Determination of restitution coefficients for various granite samples

Abstract

The restitution coefficient is used to measure the energy loss between two colliding objects. It is therefore a common research topic in several fields such as physics, engineering, and medicine for which the energy behavior corresponding to impact is important. This topic, especially in recent years, has also begun to attract interest for applications in mining engineering, which was initially used for estimating the efficiency of impact drilling systems and later in rock fall and mill simulations. In the future, with proper consideration for measurement systems and the quantities to be determined, restitution coefficients could represent an important parameter in other research areas of mining engineering such as the prediction of blast-induced vibration, identification and evaluation of excavation systems, and rock classification. The aim of this study is to determine the values of the coefficient of restitution (COR) for various granite samples, which has been attracting the interest of researchers in mining, building, and other such sectors in recent years. Owing to this interest, the results of this study are given within the framework of research in the mining and building industries. Evaluation of the study results indicated that the COR values for various granite samples could be quickly and easily assessed, but differences between the granite samples exist. Linking the reasons for these differences with rock material specifications and forming experimental standards will promote the use of COR as an important classification and/or design parameter in those disciplines such as mining and civil engineering, which are directly interested in rock units.