Mechanism of iron ore blasting fracture using axial uncoupled charges

• Continuous charging yields the most extensive rock damage, while an axial uncoupling coefficient of 1.50 results in the least damage. • Moderate air deck lengths enhance blasting effectiveness and rock fragmentation, but increasing air deck length reduces explosion shock wave peak pressure by 37.8% to 66.3%. • Advanced 3D reconstruction and fractal analysis enable quantitative assessment of fracture networks and damage extent in blasted rock. • LS-DYNA numerical simulations accurately predict cumulative rock damage, validating laboratory findings and supporting practical design optimization.