Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for providing yielding support for a hanging wall above a footwall in a mine working. A support assembly is installed between the hanging wall and the footwall, the assembly including a spacer (10), a pack (30) and a grout-inflatable bag (32). Grout is pumped into the bag (32) and is allowed to set to apply a vertical prestess force to the support assembly. The spacer (10) is substantially stiffer in compression than the pack (30), which is designed to yield under the compressive loading applied by the hanging wall. The use of a stiff spacer (10) serves to elevate the yielding pack to a suitble operative height without the allowable slenderness ratio for the pack to be exceeded.

Abstract: The yieldable load support comprises a compressible support member in the form of an elongate timber pole. The load support or pole is asymmetrically modified at or near one end thereof in a manner to positively induce sideways brushing of the pole at the modified end, in a preferential direction transverse to the length of the pole, when the support member is placed under longitudinal compressive load of sufficient magnitude.