A FRACTAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGENY OF SINGLE IMPACT SINGLE-PARTICLEBREAKAGE

An initial empiric fractal based model for the breakage of rock has be en outlined, which was based on the single impact failure of single co res of rock. This incorporates the variance of specific impact energy, and to some degree the starting size, upon the resultant breakage pro ducts. The important parameter of interest is the fragmentation fracta l dimension which represents the power-law size-frequency distribution of the progeny, and is in essence a measure of the degree of fineness of the population. This quantity possesses a theoretical basis and of fers an alternative approach for studying comminution events. As the a pplication of fractal geometry has become more widespread the associat ed terminology has been widely adopted, but it can sometimes represent a pointless shift in vocabulary. This is particularly the case with p ower-law relationships that do not directly relate to a physical struc ture. In the situation described here the notation is justified as the fragmentation fractal can be derived directly from fractal theory, an d is fundamentally associated with the coastline or boundary fractal d imension of the particles within the distribution. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd