The purpose of the course is to introduce the students to methods of testing, analysis and design appropriate to rock masses. It is anticipated that on completion of the course the students will:
1. Have a working knowledge of the engineering properties of rock
2. Be able to select and use appropriate analytical and numerical methods for the design of underground structures and support systems
3. Have the necessary grounding in rock mechanics to embark upon a study of the principles of rock engineering
4. Recognise the evolving nature of the discipline and develop skills to access, evaluate and integrate new knowledge and processes.
5. Explain the contribution of rock breakage to the mining process
6. Describe the various methods of rock breakage
7. Select appropriate methods of drilling and rock breakage for given in-situ rock conditions
8. Apply fundamental principles to the design and selection of safe and efficient blasting to:
a. Design blasts to achieve particular outcomes
b. Manage and control blast damage and environmental impacts
c. Evaluate productivity and economics

The Course will contribute to the development of the following attributes:
1. Appropriate technical knowledge
2. Skills of analysis, synthesis and problem solution, and the ability to tolerate ambiguity
3. Lifelong ability to learn

Lecture material and related spreadsheets will be made available to students on MyUni and via email.

• Pariseau, W. G. 2011, Design analysis in rock mechanics
• Brady, B.H.G ; Brown, E.T, Rock Mechanics for underground mining: Third edition
• Persson, Per-Anders.; Holmberg, Roger.; Lee, Jaimin. Rock Blasting and Explosive Engineering.

The course will be based on lectures, supported by take-home assignments and a program of laboratory practicals.

A total of 136 workload hours over 14 weeks (including 2 weeks swot) is approximately 10.5 hours per week. Students who commit this time can be expected to obtain a Pass or Credit for this Course. Students who wish to secure a Distinction or Higher Distinction will need to commit additional hours.

Laboratory exercises

Please refer to the Rock Mechanics Laboratory Handout and also the Video Introduction to the Rock Mechanics Laboratory Exercises uploaded onto Canvas. It will be assumed that you have studied the handout and the video introduction prior to your arrival in the laboratory, so you will be given minimal instruction. Academic and technical staff will be on hand to assist and to answer any questions.

The eight exercises in this program have been designed to provide an introduction to, and awareness of, basic measurements and test procedures in rock mechanics. The tests will be conducted in the Engineering Annex (LG09), Room NG31 and adjacent areas. Mechanical tests will be conducted on 42 mm diameter Hawkesbury Sandstone specimens.

The class has been randomly divided into Groups of 3-5 students. Each Group will work separately through the eight exercises. Each Group will test only one specimen in each of the destructive tests (1, 2, 4a and 4b) then share their results with the class after two weeks of completion of the tests. Please use the template table provided on Canvas. If one of your destructive tests is unsuccessful, describe what happened in your report, then use the results obtained by another Group. Each Group will attend the laboratory on two occasions: Once to undertake tests 1, 2 and 3 and once to undertake tests 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Your Group has limited time to conduct these tests so it is imperative that you are well prepared and arrive on time. You will not have time to read through the laboratory handout during the laboratory session, so it is important you study this handout and also the video introduction prior to your session. When you arrive in the laboratory, sign in, locate your test equipment and specimens then start preliminary measurements immediately. Technical staff will be on hand to show you how to operate the mechanical test equipment. Sign out as you leave the laboratory. If you do not sign in and sign out we will assume you have not attended the session. If you are unable to attend your scheduled laboratory session due to illness or other unavoidable factors and are able to submit a doctor’s certificate, join another group and undertake the exercises at another time. Alternatively, make arrangements with the lecturer to attend during one of the spare sessions.
This laboratory program carries a weighting of 15% for the course. Group reports must be submitted through CANVAS by the deadline to be set by the course coordinator. These laboratory exercises are a compulsory component of the course. Students who do not attend the laboratory sessions and/or do not hand in a laboratory report will fail the course. Students who do not attend the laboratory sessions (or do not sign in and out), but do hand in a laboratory report based on results obtained by other students, will fail the course.

In accordance with the Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy, Procedure 1a. i: An exemption from the stated requirement that group assessment activities total no more than 30% has been granted.

In order to pass the course, students are required to attend the final exam and receive a minimum of 40% of the total mark from the final exam. Students who get marks less than 40% from the final exam will fail the course.
The laboratory exercises are a compulsory component of the course. Students who do not attend the laboratory sessions and/or do not hand in a laboratory report will fail the course. Students who do not attend the laboratory sessions (or do not sign in and out), but do hand in a laboratory report based on results obtained by other students will fail the course.

Please submit electronic copy of your work on CANVAS before 5.00 pm on the specified submission date unless otherwise instructed. Work submitted after the submission time and date will be returned unmarked and will be assigned zero marks, unless a doctor’s certificate is presented. Marked assignments can be accessed on CANVAS by students under the ‘Mining Geomechanics’ course folder.