Improvements to the stability of rock walls in open pit mines

This research project has investigated the behaviour of untensioned fully grouted rock reinforcing and its application to the stabilization of rock walls in open pit mines. It has involved laboratory and theoretical studies related to understanding the contribution of the passive reinforcing to the shear strength of smooth and rough rock joints. A theory was developed to predict the load-deformation response of passive reinforcing subject to shear forces. Numerical studies investigated the effect of surface reinforcing in stabilizing ravelling rock slopes. A design approach was developed and field studies were performed to determine the effectiveness of improving the stability of rock slopes using fully grouted untensioned reinforcing.