Investigation of Load Bearing Capacities of Grouted Rock Bolts with New Auxetic Head Designs

Within this study, new bolt heads were designed to be able to expand in drill holes as the load applied on the bolt shank increases. The heads of newly designed rock bolts include a conic part and split rings encircling them. To determine load bearing capacities of new rock bolts with varying angles of the conic parts and expansion properties, a series of deformation controlled pull-out tests were carried out by using bolt samples grouted in rock blocks. In addition to the experimental studies, numerical modelling analyses were performed to better understand the support properties of newly designed rock bolts. Because of a negative Poisson’s ratio effect supplied by the head part expansion with the tension of the shank, new bolt heads are suggested to be defined as auxetic. According to the results of this study, the new head designs significantly improve the load bearing and energy absorption capacities of grouted rock bolts.