Static testing

Steel wire mesh is widely used for rock surface support in mines. Experimental studies on mesh continue to be conducted throughout the world using different testing configurations and simple analysis techniques to characterise its performance. In practice, laboratory testing can only hope to investigate a limited range of configurations. The response of the mesh depends on the overall sample size, the restraints and the loading. A testing program using two different types of mesh has recently been completed at the WA School of Mines. The results of this testing are presented and the force-displacement responses highlight the deficiencies in previous analysis methods. More sophisticated analysis techniques incorporated into computer software are used to demonstrate the potential to predict the force-displacement response for any defined set of constraints and loading conditions.

The Western Australian School of Mines has designed, commissioned and extensively used testing facilities capable of subjecting panels of steel wire mesh to static and dynamic loadings. Since commissioning, a large number of tests hae been performed on mesh with different wires diameters and apertures. The force-dislacement responses of the mesh have been measured and then characterized by various performance indicators such as peak strength, stiffness (displacement to peak strength), post-peak behavior and engergy absorption. The database of test results has been sun=mmarized in the form of charts that may be used to easily compare the performance of different mesh configurations and to assist with design of appropriate ground support for static and dynamic loading applications.