Novel methods for rock bolt monitoring using an Internet of Things approach

Important results from the project

The project RBM-IoT had as its primary aim to examine if the concept of Internet of Things (IoT) can be used to create self-monitoring rock bolts that can monitor a number of important parameters such as load and vibration. Primarily, this project concerns evaluating sensors and electronics to collect measurement signals, analysis and visualization. The project has therefore performed several experiments when we validated experimentally that a strain gauge can be used to measure the load of a rock bolt. The project has also examined the industry´s needs.

Expected long term effects

The project has performed experiments where we validated that strain gauges can be used to measure the load of a rock bolt. In conversations with the mining industry and researchers in rock mechanics we have come to the conclusion that somewhere between 1 and 10% of all bolts can / should be instrumented (depending on the added cost and the need of need of individual mines). In the world, around 100 million bolts are installed yearly, showing that the market for instrumented rock bolts is very large. Internet of Things in the mining industry can thus be of great importance for Swedish industry.

Approach and implementation

The project has been conducted in the following manner: 1. Literature study 2. Experimental design and validation 3. Market analysis 4. Experiments and report writing 5. Dissemination The work has been carried out without any major problems. A great deal of time was spent in design of the setup of test bed and getting approval of the reference group as well as rock mechanics researcher. This was vital in order to do the tests as realistic as possible. At the end of the project, some budget was un-allocated and a decision was made to transfer that to LTU who could make further contribution.