Rock Mechanics and Tunneling

A good understanding about the mechanics behind the load transfer mechanism and the stability of different geotechnical structures constructed in/on the rocks becomes very much essential for the civil and mining engineers. On the other hand, the tunneling is a very efficient solution for the public transport as well as other underground transport systems. The course ‘Rock Mechanics and Tunneling’ will give an overall idea about the rock mechanics and its applications.INTENDED AUDIENCE : B.Tech./B.E., M.Tech./M.E., Ph.D.PRE REQUISITE :Engineering Mechanics, Solid Mechanics, Soil MechanicsSUPPORTED INDUSTRIES : Most of the Civil infrastructure development companies and the Companies dealing with the mining operations.

Week-1:Introduction: objective, scope, and associated problems; Discontinuities in rock; Classification of the rock based on origin.
Week-2:Methods for rock exploration: rock coring, geophysical methods. Week-3:Physico-mechanical properties of rock.
Week-4:Laboratory testing on rock sample and in-situ testing of rock mass. Week-5:Rock mass classification systems. Week-6:Rock and rock mass failure criteria.
Week-7:Rock and rock mass failure criteria.
Week-8:Applications of rock mechanics: slopes, underground excavations. Week-9:Applications of rock mechanics: foundations, rock support systems.
Week-10:Basic features of tunneling: shapes, usages, methods of construction, problems associated with tunnels, tunneling in various subsoil conditions and rocks.
Week-11:Analysis of stresses: methods to determine stresses around openings, Kirsch equation, Greenspan’s method. Basic concepts for lined, unlined, and pressure tunnels.
Week-12:Improvement of rock mass response: rock bolts, rock anchors, steel mats, precast concrete segments, shotcrete, grouting etc.