TECHNICAL | DRILL & BLAST
ROCK TUNNEL BLAST DESIGN: UPDATE
The Eurock 2025 conference was recently hosted in Trondheim, Norway. We look at the update given on rock tunnel Drill & Blast, specifically blast design as based on the latest project data versus the NTNU model
From academic studies to practical field experiences, from laboratory testing to using a variety of digital tools, the Eurock conference annually explores a varied host of themes important to rock engineering and tunnelling, relevant to underground and surface works, and civil engineering tunnels as well as mines. Below, we look at one paper of Drill & Blast that
discusses research that takes further forward the comparison of most recent rock tunnelling project data against the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s (NTNU) models for such projects. NTNU is located in Trondheim. Eurock 2025 was also hosted in Trondheim, Norway,
and had 13 themes in a Technical Programme over three days (17-19 June). The full Eurock event that was open to delegates
lasted all week (16-20 June), being topped and tailed by a suite of workshops and technical tours, respectively. The entire event was organised by the Norwegian national group within the International Society for Rock
mechanics and Rock Engineering (ISRM). Also preceding the delegate activities were ISRM administrative meetings.
PRACTICE AND MODELS Models are gradually updated, such that of the NTNU on predictions of Drill & Blast performance. A paper to Eurock 2025 discussed recent developments of the NTNU Drill & Blast model, based on enhancements to the 2007 basis model, plus drawing in data from recent project practice. T&TI previously carried a short version of a paper
looking at the validity of the NTNU Prediction Model for Drill & Blast tunnelling (T&TI Feb 2024). The paper noted that a number of predictive models for tunnelling were established decades ago by Norwegian researchers and continuously improved, also drawing upon project data for that purpose. The findings suggested the most recent baseline model (2007) was still valid, although suggestions were made for specific areas of trends and developments for further study.
Right:
Annual tunnelling totals in Norway, with sector breakdown, sampled over 2010-2024
INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE NORWEGIAN TUNNELLING SOCIETY (NFF)
8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0
2010 2011 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Railway Roads Underground metro Water supply Hydropower Sewerage Storage caverns Others
14 | August 2025
Volume in million m3
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141
