Abstract
The CanmetMINING Ground Control Group has expertise in determining both static and dynamic properties of ground support elements for underground mining applications, such as rock bolts and anchor plates, shotcrete and mesh. These ground support elements are important, not just for the underground excavation stability but also for the safety of personnel and equipment. Furthermore, the ground support system design must be sufficient to support the weight of the surrounding rock (static conditions) as well as in the case of a rockburst (dynamic conditions), to allow mining operations to stay competitive. Indeed, an appropriate ground support system in problematic ground conditions is one of many components that could increase the life of an underground mining operation by allowing production to continue at depth. The CanmetMINING Ground Control Group has been working to develop more laboratory testing methods that combine failure modes existing in an underground mining environment. This first stage of new laboratory methods development is on the shear tension testing in static conditions. The type of bolts used are threaded rebars with two (2) different diameters: 20 mm and 22 mm. The forces are applied on the threaded head of the rock bolts. This paper presents a summary of the methodology developed, as well as the results of the laboratory testing program.