Course Overview
This is an advanced course building on the learning acquired during the course MINE 3107 Introduction to Soil and Rock Mechanics including: fundamentals of solid mechanics, friction along rough surfaces, degradation and failure under compressive loads, and the influence of groundwater on rock mass behaviour. The effects of fractures and joints, and the presence of cracks on a large scale rock behavior for mine design and construction will be assessed. Further topics include geotechnical engineering applications in mining practice such as: compaction and stabilization of underground backfill, design of underground excavations and support, analysis of stress and rock mass deformations around excavations using analytical and numerical methods, and critical evaluation of field, in situ, and laboratory data collection, analysis, and interpretation for slope and excavation design. Slope stability analysis related to surface mining design will be discussed in detail for different types of slope rock failures. The use of various rock mass classification systems for site characterization and excavation design will be explained along with stress distribution, settlement analysis, and failure theories of rocks. Advanced topics on strength of rocks, data uncertainty, and risk management in geotechnical engineering will be presented along with case studies. Laboratory tests performed will focus on rock strength.
Prerequisite(s)
Credits
3.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe rock as a structural material, define its properties and methods of measurement [1,3,7,12].
- Analyze the applicability of classic elasticity principles to rock structures [2,4,5].
- Classify the rock mass based on its structural quality, in-situ stress field, and groundwater regime [1,2,5].
- Predict trouble zones caused by stress concentrations in an excavation [1,2,5].
- Describe the various factors that influence the design and analysis of typical rock structures [1,2,4].
- Use engineering analysis and design programs to evaluate behaviour of typical rock structures, mine slopes and mining excavations in various geological settings [1,2,4,5,7,12].
- Evaluate levels of risk using concepts such as factor of safety and probability of failure [1,2,5].
- Define geotechnical risk assessment methodologies and risk management for mine design [2,3,9].
- Apply geotechnical engineering principles to the design of underground openings, and evaluate backfill and suitable rock reinforcement strategies [4,5,12].
Effective as of Winter 2018
Related Programs
Advanced Rock Mechanics (MINE 6005) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
- Indicates programs eligible for students to apply for Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
School of Construction and the Environment
- Mining and Mineral Resource Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering Full-time
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.