Friction rock stabilisers (FRS) are the most common steel-based ground
reinforcement used in underground mines in Western Australia. As with
any other steel-based product used in underground mines they are
susceptible to corrosion, particularly under aggressive minewater and
mineral conditions. Because of their thin-wall tubular construction and
large surface area, the potential damage resulting from corrosion is
considered to be more severe for this type of reinforcement than for other
forms of reinforcement made of solid steel bars. Because of the obvious
safety problems which may result from corrosion, both mine operators
and regulators have raised concerns regarding the long-term effectiveness
of FRS installed in underground mines in Western Australia. Although
corrosion has been recognised as an important safety issue, the controls of
corrosion in varied underground mining environments has not been well
understood. To improve the understanding of the corrosion behaviour of
FRS, the Department of Minerals and Energy has initiated a research
project focused on the mechanisms and extent of corrosion attacks, and
their influence on the effectiveness of the reinforcement. This paper
describes the research project and presents the interim results achieved
To-date.