The development of a model to describe the Electromagnetic-Thermal-Mechanical (ETM)
multiphysics interaction in rocks requires careful consideration of the heating mechanism …

Microwaves have been used for a variety of applications in the past two decades. However,
there has been a significant and growing interest in the applications of microwaves in hard …

This paper presents a numerical study on the effects of microwave irradiation on the
mechanical properties of hard rock. More specifically, the weakening effect of microwave …

Microwave technology is increasingly used in laboratory tests and field applications as an
effective rock breaking technique. The underlying mechanism of rock fracturing induced by …

It has been demonstrated that microwave pretreatment can weaken rocks, reduce tool wear,
and improve mechanical rock breaking efficiency. The dielectric properties of rock minerals …

The strength and hardness of rock are much higher at freezing temperatures than at room
temperature. This results in high excavation costs and low excavation efficiency in frozen …

Chert, a by-product rock of sand quarrying, has historically posed economic challenges for
aggregate production, resulting in significant “waste” accumulation in quarries. Our study …

This study explored the influence of X-shaped joint cracks and microwave irradiation on the
failure characteristics of gabbro. Gabbro samples with joint angles of 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and …

Demand is growing for explosive-free and high efficiency rock breakage systems for mining,
petroleum and civil engineering applications. Microwave irradiation is becoming a promising …

Upon exposure to microwave radiation, most valuable minerals heat very well, while in
general, gangue minerals do not. This selective heating leads to differential thermal …