ABSTRACT
In many civil engineering and mining projects the earth surface has to be remodelled, prepared or removed for the benefits and needs of a specific project. Such projects involve, for example, open pit or underground mines, tunnels, dredging works, trenches etc. Nowadays manpower is aided or replaced by blasting techniques and excavation machines like dredgers, trenchers, roadheaders, tunnel boring machines etc., which all have their specific advantages and applications. The development of more powerful machines and improved technology enables the cutting of increasingly stronger rock. However, in practice the variety of rock types in different rock cutting projects may well exceed the variety of rock cutting machinery, machinery settings or environmental conditions. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
