Ferreira, P., Minova RSA, South Africa
Pete Ferreira of Minova RSA argues the case of glass fiber reinforced plastic rockbolts and call for more research to be done on tunnelling applications. GRP bolt technology has since found widespread application in mining and civil engineering. Compared to steel, GRP has advantages that can be traced to the properties of the composite material. GRP bolts simply consist of a composite of resin and fiber that is manufactured through the pultrusion manufacturing process which was developed in the early 1970s. FiReP fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) Powermesh was developed to comply with standard grid applications while providing the added benefits of durability and cut ability. High load capacity at each joint, compared to that of welded mesh, is unique and makes the design of FRP grid reinforced concrete structures a viable option for engineers and mining support structures.