Required in stage
Optional in stage
First term
Second term
Both terms
Not organised
This year
Next year
Alternating years
External
Prerequisites
Taught by
Language of instruction
Duration
Identical courses
Cannot be taken as part of an examination contractAims
The main aim of the course is to give:
- The student the necessary information on civil engineering applications in the field of rock mechanics;
- The student the necessary knowledge on the mechanisms and behaviour of rock masses during civil engineering applications, on the characterisation of rock masses (in-situ and lab experiments) and on design and calculation methods.
At the end of the course the student is able to:
- Understand and interpret the behaviour of intact rock and of discontinuities (fractures, faults, etc.) for various applications;
- Make the correct selection of in-situ measurements and laboratory experiments to characterise rock masses for the various applications;
- Conduct basic design exercises and calculations in the field of rock mechanics, including the interpretation of the results.
Previous knowledge
Basic knowledge on stresses, strains and material laws.
Basic knowledge on geological structures.
Is included in these courses of study
Activities
2 ects. Rock Mechanics: Lectures (B-KUL-H0N55a)
Content
The following civil engineering applications in rock masses are covered:
- Slope stability,
- Shallow and deep tunnels,
- Support systems,
- Foundations in rock masses,
- Deep boreholes and hydraulic fracturing,
- Use of explosives and other technics to break rocks.
For these applications, the following topics are studied:
- In-situ state of stress and stress redistributions around excavations,
- In-situ and lab experiments to characterise rock masses,
- Design methodology and numerical and other calculation methods,
- Critical interpretation of measured and calculated results,
- Rock mass classification systems and their applications.
Course material
Handouts made available on Toledo
Relevant books are e.g.:
J.A.Hudson & J.P.Harrison, Engineering Rock Mechanics, An introduction to the principles, Pergamon Press, 2000.
E.Hoek, P.K.Kaiser & W.F.Bawden, Support of underground excavations in hard rock, Balkema, 1998.
2 ects. Rock Mechanics: Applications (B-KUL-H0N56a)
Content
Seminars (9 hours): the practical execution of the various civil engineering applications in rock masses are explained and illustrated by powerpoint presentations and videos.
Exercises and assignments (15 hours): the students work on various examples of interpretation of in-situ and lab measurements, stress redistribution around excavations, small design exercises and calculations and their interpretation, interpretation of rock mass classifications.
Course material
Handouts made available on Toledo
Format: more information
The assignments are preceded by exercises and seminars.