ABSTRACT
Developments in coal mine strata reinforcement technology, hardware and installation practices are outlined in the paper. It follows the progression from early concepts of roof bolts suspending layers through to reinforcement of a multi-layered roof beam to withstand both vertical and horizontal applied loads.
Advances in strata reinforcement have occurred in most countries where strata-bound deposits are mined but the paper focuses on those made in Australia and only major developments from other countries. In spite of the many achievements made, there are still some challenges in strata reinforcement which have been identified in the paper. Many of these relate to the need for increased reinforcement efficiency as part of the overall roadway development process which is continually being improved without compromising safety.
