Yield Strength and Elongation

Historically, the breaking load of a rock bolt has been the go-to reference when comparing products and selecting the right anchor for a given ground condition. That is understandable: it is a clear, single number that is easy to compare.

But that focus has pushed other equally important characteristics into the background. Chief among them is yield strength, which in certain ground conditions with dynamic behavior is actually more important than breaking load.

What is yield strength and why does it matter?

The trade-off: yield strength vs. elongation

A high yield strength means greater resistance to permanent deformation. But materials with a very high yield strength relative to their breaking load tend to have lower percentage elongation, meaning they are less ductile.

In plain terms:

• High yield strength = more resistance to deformation.
• Lower elongation = reduced capacity to deform without fracturing.

The goal in bolt design is to find the right balance. Enough yield strength to resist loads, and enough elongation to absorb stress without brittle failure. A bolt that is too rigid will fracture suddenly rather than give warning by deforming gradually.

Elastic modulus and related properties

The relationship between applied force and deformation is governed by the longitudinal elastic modulus, known as Young’s modulus. It is a material constant that describes how much a material deforms under tensile stress along its axis. A higher Young’s modulus means the material is stiffer and deforms less under a given load.

Equally relevant is the transverse elastic modulus, or shear modulus, since the forces a rock mass exerts on a bolt are not purely axial. Many of these forces act transversally. For isotropic materials, the shear modulus has a fixed relationship with Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio.

Necking: the final stage before failure/strong>

One more concept worth understanding is necking. Once the yield point is passed and plastic deformation begins, a localized reduction of the cross-section occurs in the zone where the bolt will eventually break. This progressive reduction continues until fracture. Necking is a phenomenon that takes place in the plastic range of the steel and is an indicator that the material is approaching failure.

What this means in practice

Breaking load is not the only thing that matters when selecting a bolt. Two bolts with identical breaking loads can perform very differently in real conditions, particularly in ground that generates dynamic events or tangential stresses. For expansion bolts, where the steel is loaded through pressure and material deformation during installation, steel quality plays an especially critical role.

At ONIX Underground, we engineer our bolts to deliver high performance across all loading conditions.

Our EMC Expandable Rock Bolts are manufactured with a yield strength above 80% of the breaking load and an elongation typically above 20%. This combination gives the bolt exceptional behavior in dynamic ground conditions and environments with shear forces, absorbing stress without reaching plastic deformation or fracture.

So next time you are evaluating a bolt, look beyond the breaking load figure. Two bolts that share the same breaking load can behave entirely differently in the field. Yield strength, elongation, and material quality are not secondary details. In many conditions, they are the deciding factors in safety.

Omega (Ω) Steel Arches

The support of mine drifts and tunnels using THN Steel Arches offers significant advantages in environments subjected to high ground pressure.

This system combines the high load-bearing capacity of the steel profile with a key feature: the sliding behavior of the support set. Unlike traditional rigid arches, the Ω arch is designed to yield in a controlled manner when ground pressure reaches a certain threshold.

This controlled sliding prevents premature structural failure of the profile, reduces the risk of breakage, and acts as an indicator of the stress level affecting the excavation.

The Ω arch does not resist ground pressure through absolute rigidity, but through intelligent balance: it yields when necessary and provides support when required.

The first characteristic to highlight of THN Sliding Steel Arches is the geometry of their profile. This section presents an almost equivalent resistance to loads acting along both principal axes, transverse and longitudinal.

From a mechanical perspective, the relationship between the section modulus about the X-axis and the Y-axis is approximately equal to 1:

Wxx / Wyy ≈ 1

This structural symmetry allows the profile to perform in a balanced manner under ground deformation, enabling large convergence of the tunnel or drift section without compromising its load-bearing capacity.

Main Advantages of THN Steel Arches

Mechanical Properties of the Ω-Type Profile

The following table presents the mechanical properties of the Ω-type profile in its different commercial configurations.

Beyond the mechanical properties of the profile —which will be analyzed in more detail later— another key aspect of Ω-type arches is their initial assembly configuration.

The different arch segments are connected using clamps rather than welds. These clamps allow a certain degree of controlled sliding —depending on the selected type— which constitutes the distinctive feature of this support system.

The design of THN Sliding Steel Arches allows for simple and rapid installation, while also providing better adaptation to the excavated section compared to traditional rigid arches. As a result, the effective cross-section of the tunnel or drift is optimized.

Another relevant advantage compared to fixed arches is the possibility of recovery once their structural function has been fulfilled. In certain mining operations, the sets can be dismantled and reused, helping to optimize operational costs.

Regarding the bending of the profile, direct bending is typically used in mining applications, whereas inverse bending is more common in civil tunneling, particularly in the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). In this case, the web of the profile may be perforated to allow its combination with rock bolts, enabling the arch to mobilize load together with the surrounding ground. Thanks to the adjustable overlap between arch segments —increasing or decreasing their effective length— the set adapts to the excavation before becoming embedded in the shotcrete lining.

