Laboratory investigation into effect of bolt profiles on shear behaviors of bolt-grout interface under constant normal stiffness (CNS) conditions

Rock bolts have been widely used for stabilizing rock mass in geotechnical engineering. It is acknowledged that the bolt profiles have a sound influence on the support effect of the rock bolting system. Previous studies have proposed some optimal rib parameters (e.g. rib spacing); unfortunately, the interface shear behaviors are generally ignored. Therefore, determination of radial stress and radial displacement on the bolt-grout interface using traditional pull-out tests is not possible. The load-bearing capacity and deformation capacity vary as bolt profiles differ, suggesting that the support effect of the bolting system can be enhanced by optimizing bolt profiles. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of bolt profiles (with/without ribs, rib spacing, and rib height) on the shear behaviors between the rock bolt and grout material using direct shear tests. Thereby, systematic interfacial shear tests with different bolt profiles were performed under both constant normal load (CNL) and constant normal stiffness (CNS) boundary conditions. The results suggested that rib spacing has a more marked influence on the interface shear behavior than rib height does, in particular at the post-yield stage. The results could facilitate our understanding of bolt-grout interface shear behavior under CNS conditions, and optimize selection of rock bolts under in situ rock conditions. (C) 2020 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.