Determining the optimum cutting direction in granite quarries through experimental studies: a case study of a granite quarry

Optimization of cutting operations in quarrying and processing of building stones leads to certain reductions in operational costs. Despite the developments of cutting technology and employment of more efficient cutting machines, there is still a need to optimize a series of operational parameters; the cutting direction is one of them. In order to optimize the cutting direction parameter in cutting processes, an experimental study was designed in a granite quarry. For this purpose, 12 granite samples along 12 different directions with 15° intervals were cut by a special laboratory wire cutting machine. The obtained cutting rate showed that different cutting directions demonstrate very diverse cutting rates. A significant difference of 43% was found between the highest and lowest cutting rates. Also, the optimal cutting direction was found to be 185° relative to the geographical north. Furthermore, microscopic studies on petrographic thin sections were performed to analyze the cutting rate results. Analysis showed that the rock’s equivalent hardness was not correlated to the cutting rate, while there is a possible direct relationship between the quartz content and the cutting rate. Besides, results confirmed the currently identified splitting planes of the quarry and showed a potential relationship with the main fault system of the area.

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