Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association ISSN:2233-8292(Print) 2287-4747(Online) 한국터널지하공간학회 논문집

Nowadays, the blast method is mainly operated in the fields of the rock excavation accompanied by construction site in Korea. Blast method has many merits such as improvement of workability, reducement of operation period, and etc. However, blast operation also create much loss and troubles with the neighbours for the environmental pollutions such as the noise, blast vibration, fly rocks and dusts. Thus, the non-vibration and shallow vibration methods have been used but they have also another problems in the view of the economy and the efficiency in operation. In this study, we had made laboratory tests for the breaking of the various Rock types by White Light Thermal Stress. The tests shows that one unit consuming 500kilowatts of electricity, would go 90 feet a day in tunneling if the tunnel was 16 feet by 16 feet. Also, if a faster rate of tunneling could be handled, other white light units could be added.