MNGN321 - Introduction to Rock Mechanics
Designation:
Required
Catalog description:
Physical
properties of rocks and fundamentals of rock substance and rock mass
response to applied loads. Principles
of elastic analysis and stress-strain relationships.
Elementary principles of the theoretical and applied design of
underground openings and pit slopes. Emphasis
on practical applied aspects.
Prerequisites:
DCGN241 or MNGN317.
Textbooks and/or other required materials:
A set of lecture and laboratory notes is available to the students at printing cost. These notes are normally sufficient for following the lectures, preparing homework assignments, and laboratory reports. Students also make use of a suite of numerical modeling and other rock mechanics software that are available at the department’s computer laboratory. For further clarification and details, students are advised to refer to two textbooks; Rock Mechanics for Underground Mining by B. H. G. Brady and E. T. Brown, 3rd Edition, and Rock Slope Engineering by D. C. Wyllie and C. W. Mah, 4th Edition.
Course Objectives:
The course aims at students developing i) a good understanding of the principal rock mechanics concepts and their applications to design excavations in rock masses ii) skills to apply learned material to excavations design in rock masses, and iii) ability to evaluate and communicate the findings from homework exercises, laboratory reports, and design examples. Accomplishment of the course objectives is assessed through three exams, ten homework assignments, and ten laboratory reports.
Topics covered:
Stress/strain at a point, stress/strain transformation, principal stresses/strains, Mohr's stress/strain circle
Stress - strain relationships
Stress distribution around underground excavations
Mechanical properties of rocks
Data collection and interpretation for rock mass quantification
Rock mass classification systems (RMR, Q, and GSI)
Rock mass strength
Stability analysis for underground excavations
Shear strength of discontinuities
Elements of rock slope design
Support types and their performances
Design of support systems for rock excavations
Determination of pillar loads and pillar strength
Design of mine pillars for coal and hard rock mines.
Laboratory classes:
Uniaxial compressive strength test with Elastic Modulus and Poisson’s ratio
Triaxial strength test
Brazilian tensile strength test
Direct shear strength test
Ultrasonic velocity test
Point load and Schmidt hammer test
Core logging
Insitu data collection (performed at Edgar Mine)
Use of stereonets for discontinuity orientation and slope stability analyses
Stress analysis using Finite Element program Phase2.
Class/laboratory schedule:
MNGN321 is a 3 credit-hour course - 2 hours lectures and 3 hours laboratory session. The class meets three times a week. Mondays and Wednesdays during 9:00 – 10:00 are dedicated to classroom lectures that closely follow the course notes. The class meets at BB125 for the lectures, which is a large classroom with equipped with a network connected computer and audio-visual equipment. Laboratory classes take place on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 3:50 pm in the Rock Mechanics Laboratory BB129, which is equipped with all the machinery and apparatus required for performing the tests listed above. Edgar mine facilities are also used as a laboratory. Computer laboratory is used for the numerical modeling part of the laboratory exercises.
Contribution of course to meeting the Professional Component:
Basic science component 10%; a review of college level concepts such as force, equilibrium, pressure, and friction. Engineering science and design components 80%; through study of stress, strain, constitutive laws, calculation of stress and deformation around excavations, determination rock mass properties, behavior, and strength, design of slopes, design of mine pillars, design of rock reinforcement, and design of other underground excavations.
General education component 10%; through homework assignments and laboratory reports, safety in laboratory and Edgar mine as well as in rock engineering design, engineering ethics related to optimizing the Nation’s minerals wealth exploitation.
Relationship of Course to Program Outcomes:
A) Through the sections on basic sciences and engineering fundamentals, students develop knowledge required for mining engineers and how to use them in mining engineering practice. B) Students develop knowledge and experience in application of engineering principles to design of excavations for the exploitation of earth’s resources and construction of earth systems in an engineering systems orientation and settings. C) Students start appreciating the complexity of dealing with rock masses at a very early stage in the course. The course thus directly contributes toward students developing ability to solve complex mining and earth systems related problems. D) The laboratory exercises are structured to encourage students working in teams. In particular, the data collection and interpretation laboratory classes provide opportunities to the students to discuss and make decisions on characterizing rock mass and its strength. E) The mine pillar and pit slope design exercises strongly relates to the importance of maximizing natural resources recovery at the least possible cost, without compromising on safety and environmental interests. F) The homework assignments are prepared to reflect real life engineering problems. The realism involved in the problems at the end of a chapter is expected to trigger curiosity and desire for further learning in the area of rock mechanics and rock engineering. G) The course contributes to this goal through laboratory and field classes. After a short introduction to the equipment in the laboratory or field, the students are encouraged to use the test equipment and instruments. Involving students in use of equipment gives them senses of responsibility and achievement, which in turn helps them develop confidence and become more articulate. Contribution toward developing professionalism is also achieved through expectations of high quality laboratory report and homework preparation.
Person who prepared this description and date of preparation:
This
description is prepared by Dr.
on March 20, 2006.