Stress Corrosion Mechanisms in Underground Mining Systems
Summary
Stress corrosion in underground mining systems arises from the synergistic interaction of tensile stresses and corrosive environments within rock reinforcement elements such as rock bolts, cable bolts and anchoring cables. Under sustained or cyclic loading, microscopic pits and crevices form at stress concentrators, permitting ingress of aggressive species such as chloride, sulphide and oxygen. In many settings, groundwater chemistry and microbial activity further accelerate degradation by altering local pH, generating sulphide iron or promoting hydrogen uptake. Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) progresses when anodic dissolution or hydrogen embrittlement at crack tips reduces fracture toughness, leading to brittle or mixed-mode failure. The geological stress regime, including variations in overburden pressure and roof movement, dictates stress distribution along reinforcement, while mineralogy and porewater composition control electrochemical driving forces. Practical consequences include premature collapse of support systems, mine instability and elevated maintenance costs. Countermeasures encompass material selection, refined stress management, hydrogeochemical assessment and application of barrier coatings to interrupt corrosive pathways. Advances in numerical modelling and laboratory simulation have improved prediction of crack initiation sites and informed design of mitigation strategies tailored to diverse lithologies and hydrogeological conditions.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Stress Corrosion Mechanisms in Underground Mining Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in stress corrosion mechanisms in underground mining systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC): The process by which tensile stress and a corrosive environment combine to initiate and propagate brittle cracks in metal components.
Microbiologically Influenced Stress Corrosion Cracking (MISCC): A form of SCC in which microbial activity alters local chemistry, producing corrosive by-products that accelerate crack growth.
Hydrogen-Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking (HISCC): A mechanism whereby absorbed hydrogen embrittles metal at high-stress sites, facilitating crack initiation and propagation.
Hydrogeochemical Modelling: The computational simulation of water-rock and electrochemical interactions to predict corrosion rates and species distribution in underground environments.
Barrier Coating: A protective layer applied to metal surfaces to inhibit ingress of corrosive ions and moisture and to mitigate stress corrosion mechanisms.
References
- Investigation into durability degradation and fracture of cable bolts through laboratorial tests and hydrogeochemical modelling in underground conditions. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology (2023).
- An Effective Barrier Coating Technology Against Premature Bolt Failures in Underground Mines. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering (2024).
- Investigation into Effects of Coating on Stress Corrosion of Cable Bolts in Deep Underground Environments. Materials (2024).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.