Rockbolting design in UK coal mines

Rockbolting is now being exploited successfully for tunnel support in British Coal mines. Rockbolt support design is based on accurate measurement of strata movements and bolt loads, which leads to a full understanding of strata behaviour and stress conditions at each site. This paper outlines the procedures followed to ensure good support performance in safe conditions, and illustrates this with three case histories. The extension of the ‘design by measurement’ approach to determine optimum mine layouts is also described.

• INTRODUCTION

• UK STRESS AND STRATA CONDITIONS

• THE APPLICATION OF ROOFBOLTING IN BRITISH COAL

• SUPPORT OF MAIN ROADS AND JUNCTIONS - ASFORDBY MINE

• ROCKBOLT SUPPORT IN ROADWAYS SUBJECT TO INTERACTION FROM UNDERLYING WORKINGS, EASINGTON COLLIERY

• GATEROAD SUPPORT IN DIFFICULT CONDITIONS - CLOWNE SEAM, KIVETON PARK COLLIERY

• BOLTING AND MINE DESIGN

• CONCLUSIONS

• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• REFERENCES