Pages 11-12 23/6/03 12:12 pm Page 11

TALKING TECHNICALLY

Atlas Copco MAI Self Drilling

Anchors
Productivity and
Problem Solving
The Atlas Copco MAI SDA is a
unique bolting solution for un-
stable ground conditions such as
sand, gravel, silt, and clays, and
in soft to medium fractured rock
formations.
When discussing productivity,
only projects facing such ground
conditions should be considered.
Conventional rockbolts, or soil
nails, generally have the dis-
advantage that, when being
installed in poor ground condi-
tions, unproductive time is spent
on measures such as: retrieving
expensive drill tools from col-
lapsed boreholes; repositioning
the drill feed to clean collapsed
boreholes; introducing the grout
hose to the borehole bottom, and
grouting the borehole; and
inserting the nail or rockbolt with
Installation of anchor system using a Rotary Injection Adapter.
the assistance of the feed system
of the drilling unit.
The Atlas Copco MAI SDA anchor bar. Drilling is carried out using corrosion; and consolidation of gravel,
system is designed to avoid most water or air flushing, but, upon reach- fissures, fractures or voids surround-
such time losses. With an opti- ing the planned borehole depth, a ing the borehole.
mized installation method, tail- suitable cement mix is immediately
ored to the projects needs, the
ultimate aim should be to limit injected. By slow rotation while apply- Time Saving
the installation time to the actual ing backwards and forwards move-
drilling time of the borehole. ment of the SDA, the grout is pushed Atlas Copco envisages full mecha-
under pressure from the bottom of the nization of the Atlas Copco MAI SDA
borehole towards the borehole mouth. to reduce the installation time and
Atlas Copco MAI SDA It mixes in the borehole to provide increase its productivity. The company
Techniques optimum backfilling of the borehole is also interested in resolving particu-
annulus contact to the soil. The advan- lar site problems, and in advancing
Post installation grouting tage of this system is the reduction of tunnel technology for typical applica-
A number of Atlas Copco MAI SDA cement consumption in horizontal tions of Self Drilling Anchors. These
bolts are installed in one phase to limit boreholes. are, in particular: radial nailing of the
the working time of the drilling equip- tunnel circumference; forepoling for
ment and make it available for other Simultaneous drilling and grouting cylindrical tunnel advance, using
drilling operations within the excava- Similar to the successive grouting lengths of approximately 4 m with 1 m
tion cycle. The grouting is performed method, this system also requires the overlap; umbrellas for conical tunnel
as an independent operation from a use of a Rotary Injection Adapter. advance, using lengths of approxi-
separate support vehicle. However, instead of drilling with air mately 9 m-15 m with 3 m overlap;
or water flush, a suitable grout mix is face stabilisation using lengths up to
Installation and successive grouting introduced. The following advantages 15 m; and root piles.
In order to utilize this system, a Rotary are achieved: stabilization of the Worldwide, underground projects
Injection Adapter (RIA) is mounted borehole and optimum filling of the are designed with geological expecta-
between the COP hammer and the annulus; improved protection against tions based on information received

ROCK REINFORCEMENT 11
Pages 11-12 23/6/03 12:12 pm Page 12

TALKING TECHNICALLY

The face of innovation

Functions

Installation in fractured rock formations

Conventional Anchors System
Drilling Cleaning/Re-drilling Grouting Installation

Atlas Copco MAI-SDA Anchor System

Drilling+Installation Grouting

Installation in unconsolidated soils

Conventional Anchors System
Drilling of cased boreholes Grouting Installation

Atlas Copco MAI-SDA Anchor System

Drill.+ Inst.+ Grout. Simult. drilling and grouting

Time savings by using MAI SDA System.
from rather limited soil investigations.
Furthermore, todays need to satisfy
the design requirements for infrastruc-
ture projects mostly doesnt allow a
route selection that follows only good
rock conditions. This increasingly
demands flexibility by the contractor,
who may be forced to adjust at short
notice to unpredicted changes in geo-
logical conditions.
Construction sites today have the
option to cater for every eventuality,
and to maintain tools at site for every
type of ground condition. Prior plan-
ning by the site management to main-
tain sufficient quantities of Atlas
Copco MAI SDA available for use can
Delivery lengths of Atlas Copco MAI SDA.
Time
In the time it
takes you to
allow an immediate intervention, read this
reducing time wastage and increasing
productivity.
advert,
The design of the Atlas Copco MAI you could
SDA also favours productivity in
terms of storage and handling. Anchor have installed
bars with a continuous left hand thread
are delivered to site in standard
these...
lengths of 2 m, 3 m, 4 m and 6 m, and
can be assembled, or cut to the length
required, without loss of material.
Transport to site, and onward to the
working area, is simplified, due to the
short lengths of the anchor elements
and their accessories.
by Mark Bernthaler

Enough said?

www.swellex.com

Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB

SE-701 91 rebro, Sweden
E-mail: swellex@atlascopco.com
www.atlascopco.com

12 ROCK REINFORCEMENT