Abstract

HADJIGEORGIOU, J.; THORPE, S.J.; STORIMANS, E.  and  AGRENSA, F.D.. Impact of steel properties on the susceptibility to corrosion of weld mesh and mesh straps. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2024, vol.124, n.9, pp.517-526. ISSN 2411-9717.  https://doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/3295/2024.

Reinforcement and surface support are part of an integrated system that transfers and shares load until the excavation surface is stabilized or until the ground support system fails. Steel mesh is the most popular primary surface support element in underground hard rock mines in Canada. Mesh straps are a secondary surface support that provide additional containment as they distribute the load between and across the reinforcement elements. This investigation addresses the role of steel properties, and in particular steel chemistry, in the long-term performance of mesh and mesh straps when exposed to an aggressive corrosive environment. It reports on comparative accelerated corrosion studies to compare the resistance to corrosion of different surface support elements. This has significant implications on the choice of surface support and the anticipated rehabilitation requirements.

Keywords : accelerated corrosion of ground support; primary and secondary surface support; steel properties.

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