Durapak® cellular lightweight concrete blocks, reinforced with annealed steel wire mesh and polypropylene fibres, are engineered for optimal gully protection through high initial stiffness and a flat Load vs Deformation curve.

BENEFITS

Increase ore reserves by improving the percentage ore extraction and safely decrease the pillar size

Improve grade by better stope width control and no loss of gold fines inside the pack

Significantly reduce rockfalls and rockburst damage

Maximise material car utilisation

Eliminate fire risks

DESIGN FEATURES

MATERIAL AND STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES PERFORMANCE
High E-Modulus (stiffness) at underground closure rates (1mm – 50mm per day)
  • Generates the required initial stiffness when deformed at slow loading rates
  • Required support resistance is reached after only 1-2,5% closure
  • This ensures active support and early maintenance of strata integrity
  • Does not creep and loses load at slow deformation rates
Designable yield load
  • Yields at predetermined loads
  • Does not generate too much load, which may damage the roof or floor
Durapak maintains post yield during closure
  • No load shedding takes place during post yield
  • Allows controlled closure of the workplace
Constant low crushing strength, during rapid loading over a large deformation range
  • Durapak® has the ability to reduce the impact of a rockburst. The mechanism of dissipating the kinetic energy, serves to increase the deformation range, rather than increase the force generated. It therefore acts like a shock absorber during impact, not like a stiff spring
  • This prevents damage to the surrounding rock mass during rapid closure
Material properties are homogenous and non-biodegradable
  • The performance is repeatable and not affected by time or hostile environments
  • Ensures that all support elements and structures behave in the same manner at all stages of closure
100% surface contact between individual units
  • Ensures that no point loading occurs in the structure, as this will negatively affect all the above-mentioned properties
Buckling stability during normal- and rapid closure
  • The pack will not buckle when it is built according to specifications, using Durapak® units
Fire resistant material
  • Non-combustible.

DURAPAK®’S IDEAL LOAD DEFORMATION CHARACTERISTICS

TRANSPORT 

Pallets customised as required

Optimised utilisation of the mine’s transport infrastructure

Safe and easy to transport

HANDLING 

Tailor Made for mono-rope winches

Impact resistant during transport and handling

Lightweight for easy handling and fast pack construction

IN THE STOPE 

Immediately active stope support

Close-to-face installation

No loss of fines in packs due to the solid construction

Effective prestressing eliminates blast outs

Fire resistant