Confirmation of Candidature - Candidate : Behshad Jodeiri Shokri

Underground spaces' long-term stability and safety heavily depend on the long-term performance and integrity reinforcing elements such as rock and cable bolting systems. Applying a protective sheath in the rock and cable bolting system is one of the highly effective and preventative methods to protect the retaining system against corrosion, abrasion, and impact damage. The main challenge of applying the sheathing technique is ensuring effective load transfer between the reinforcing element, the grout annuli and the rock or soils. To the author's best knowledge, a few systematic research works investigated the effect of applying a sheath on the axial load mechanism and the integrity of fully grouted rock and cable bolts. As a result, this research will focus on developing experimental and numerical analyses for a better understanding of the axial loading mechanism in fully grouted sheathed rock bolts. For this purpose, after designing tests and preparing the required samples, a comprehensive series of experimental laboratory pull-out tests will be conducted using the servo-controlled 1000 kN testing machine at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ). Along with the pull-out test, other experimental studies, such as compression tests and dog bone tests, will be employed to investigate the mechanical behaviour of the grout. Finally, numerical modelling using ABAQUS software will be developed to investigate the effects of the protective sheath on the axial behaviour of rock bolts.

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