With this system, it has been possible to meet the requirements of mining operations with increasingly larger tunnel sections and greater depths, where ground pressures are significantly higher. In such scenarios, the design of the connection system, the permitted degree of sliding, and the proper placement of the clamps become determining factors in the structural performance of the support system.

Design Assumptions for Support System Dimensioning

For the calculation of the required ground support in a drift or tunnel using Ω-type arches, the following simplified assumptions are adopted:

• Structural behavior: the steel arch is considered a structure with pinned supports at its bases.
• Load model: the loads acting on the arch are assumed to be vertical and uniformly distributed.
• Failure mode: failure of the steel set is assumed to occur due to bending, neglecting the effects of combined bending and axial forces.
  In the case of sliding sets, axial sliding at the joints must occur before bending failure is reached.
• Allowable stress: in mining —and also recommended in civil tunneling— the maximum allowable stress is taken as the ultimate tensile strength of the steel used.

Design Charts for THN Sliding Steel Arches

Based on these assumptions, design charts can be developed for the commercial profiles Ω-16.5, Ω-19 and Ω-21, which facilitate the preliminary dimensioning of the support system.

The procedure is straightforward:

• On the horizontal axis, the radius of the steel set is introduced (equivalent to half the width of the drift or tunnel).

• On the vertical axis, the estimated vertical load (t/m²) is introduced.

As a result, the recommended spacing between steel sets (support spacing) can be obtained.

Clamping Systems and Installation Recommendations

A fundamental aspect of the Ω system is the design and performance of the connection clamps, which determine the degree of sliding and the overall structural behavior of the support set.

Different types of clamps are available depending on the required tightening level and the desired degree of sliding in the installation. As a general guideline, a minimum overlap between arch segments of 400–500 mm is recommended.

The recommended minimum tightening torques (kg·m) are as follows:

Ω-16.5: 25–30 kg·m
Ω-21: 25–30 kg·m
Ω-29: 35–40 kg·m
Ω-36: 40–45 kg·m

Installation Guidelines for THN Sliding Steel Arches

During installation, the following aspects should be taken into account:

• Ensure parallelism of the profiles in the overlap zone.
  Misalignment prevents proper sliding and may cause structural failure or unwanted deformation.

• Ensure that the arch remains perpendicular to the axis of the drift or tunnel.

• Do not clamp profiles with defective or false overlaps, meaning situations where proper contact between both segments is not achieved.

• Respect the specified tightening torques.
  The use of pneumatic tightening tools facilitates achieving the correct torque and ensures uniform installation.

• Once ground pressure begins to act on the arch —which can be observed through compression of the packing or lagging— and the first sliding occurs, it is recommended to retighten all connection nuts.

Technical Note

The values and recommendations presented above are indicative and should not be considered as definitive design criteria. Support system dimensioning must consider the complete set of geotechnical and structural conditions of each project.

At Onix Underground, we understand that underground support design is not defined solely by calculations or theoretical models, but by its ability to effectively respond to real excavation conditions.

For this reason, our approach to support systems using THN Sliding Steel Arches is based on three fundamental pillars:

• Rigorous technical design, based on real geotechnical data, structural criteria, and experience in complex ground conditions.

• Controlled installation, where the proper assembly of the system —arch geometry, clamp type, degree of sliding, and spacing between steel sets— is critical to the overall performance of the support.

• Operational efficiency and safety, integrated into every technical decision to ensure ground stability, excavation continuity, and protection of operations.

Our approach is focused on minimizing geotechnical risk, optimizing support performance, and adapting the system to the real conditions of the rock mass, both in underground mining and civil tunnelling projects.

Each solution seeks the balance between structural strength, deformation capacity, and construction efficiency, which are key factors in excavations subjected to convergence and high ground pressures.

Because in underground engineering, ground support is not just a structure: it is the element that makes excavation safe, stable, and operationally viable.

The Pipe Umbrella System: Concept and Function

Every underground excavation is, by definition, a disturbance of the natural equilibrium of the ground — and solutions such as the pipe umbrella system are key to anticipating that change.

The advance of a tunnel generates stress redistributions and deformations that, if not properly controlled, can compromise face stability, worker safety, and the continuity of the construction cycle.

This is why modern ground support engineering is not only about resisting the ground, but anticipating its behaviour.

At Onix Underground, we apply that philosophy through preventive reinforcement solutions such as the pipe umbrella system — combining geotechnical expertise, execution control, and operational efficiency to achieve safe and predictable excavations even in adverse conditions.

The pipe umbrella system is one of the most reliable and effective techniques to ensure anticipated stability in tunnelling, controlling deformations and securing continuous excavation progress, even in complex ground conditions

The system is based on installing a crown of injected micropiles ahead of the excavation face, forming a structural vault that reinforces the ground mass before exposure.

Its main objective is threefold:

• Increase ground stiffness and load-bearing capacity.

