Component-level material characterization of timber chocks

To stabilize underground coal mining operations, timber chocks play a vital role by providing resistance against roof and floor convergences, which can help to maintain safety and productivity at a high level. This type of standing support system offers numerous benefits, including cost-effectiveness, rapid installation and minimal service requirements. This paper presents an investigation into the material characterization of timber chocks at the component level. To achieve this goal, several experimental tests were conducted to determine the mechanical properties of hardwood timbers. These properties include compressive and bending strengths as well as modulus of elasticity. Additionally, the study examines the impact of different notch corner shapes on the performance of timber components. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanical behaviour of timber chocks under critical underground mining scenarios.