How convincing is the quality of our resin rebar installation? A case study

When designing ground support systems for a mining environment, the interpretation of technical specifications and the expected quality of installation must always be considered. These design considerations are easier to assess in an operating mine but are more difficult to gauge at an early stage of a new project. This paper is a case study on resin rebar design and installation as part of a fall of ground rehabilitation at an underground mine. The paper is focused on the design, testing, implementation, and installation of resin rebar as part of the primary ground support design. This includes the steps taken to go from a set of technical specifications to a functioning operating procedure based on the actual conditions and factors influencing the successful installation of resin rebar bolts. The operating procedures are closely related to installation equipment, in this case mechanised bolters and jackleg bolters. Quality assurance and quality control of the resin rebar installation to monitor installation quality and detect changes in the conditions are also discussed. Sample test results are presented to demonstrate possible installation and testing pitfalls.