Abstract
Most of the blasting techniques in common use for highway rock excavation are designed to ensure optimum fragmentation and rarely consider the effect of blast disturbance on the stability of the design slope. Presplit blasting is advocated as a means of minimising disturbance behind final faces and thus optimising stability; remedial and maintenance requirements are thus minimised. The report considers theoretical aspects of presplitting and gives guidance for success. The latter is based primarily on experience in the field. Recommendations on application, specification, control and monitoring are also given. The techniques described have many other potential applications. (Author/publisher)