Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation

COMPUTATION SHEET
Designer: Antoni Kuras Project: Kameng HEP
Date: 9/23/2019 Feature: Headrace Tunnel Calc File Page
Cost Code: 56159.001 Structure: Primary Support - Mesh Capacity Calc File No

Primary Support - Mesh Capacity

The proceeding calculations investigate the capacity to steel mesh to retain rock loading between rockbolts and are based on the results of research conducted by Pakalnis
and Ames. This reearch was presented in a paper presented at the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy's Syposium on Underground Support Syatem (September 19-
21, 1983, Sudbury, Ontario)

Assume Unit weight of rockmass, g = 27 kN/m3

Rockbolt spacing, s = 1.3 m
Mesh Spacing = 102 mm
Mesh diameter = 5.6 mm
Mesh cross sectional area, t = 241 mm2/m
Grade of steel = 480 N/mm2

The following estimation is based on Coates (1981), and Pakalnis and Ames (1983):

Maximum vertical applied pressure to mesh before loss of tension in rock bolts, P = 0.727. g . s
= 25.5 kN/m2

If it assumed that the maximum sag at centre point for the above pressure, d = 0.3 m
Maximum tensile load that can develop for the above pressure per unit length of mesh, T = P s2 / (8d)
= 18.0 kN
Tensile capacity of mesh = 115.9 kN
Hence mesh will be adequate based on this theory

However maximum load capacity as determined by Pakalnis and Ames based on testing, P = 0.137 . t + 5.2
= 38.3 kN

As a approximate comparison assume the maximum load that can be applied can be expressed as follows (suggested in the paper by Barret and
McCreath " Shotcrete Support Design in Blocky Ground: Towards a Deterministic Approach", Tunnels and Deep Space, Vol 10, No.1 p79-89 1995 in
relation to the shotcrete design)

Weight of loosened block, W= g.6 1/2

. S3 / 6
= 24.2 kN
> 38.3 kN

Worst Case
loosening scenario

Conclusion: Hence it can be assumed that for the modelled conditions the proposed mesh will be adequate