Quality control of rock bolts: technical specification for pull-out tests

Abstract

In Chile, various types of meshes anchored to rock using passive rock bolts have been used for slope stabilization, yielding satisfactory results. The Chilean Highway Manual establishes the requirement that these bolts should be tested in situ under pullout loads. However, the standard does not establish test parameters, such as type, procedure, number, load, acceptance criteria, or consequences based on the results. In practice, many different ways of testing are found in the work terms of reference. Based on the authors’ experience in performing these procedures and a review of bibliographic and regulatory references, a proposal for unified criteria for performing pull-out tests on passive rock bolts for slope stabilization is presented.