Experimental investigation of rock cuttability based on rock indentation tests by a conical pick

Stress conditions and rock properties significantly influence rock breakage. The rock indentation tests by a conical pick were conducted to investigate the rock cuttability corelated to confining stress conditions and rock strengths. Based on the test results, the regression analyses were used to find the relationship among rock cuttability, uniaxial confining stress applied to rock, uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and tensile strength of rock material. It was found that the regression models can accurately reflect the variation law of rock cuttability, which presents decreases followed by increases with increases in uniaxial confining stress and the negative correlation to UCS and tensile strength of rock material. The established models are suitable for guiding the rock cutting by conical pick and will provide useful information for mechanized mining in deep hard rock.