Investigation on the Impact Energy of a Hydraulic Breaker

Percussive breaking is basically a process in which short duration blows with high force intensity are applied in rapid succession, resulting in rock, concrete or pavement fragmentation. The machine for such a task is the hydraulic breaker which turns the hydraulic energy supplied by a positive displacement pump into mechanical energy as percussions of a piston against a chisel.

This work presents the results of experimental tests carried out on a hydraulic breaker to determine its blow impact energy. Then, using these data, theoretical considerations are formulated in order to understand the phenomenon of the tool loading especially at the instant of the impact of the piston against the chisel, leading to the energy release.