No. 11 - September 2010 |
Welcome to the 6th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium, Delhi, 23-27 October 2010
There has been an overwhelming response from the Rock Mechanics Community and in total 296 synopses were received from 33 countries, including 67 from India, for consideration as to their presentations during the Symposium. Out of this, 165 papers from 27 countries have been scheduled for oral/poster presentations during the Symposium. Special emphasis is being laid on presentation of Keynote Lectures by the eminent experts. In total 10 keynote lectures are scheduled in the Technical Programme. In addition, three Pre-Symposium Short Courses/Workshops are being organized on 23 and 24 October 2010. An exhibition is also planned as a technology showcase to meet the challenges of rock formations in various engineering activities in the field of Water and Energy Resources, Mining, Roads, Underground Works, etc. More than 20 organisations from India and abroad are going to display their products/services during the exhibition. Successive five year plans of Government of India have provided the policy frame work and funding for building up its wide infrastructure, spread in topographically difficult terrain. Rock Engineering plays a dominant role for execution of all these activities. 6th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium will provide an excellent opportunity to interact with international experts and gain from their experience besides knowing some more about the developmental activities in the field of Rock Engineering in India. There would be ample opportunity for all of you to have fruitful exchange of views during the Symposium. Many exciting programmes are being planned for the accompanying persons, and pre- and post-Symposium tours for all the delegates, to provide glimpses of rich heritage and diversity of the country. I also extend a cordial welcome to all the ISRM Board Members, National Groups of ISRM for ISRM Council Meeting and to the Chairmen and Members of ISRM Commissions for the Commission Meetings being organised concurrently.
Looking forward to meet you in New Delhi. K.G. Sharma |
On behalf of the Indian National Group of ISRM, it is our great pleasure to welcome you to the ISRM International Symposium and 6th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium on "Advances in Rock Engineering" being held in New Delhi, India during 23-27 October 2010.
I am sure that you will enjoy your trip to this Symposium and take back everlasting memories of the Indian hospitality, its culture and the advanced knowledge in the field of Rock Engineering.
The Peruvian Society of Geo-engineering is organizing the 7th South American Congress on Rock Mechanics, which will take place in Lima, Peru, from December 2 to 4, 2010 and will be co-sponsored by the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) and the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP). The themes of the Congress are:
A total of 45 abstracts were approved and 30 will be selected for presentation. Several keynote lectures will take place. Three short courses will take place preceding the Congress and several technical tours are being organized. Registration for the Congress is now open. If you are interested in participating, you are kindly invited to contact the Organizing Committee at eventos@iimp.org. For information in Spanish, visit the Conference website, or download the Conference announcement. |
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The 5th International Symposium on In Situ Rock Stress (ISRSV) — A Great Success This Symposium organised by Professor Xie Furen (as a specialised conference of the ISRM) was successfully held in Beijing on 25-27 August 2011. It followed the previous rock stress symposia held in: Stockholm, Sweden 1986; Kumamoto, Japan, 1993; Kumamoto, Japan, 2003; Trondheim, Norway, 2006. The keynote lectures were presented by Prof. O.Stephansson, Prof. B.C. Haimson, Prof. Y.L. Shi, Prof. J.A. Hudson, Prof. M. Lu, and Prof. F.R. Xie. 196 delegates from 21 countries attended the Symposium. 128 papers were selected for oral presentation and 22 for the poster session. One volume of the proceedings and a CD were published by CRC Press / Balkema.
John A Hudson |
Practical developments from mining industry focussed research New Scaling Technology
In normal operations scaling is carried out as part of the rockbolting process. Newcrest Mining Ltd's gold-copper Cadia East mine in New South Wales, Australia, in conjunction with Atlas Copco, has been developing and testing a new scaling technology designed to make the process safer and more precise. Scaling was completed by hydroscaling the roofs and walls with high pressure water. Shotcrete was then applied and bolting carried out after shotcreting. This process allows for the maximum shotcrete cure time. The site has now introduced an Atlas Copco Scaletec LC machine. The machine has the capacity to carry out the scaling followed by the shotcreting and drilling processes. Scaling rigs are not new technology. However, in a world first, this machine is set up with laser profiler equipment which has the ability to scan a tunnel in three dimensions. Scanning allows the machine to know where it is within the tunnel and to calculate the appropriate volumes and dimensions of the tunnel's cross-section, as well as how the rock may break when scaled. The scanner then allows a tunnel to be classified as complying or not with the mine design without the use of surveyors. After being assessed, the machine carries out the required scaling and dimensioning followed by shotcreting and rockbolting without the potential issues arising from the tunnel being under or over excavated. Non Destructive Testing of Rockbolts The GRANIT system (GRound ANchor Integrity Testing) allows rockbolts to be tested in-situ using a non-destructive, non-invasive, repeatable process for quality assurance purposes. The original concept was jointly researched and patented world-wide by the Universities of Aberdeen and Bradford, UK. The universities were conducting an on-site investigation into the effects of blasting on rock bolt integrity. Halcrow is the licensee of the system.
The test involves sending a small impulse through the element using an electric solenoid control valve. The small impulse does not compromise bolt integrity. An accelerometer samples the return pulse at up to 200kHz. The waveform is then rapidly analysed. Non-compliant rockbolt installations are identified by their "outlier" waveform responses. Productivity levels of up to 20 bolts per hour have been achieved and tests can be carried out by a single operator. According to Halcrow, the tests can indicate broken and sheared bolts, corrosion, poor grouting or grout bonding and over loading. Tests can be repeated at later dates to indicate bolt performance over time. Tony Meyers |
Removing (scaling) loose rocks hanging from the roofs and sidewalls in an underground development is essential to protect workers and equipment from rockfalls.
This workshop is organized by the Society for Rock Mechanics & Engineering Geology of Singapore and the Austrian Society for Geomechanics. The workshop aims to present and discuss systematically the New Austrian Method of Tunnelling (NATM), as it is practised in Austria and worldwide. The main theme will be "Tunnelling in difficult ground conditions." With the expected acceleration of underground space development in Singapore and many other countries, it is important for regulators, planners, developers, engineers and contractors to have a comprehensive understanding of what NATM encompasses as a tunnelling method. In this workshop, we bring in a panel of distinguished experts and practitioners to share with us their knowledge and experience in the essential aspects of NATM.
Click here to download the Workshop flyer. Zhou Yinxing |
The Workshop Topics are:
7th WBI-International shortcourse The WBI-International Shortcourse on Rock Mechanics, Stability and Design of Tunnels and Slopes will take place at the WBI Head Office in Aachen, Germany, from 25 to 29 November 2010. The course, in its 7th edition, will cover the following topics:
The course will be held in english and the speakers are: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Walter Wittke, Dr.-Ing. Claus Erichsen, Bauass. Dr.-Ing. Bettina Wittke-Schmitt and Dr.-Ing. Martin Wittke. For registration and more information, visit the website at http://www.wbionline.de. |
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