Investigation into the Effect of Stemming on Blast Performance in Underground Excavations- A Model Study

Abstract

Blasting in an underground mine produces potentially harmful elastic stress waves that propagate down the
walls and back of the entry. Stemming may be used to maximize the effectiveness of an explosive at the face
and minimize the magnitude of the elastic waves that propagate down the entry and also reduce unnecessary
discharge. Stemming is necessary to stop the explosive energy from escaping through the upper part of blast
holes in underground mines.