ABSTRACT
This chapter describes experimental studies undertaken on the mechanical behavior of the rockbolt system together with a reference to rockanchors, which are a special form of rockbolts.
First, the mechanical behavior of the bolt material used in practice is given, then the experimental study undertaken for the anchorage performance of rockbolts in push-out and pull-out tests and subsequent shear tests on the mechanical behavior of interfaces within the system and grouting material are described.
Evaluation of the contribution of rockbolts/rockanchors for improving the properties of rock mass is described and the shear reinforcement effect of rockbolts on rock discontinuities is presented in view of some theoretical and experimental findings.
There is an increasing demand for underground openings for energy storage projects (i.e. CAES and SMES projects) and they are subjected to high internal pressures resulting in tangential tensile stresses around the cavities. The evaluation of reinforcement effect of mesh bolting on rock masses subjected to tensile stresses is presented and several practical examples are described.
