Experimental Study on the Mechanical Properties of Metal Mesh in Mining Bolt Support Under Impact Load

Metal mesh, as a critical component of the bolt support system, directly influences the effectiveness of roadway support. To reveal the dynamic mechanical properties of commonly used metal meshes in roadways subjected to rockburst conditions and to provide a design basis for their selection in such scenarios, this study utilized a specially designed metal mesh fixation device and a drop‐weight impact testing machine. The mechanical properties of two widely used metal meshes (diamond mesh and reinforcing steel mesh) in coal mine roadways were tested. The deformation and failure characteristics, mechanical response patterns, and energy absorption characteristics of the metal meshes under impact loads were analyzed. The results indicate that under impact loading, diamond mesh undergoes overall deformation while maintaining the original grid structure. When the impact energy exceeds the critical energy threshold (which is the maximum impact energy that the mesh can sustain), some wires in the diamond mesh break. In contrast, under low‐energy impacts, reinforcing steel mesh primarily fails at welding points without rebar breakage. Its impact point experiences extensive rebar breakage when the impact energy exceeds the critical energy threshold, leading to a complete loss of load‐bearing capacity. The maximum impact energy resistance of the diamond mesh is 750 J while that of the reinforcing steel mesh is 2000 J. Both meshes exhibit increasing impact forces with higher impact energy. The diamond mesh achieves a maximum load‐bearing capacity of 32.40 kN, while the reinforcing steel mesh reaches 40 kN. Reinforcing steel mesh demonstrates higher (more than 23.46%) load‐bearing capacity and shorter action duration, providing immediate load support under impact conditions. At the same impact energy, the maximum deflection of the reinforcing steel mesh is approximately one‐third that of the diamond mesh. Deformation in the diamond mesh is more concentrated at the impact center, whereas the reinforcing steel mesh displays a broader deformation range, enabling better energy absorption. Overall, diamond mesh is more suitable for roadways subjected to low‐impact energy due to its high energy absorption efficiency through flexible deformation. In contrast, reinforcing steel mesh is more effective under medium to high impact energy, exhibiting superior energy absorption and deformation resistance.