Stress corrosion cracking of rock bolts

The aim of this research was to understand the Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) of rock bolts. The laboratory tests produced fracture surfaces similar to those from service. The fracture surface has the following types: TTS (Tearing Topography Surface) at the origin of the SCC, CIS (Corrugated Irregular Surface) and qMVC (quasi Micro Void Coalescence) at the interface with the final fast fracture. The experimental study elucidated the environmental conditions leading to rock bolt SCC, and was used to determine the threshold stress and the threshold potential. A hydrogen embrittlement mechanism is proposed.Erwin Gamboa, Ernesto Villalba and Andrej Atren