutted at three different temperatures - 20, 50 and 80°C. The cuttability index and the side chipping angle were measured for each temperature. Additionally the same tests were performed in the case of salt sample after cooling to room temperature. The selected mechanical parameters of rock salt - compressive, tensile and shear strength were also measured for the same temperature values. The obtained results were compared and described in the paper.