Installation of the Swellex bolt is a straight forward process. A borehole is drilled and the Swellex bolt is inserted into the hole. An automatic pump is used to inject high-pressure water into the Swellex tube.The high internal water pressure inflates the tube, causing the rock mass surrounding the bolt to deform elastically. The pump is stopped and the water pressure is released. The rock mass surrounding the bolt contracts around the bolt which results in a mechanical locking effect. During the expansion process, when the Swellex bolt compresses the rock surrounding the bolt, the bolt changes shape to fit the shape of the hole. The combination of frictional and mechanical interlock is generated throughout the bolt, reinforcing the rock and increasing the ultimate bearing capacity of the bolt.
There are a number of factors in the installation process which may have an influence on the performance of the Swellex bolt:drilled hole diameter,drill bit diameter,pump pressure and inflation time. Together,this factors determine the overall quality of the bolt installation,which most certainly influences the ability of the bolt to maintain a load.