• Reduce deformations and convergence in the crown and sidewalls.

• Control surface settlements and vibrations, especially in urban areas or near sensitive infrastructure.

Unlike primary support —such as shotcrete, steel sets, or rock bolting— the pipe umbrella system acts preventively, providing additional stability at the most critical moment of the process: face advance.

Structural Mechanism and Behaviour

Each micropile acts as a high-stiffness steel linear reinforcement, anchored to the ground through grout injection.

The steel–grout–ground interaction mobilises bending and shear resistance, creating an arching effect that redistributes loads towards more competent zones of the ground.

This combined behaviour not only stabilises the face, but also controls initial deformation of the ground mass, improves stiffness around the excavation, and helps maintain continuous advance with a higher level of safety.

Design Criteria and Typical Parameters

The design of a pipe umbrella system requires a detailed geotechnical study to define the optimal geometry and installation parameters.

These values are adjusted according to the ground conditions, tunnel section, excavation methodology (NATM, modified German method, etc.) and the level of deformation control required by the project.

At Onix Underground, we combine field analysis with 3D numerical modelling, enabling us to anticipate ground behaviour and optimise the umbrella configuration for each geotechnical environment.

Execution and Quality Control

Technical and Operational Advantages

At Onix Underground, we understand that underground engineering is not measured only by calculations or models, but by its ability to respond to the real challenges on site.

This is why our application of the pipe umbrella system combines three fundamental pillars:

• Rigorous technical design, based on geotechnical data and simulation.

• Controlled execution, with full traceability of injections, pressures and drilling parameters.

• Operational efficiency and safety, integrated into every technical decision.

Our approach is aimed at minimising geotechnical risk, optimising resources, and ensuring operational continuity — both in mining projects and in urban infrastructure works.

Every intervention seeks the balance between safety, performance and sustainability, with a deep understanding of the constraints of each environment.

Because excavating safely is not an option — it is the foundation on which we build every project.

¿What is an expandable rock bolt?

It is an essential anchoring element in tunnel construction, underground mines, and geotechnical engineering. The expandable rock bolt works as an active support system for the rock mass. Its role is to enhance stability by preventing the detachment of rock blocks from walls and ceilings and the collapse of galleries.

Manufactured with high yield strength steel for maximum quality, strength, and durability, the expandable rock bolt enables the completion of even the most demanding anchoring tasks. It can withstand high tensile loads while ensuring the safety of the equipment operating underground

The expandable rock bolt is composed of an omega-shaped tube and a ferrule welded to each end, one of them perforated to allow the expansion of the rock bolt. Its manufacturing involves the use of complex automated technical systems to meet demanding quality standards.

The expandable rock bolt is one of the most effective and safest devices for rock mass stabilization in underground mining and tunnel construction.

Technical Specifications of the expandable rock bolt

The technical specifications of the expandable rock bolt can be grouped according to:

• The tube has a variable length that can range from 1.5 to 6 m, with a thickness of 2-3 mm.
• The breaking load that an expandable rock bolt can withstand varies between 120 kN and 240 kN.

• The inflation pressure applied to the inside of the steel tube to make it expand and fit the hole drilled in the rock also depends on the type of bolt and its diameter. It is usually between 240 and 300 bars to reach the desired tension. To ensure correct inflation and installation of the bolts, special pumps are used that provide high-pressure water flow.

Advantages of the expandable rock bolts for underground mining and tunnel construction

The expandable rock bolts are placed in the ceiling and walls of the excavations, forming a mesh that reinforces the rock mass and distributes the tensions generated.

The expandable rock bolts have several advantages over other ground support systems. Some of these advantages are:

• Quick and easy to install, which reduces time and saves operation costs.
• Adaptable to different types of rock, from the softest to the hardest, since they are flexible, expanding and adjusting to fit the hole.
• They are capable of withstanding high tensile loads, which improves excavation safety.
• They are compatible with other ground support systems, such as wire mesh or gunite, which increases the effectiveness of the reinforcement.

The installation process is very simple:

• Drill the hole in the rock slightly deeper than the bolt.
• Insert the expandable rock bolt into the hole.
• Inject water at the appropriate pressure so that the bolt expands and makes contact with the walls of the hole.
• Wait for complete expansion to secure the rock and remove the inflation pump nozzle.

In summary, the expandable rock bolt is an essential anchoring element that ensures stability and safety in tunnels, underground mines, and geotechnics. With the highest quality, it can adapt to different rock surfaces while supporting an enormous load capacity. All these features make it a safety, productivity, and efficiency ally for those responsible for mining operations and underground works

About Onix Underground

We are specialists in expandable rock bolt and underground support systems. Hundreds of thousands of our expandable rock bolts support rock masses in mines and tunnels around the world, ensuring the safety of people and work equipment. Our experts are at your service to advise you and offer you solutions of the highest quality, productivity and efficiency for your mining operations and underground works. Connect with our experts.