The shear performance of cable bolts in experimental, numerical and mathematical studies

The behaviour of encapsulated cable bolts in the rock mass has been studied in the past to determine the load transfer capacity and their ultimate tensile strength. Past studies were mostly based on pull-out tests because of the ability of pull-out tests to be conducted both in the laboratory and in the field. Thus, a number of experimental and analytical models are available to determine the load transfer capacity of cable bolts mainly in pull-out conditions. On the other hand, studies on the shear performance of cable bolts are limited and are mostly based on experimental studies, which do not accurately simulate the real shear performance of cable bolts. The shear behaviour of cable bolts is significantly affected by pretension load, cable bolt surface profile type, ultimate tensile capacity, rock mass strength and cementitious grout or chemical resin properties. None of the past research studies investigated the shear behaviour of various types of fully grouted cable bolt with varied pretension loads subjected to shearing. This thesis is concerned with the study of the shear behaviour of cable bolts. Shear tests have been carried out using both single and double shear apparatus (with and without contact between concrete block surfaces).