Compressive Strength Is Not Enough (Assessing Pick Wear Rates for Drag Tool Equipped Machines)

The application of roadheading and drag tool equipped machines requires an assessment of both cutting performance and tool consumption. Neither parameter can be assessed purely from compressive strength and tool consumption is often neglected, at a cost to the project. Results from in-situ monitoring show that a measurement of relative abrasivity using the Cercharscratch abrasivity test provides a basis for the assessment of tool consumption. This can be modified by also considering the effects of the machine specification and the rock mass quality.