The first project – on premature rock bolt failure (primarily associated with Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC)) - has just been completed.

The project team of Mike Fabjanczyk, Peter Gray, Alan Crosky and Bruce Hebblewhite, has identified a number of sites across the industry where SCC failures are occurring – both in old and new bolt installations. SCC has been identified to be often associated with a combination of particular mining environment and loading conditions, and steel and bolt characteristics.

The workshop will present the findings of the project, discuss the future recommendations and the implications for the industry.

"A critical component of the workshop will be a discussion on the recommendation to introduce rock bolt standards for Australia – as is the case in other major mining countries," Hebblewhite said. "It will be important to have industry input and ongoing participation in the development of such standards. Workshop participants will receive a copy of the project final report."

In addition to the SCC project discussions, UNSW and SCT are part way through a current project on rock bolt anchorage performance. Part of the workshop will be devoted to providing participants with an update on the work being done in this project, including a demonstration of the laboratory bolt anchorage testing facility.

The workshop will be held at the School of Mining Engineering, The University of New South Wales, October 11, 2002.

Inquiries should be directed to Bruce Hebblewhite, B.Hebblewhite@unsw.edu.au