Investigation on Methods of Determining the Grouting Quality of Embedded Rock Bolts Using High Frequency Guided Waves

Two experiments, with differing equipment setups, were used to test rock bolts, with differing structures and grouting qualities, using low frequency (20–200 kHz) and high frequency (700 kHz-3 MHz) guided waves to determine the effect of grouting quality on the propagating velocity of the guided waves. The results indicate that grouting quality has a significant effect on the velocity at which waves of low frequencies propagate through embedded rock bolts. As guided wave frequency increases, the sensitivity of the propagating velocity of guided waves to grouting quality decreases. Furthermore, the influence of grouting quality on propagating velocity becomes negligible once the frequency of the guided wave is greater than or equal to 1.0 MHz. An investigation was conducted to ascertain the feasibility of utilizing high frequency guided waves to determine the grouting quality of embedded rock bolts. Moreover, this study discusses a method of evaluating the grouting quality of embedded rock bolts using the peak ratios and average amplitude ratios of the high frequency guided waves. Through an analysis of the results of the abovementioned method, it was discovered that the optimal guided wave frequency is 2.65 MHz for the evaluation of 20 mm fully-embedded rock bolts because waves with this frequency have the largest average amplitude ratios.

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