ABSTRACT
The support of tunnels in rock is a fundamental design requirement to be implementing during construction in order to stabilize the excavation for the safety of workers and maintain the tunnel profile to facilitate ongoing excavation and completion of construction which may include the installation of final lining. All initial support should be installed to within a maximum of 0.5 m behind the tunnel face with mesh and/or shotcrete installed to the corner of the tunnel face and roof and sidewalls. Final rock support typically includes the installation of additional rock bolts and shotcrete. The design of all rock support systems should strongly consider the minimum excavation dimensions that have to be completed in order to create adequate clearance for the positioning of equipment including drilling jumbos, drilling bolter machines, and hand drilling methods, to allow for the practical installation of rock support.
