D. Scott Kieffer
research
My research interests are generally characterized by the application of rock mechanics, engineering geology, and numerical methods to the assessment and quantification of ground deformation and failure modes and the optimization of ground control/support systems. A primary objective of my research involves developing and improving engineering methods based on well-documented field cases that are supported with experimental work and theory.
In comparison to the geotechnical profession’s present capabilities to deal with hard rocks or soils as engineering materials, an understanding of the behavior of weak and soft rocks is lacking. As a result, opportunities for productive research activities in this area will exist into the foreseeable future. Specific areas of research that I am interested in pursuing (several involving soft rocks) include:
Geomechanical characterization of “block-in-matrix” materials, including
colluvium, landslide debris, glacial till, weak conglomerates, tectonic mélange,
and fault zones;
Time dependant behavior of soft rocks around underground excavations;
Evaluation of soft rock failure modes under various load conditions (e.g.
foundation loads, tiebacks, excavations), and how these failure modes can best
be related to laboratory strength measurements;
Optimization of tunneling methods through faulted/difficult ground; and
Analysis of rock slope failure modes and design of rock slope reinforcement.