An experimental investigation on rock crushability using jaw and cone crushers

Abstract

This study covers the investigation of rock crushability using laboratory-scale cone and jaw crushers for five types of hardrocks. For this purpose, physico‒mechanical properties of the investigated rocks are determined. Aggregate samples with a particle size range of 10.00 – 14.00 mm are prepared for crushability tests. After performing crushability tests, crushed particles are sieved and considering sieve analysis results, crushability indices are identified for each rock and crusher type. The performance of the crushers concerning their experimental setup is investigated by Taggart method. It is achieved from crushability tests that, the performance of the cone crusher is approximately two times better than the one of the jaw crusher for their experimental setups. The crushing time (Tc) seems to increase with increasing in rock strength properties. Furthermore, remarkable relationships are obtained between several rock properties and crushability test results. It can be claimed that crushability of rocks are dependent upon crusher type, setup of crushing process, rock strength as well as the mineral hardness. Considering these types of variables, higher achieving benefits of aggregate production could be satisfied at lower costs.