With the application of electronic detonators and with short delay times, it may be possible to achieve improved fragmentation through stress wave superposition. This hypothesis was studied through a series of small scale laboratory tests. The results from these tests have subsequently been modeled using the numerical FEM code LS-DYNA and the RHT (Riedel-Hiermaier-Thoma) material model, applying a newly developed methodology for three-dimensional computer simulation of blasting. This work also involved simulating initial damage to the rock through previous blasting, and analyzing the resulting effects. The effect of different delay times showed that through a properly chosen delay time, improved fragmentation could be inferred. Moreover, the initial damage (from the previous row) clearly affected the fragmentation; however, the results indicated that longer delay times (in which the stress wave would have passed the boreholes) also resulted in improved fragmentation, implying that stress wave superposition may not be the primary factor governing fragmentation