Bearing capacity of a glass fibre reinforced polymer liner

The development and testing of stiff polymer to be used as part of roof and rib support system for underground mining is discussed. Laboratory tests were conducted to examine the bearing capacity of thin spray polymer liners (TSL) Polymer, which included both puncture test and the optimum size of steel bearing plates. It was found that a 60 mm diameter steel disc carried approximately 60 t, and that a 250 mm diameter steel plate had no major effect on the integrity of the TSL. Further polymer bearing capacity studies on uneven surfaces must be conducted to simulate actual mine site conditions.