ABSTRACT
Mesh is widely used to provide areal rock restraint in mining excavations. The mesh used currently is intended for concrete reinforcement and the optimal mesh requirements for mining applications are unknown. Previous mesh testing methods and the results obtained have been reviewed. A testing program was developed to more closely resemble in situ mesh restraint and loading conditions. The results from these test have been used to propose requirements for modelling the behaviour of mesh. The models for mesh are described and the results from a preliminary analysis, using a simple model, are presented and compared with the corresponding testing results.
