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Chimney Implosion—A Case Study




Author(s)

Ajay Kumar Jha

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DOI:10.17265/2328-2193/2014.01.004

Chimney implosion is the strategic planning of explosives and accessories materials and timings of its detonation so that chimney collapses on itself, minimising the physical damage to its immediate surroundings. Built in 1885, the brick chimney at kankanee colliery, Sijua area, BCCL (Bharat Collieries Company Limited) was demolished by felling method using the commercial explosives by adopting single-folding and toppling method. The chimney was 31.5 m in height and suffered structural weaknesses due to progressive deterioration over age, weathering and non maintenance. The chimney was posing potential threat to the safety of the nearby dwellings and surface structures, viz. main mechanical ventilator of Kankanee colliery, 11 KV electrical substation supplying power to Sijua area, BCCL, high tension cable line and busy Katras-Sijua-Dhanbad Dobari Road all falling within a radius of 30 m. About 75.22 kg of commercial explosive, 100 m of detonating fuse along with 0 and 25 ms delay detonators were used for controlled demolition of chimney. The chimney got demolished by vertically cascading on its own base without causing any damage to the nearby dwellings and surface structures.

Implosion, chimney demolition.