Roof support and roadway serviceability assessment using beam-column principles

This paper outlines the development of a roof support assessment method that takes account of differing roof conditions, effect of support type and stiffness that can be used in the strata management (TARPS) process. The proposed model is based on beam-column principles and incorporates bending, horizontal loading and shear. Estimates of roof convergence for various heights of softening (or surcharge loading) above a roadway can be obtained for a given support pressure. The model relies upon inputs from the Geophysical Strata Rating (GSR), roof bolt pull-out stiffness/load, H:V stress ratio and UCS.