In situ rock bolt behaviour underground
Establishing the behaviour of in-situ rock bolts with fibre optic sensors to develop improved models and design improved rock bolt support systems.
In this project extensive laboratory testing sought to understand rock bolt behaviour under complex load conditions.
Physical models were prepared to simulate the shearing in underground opening with the results used to analyse the effect of combined load on the safety factor of rock bolt reinforcement in underground openings using numerical modelling. A significant reduction was found in the actual safety factor of the reinforcement designed under combined load conditions.
A new instrumented rock bolt was designed for underground testing. To analyse the data a new software tool was written, allowing the operator to observe the recorded strain values for a single fibre or for one rock bolt at a time through a graphical user interface. Further, the software provides the option to display the 3D shape and deformation of the bolt.
Read MRIWA report M0499 summarising the findings of this research.
Page was last reviewed 27 February 2024