Consultancy and Technical Services
RMT provides a comprehensive range of geotechnical consultancy services to the mining and civil engineering industries worldwide. The company's philosophy is to base design on measured data and to verify where possible design using in-situ measurement. RMT provides services worldwide to improve the efficiency of mine operations. Services offered range from the introduction of rockbolting support in coal and similar mines to computer modelling of mine layouts and investigations of longwall support performance. To the civil engineering industry, RMT offers geotechnical measurement and investigation work, an instrumentation installation service, and testing and advice on reinforcement systems. Specialist measurements available include shotcrete and concrete lining load measurement and monitoring, and in-situ reinforcement integrity testing.
INTRODUCTION OF ROCKBOLT SUPPORT RMT has unique experience in the introduction of Advanced Technology (AT) rockbolting into coal and other mines worldwide. Projects have been completed in Russia, Eastern Europe, India and Africa. We provide all the consultancy and instrumentation services required for the successful introduction of rock bolting into a new site. This includes the testing and sourcing of suitable local consumables. Comprehensive monitoring schemes can be supplied and installed for safety monitoring and support system design. We also provide training for mine workers and management to assist in the transition to rockbolt support.
MINE LAYOUT Incorporating geotechnical factors in the design of mine layouts is essential for problem free production. Considerations to be taken into account for the planning of mine layouts include extraction sequence and damaging areas of stress concentration to be identified in advance and their effects minimised. This includes consideration of factors such as horizontal stress effects and interaction with adjacent mine workings. RMT uses underground stress measurement to characterise the in-situ stress regime at a site and numerical modelling to investigate alternative options for the layout of future workings in conjunction with mine management.
PILLAR DESIGN Correct pillar geometry is essential for maximising mine safety and efficiency. Pillar behaviour and pillar requirements vary depending upon mining conditions and method. For effective design these factors need to be recognised and taken into account. RMT and its staff have extensive experience in research and consulting projects on the stability and design of pillar systems. This includes the design of room and pillar systems and pillars for longwall workings in coal mines. At key sites we can measure the stress distribution through a pillar. This information is then used in conjunction with rock property testing and numerical modelling of pillar behaviour to verify the design. This is often used in conjunction with computational modelling of tunnel behaviour and reinforcement performance.
COMPUTER MODELLING OF EXCAVATIONS RMT has extensive experience of the practical application of computer modelling to excavation geometry and reinforcement system design in coal measure and stratified rocks. Modelling is routinely used to analyse the influence of variation in parameters such as geology, mine layout and in-situ stresses on excavation behaviour and reinforcement/support performance, including:
Numerical modelling is used as part of the design process in conjunction with measured data and monitoring to verify design performance. In house facilities and expertise in areas such as coring and rock testing, stress measurement and underground instrumentation are used to quantify the parameters required for model generation and verify the validity of results.
MINE ROADWAY/TUNNEL SUPPORT AND REINFORCEMENT DESIGN A considerable proportion of RMT's work is concerned with support and reinforcement systems for mine roadways and tunnels. The large distance of tunnels excavated in mining places a premium on the design of efficient support systems. Designs take into account the intended use of the tunnel and possible stress changes due to mining during its life. RMT has facilities for, and carries out, laboratory testing of the components of support systems to the appropriate recognised standards. Computer modelling is routinely used to characterise roadway conditions, investigate modes of failure or instability and to evaluate alternative support systems. Underground instrumentation is used to monitor strata deformation and the performance of the support system to confirm it's effectiveness and stability.
SUPPORT SAFETY AND RISK ASSESSMENT A general logic for support system/ground control risk assessment has been developed by RMT. It forms part of a range of risk assessment methods employed by RMT related to general and specific ground control/excavation failure mechanisms. RMT has developed risk assessment for a number of mines. These assessments are site specific due to the complex behaviour of the rock mass surrounding an underground evacuation. However, a consistent approach to developing such a system can be applied by employing a consistent "general logic framework" as a basis for each site. An assessment is made of the important geotechnical and support parameters for a particular site and the "general logic framework" is modified appropriately. Factors which may influence roadway behaviour/stability at any given site include:
All these factors are assessed in conjunction with a full underground visual survey and analysis of all the roadway deformation monitoring available (ie. tell tales, extensometers). This data is then used to identify areas of potential risk. This approach has been proven at a number of sites within the UK, where the risk assessments have been designed to meet the specific conditions at each site. It has been successful in identifying areas at risk or potential risk of failure enabling early remedial reinforcement to be installed to minimise roadway failure which could cause costly repair work and/or delays in lost production.
LONGWALL STRATA CONTROL RMT has a range of expertise in longwall support design and monitoring:
STRESS MEASUREMENT AND STRESS CHANGE MONITORING RMT has extensive experience in absolute and in-situ stress measurement and stress change monitoring using overcoring. Over 300 site measurements have been successfully completed in a wide range of geological and stress conditions. The overcoring technique is the predominant method used. A range of cell types are employed depending on the site conditions and application. Recent projects include:
Stress measurement is routinely used by RMT to quantify in-situ stress conditions as part of site investigations. Stress measurement is also used extensively for pillar design and mine layout design. RMT have available their own lightweight, compressed air driven drill rigs for stress measurement. These purpose built drill rigs help ensure successful measurements. They facilitate quick transport to site and rapid setup.
GEOTECHNICAL MEASUREMENT AND TESTING SERVICE Rock Mechanics Technology provides a full installation and monitoring service for our geotechnical instrumentation including unique expertise in measurements in tunnels and shafts. A full service is also available for measuring rock stress using state of the art stress cells and the overcoring technique. Our engineers have unparalleled experience in these techniques together with dedicated light weight drilling rigs offering a truly worldwide service. Loads in concrete and shotcrete linings and structures can be determined allowing post-construction confirmation of lining performance. RMT has developed techniques for NDT, (Non Destructive Testing), of rockbolts and long tendon reinforcement and offer an inspection service for bolt integrity, installed length and bond length. Underground Pulltest RMT offers a comprehensive strain gauge installation and monitoring service for steel supports, concrete linings, rockbolts and long tendons, using vibrating wire and resistance gauges. Rock and soil extensometry can be undertaken using sonic, resistance wire or potentiometric devices. In mining and other applications, RMT offers in-situ reinforcement system testing for bond strength using pull tests to industry standards. Rock Testing The rock testing facilities and technical expertise at RMT allow a complete in-house rock testing service to ISRM standards encompassing core logging, sample preparation and determination of a range of rock properties.
Support System Testing RMT offers a comprehensive
service for laboratory testing of support systems
and associated items for mining and civil engineering
purposes. Test programmes can be planned to confirm
the suitability of support system. Unbiased advice
is offered on optimum support/reinforcement system
design. A full range of mechanical tests is available
on support/reinforcement elements. Precise laboratory
pull testing to measure system bond strength in
a range of rock types can be undertaken. Other test
services include double embedment and other tests
for reinforcement systems to BS7861, metallurgical
investigations and laboratory rock drilling tests. Related
information - file downloads
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