Effect of cutter pick rake angle on the failure pattern of high-strength rocks

Abstract

One aspect of cutter pick application, namely, cutting of high-strength rocks at low and negative rake angles is examined, and the validity of Evans' cutting theory which is based on the assumption of tensile failure is discussed. It is shown theoretically that at low and negative rake angles, rock failure is most likely to take place as a result of compressive stresses created by the geometry of the cutting pick, rather than tensile stresses. The findings of some available laboratory experiments are also shown to be in agreement with the theoretical suggestions made in this work