Research

The Mines Computational Geomechanics Lab works on a wide range of fundamental and applied science problems. Our main focus areas are applied geophysics and remote sensing, field and laboratory characterization of rocks and rockmasses, and numerical modeling of slopes and excavations.

We’d like to thank the various organizations that have funded our group over the years:

  • The Alpha Foundation
  • CDC / NIOSH
  • Colorado Department of Transportation
  • Hecla Mining Company
  • Kiewit Building Group, Inc.
  • National Science Foundation
  • NASA
  • US Department of Transportation
  • Universidad Nacional de San Augstin de Arequipa

Below is a list of peer-reviewed journal articles produced by the lab that are either published or in-press (* – graduate student author; ** – undergraduate student author; # – postdoc author):

Walton, G., Christiansen, C., Kromer, R., & Silaev, A.* 2023. Evaluation of rockfall trends at a sedimentary rock cut near Manitou Springs, Colorado, using daily photogrammetric monitoring. Landslides, 1-18. DOI: 10.1007/s10346-023-02121-8

Walton, G., & Gaines, S. 2023. Evaluation of stress path and load rate effects on rock strength using compression testing data for Stanstead Granite. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 169. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2023.105455

Abousleiman, R.*, Sinha, S.#, & Walton, G. 2023. Analysis of the Historic Bondi Pumping Chamber Case Study Using the Adjusted Voussoir Beam Analog. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 1-18. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-023-03396-y

Contreras Inga, C.E.*, Sinha, S.#, Walton, G., Holley, E. 2023. Modeling Brazilian tensile strength tests on a brittle rock using deterministic, semi-deterministic, and Voronoi bonded block models. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 1-21. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-023-03329-9

Walton, G., Malsam, A.*, Oester Mapes, N., & Arpin, B. 2023. Forecasting and mitigating rockfall based on lidar monitoring: a case study from Colorado. Transportation Research Record. DOI: 10.1177/0361198123116953

Fahle, L.*, Petruska, A.J., Walton, G., Brune, J.F., & Holley, E.A. 2023. Development and Testing of Octree-Based Intra-Voxel Statistical Inference to Enable Real-Time Geotechnical Monitoring of Large-Scale Underground Spaces with Mobile Laser Scanning Data. Remote Sensing, 15(7), 1764. DOI: 10.3390/rs15071764 

Kumar, C.#, Walton, G., Santi, P., & Luza, C. 2023. An Ensemble Approach of Feature Selection and Machine Learning Models for Regional Landslide Susceptibility Mapping in the Arid Mountainous Terrain of Southern Peru. Remote Sensing, 15(5), 1376. DOI: 10.3390/rs15051376 

Yang, W., Wang, W., Jia, R., Walton, G., Sinha, S.#, Chen, Q., … & Jiao, X. 2023. Parameter optimization of coal face blasting for coal and gas outburst control. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 82(3), 80. DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2020.05.013 

West, I.*, & Walton, G. 2023. Quantitative Evaluation of the Effects of Input Parameter Heterogeneity on Model Behavior for Bonded Block Models of Laboratory Rock Specimens. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 1-18. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-023-03248-9 

Walton, G., & Weidner, L#. 2022. Accuracy of Rockfall Volume Reconstruction from Point Cloud Data—Evaluating the Influences of Data Quality and Filtering. Remote Sensing, 15(1), 165. DOI: 10.3390/rs15010165 

Sinha, S.#, Walton, G., Chaurasia, A.*, Diederichs, M., & Batchler, T. 2022. Evaluating Size Effects for a Porous, Weak, Homogeneous Limestone. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 1-18. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-022-03148-4

Hinton, J.*, Weidner, L.#, Walton, G., & Neutzling, D. 2022. The Validation of a Look-Ahead Geophysical System at the Rondout West-Branch Bypass Tunnel. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 1-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-022-02306-3

Fahle, L.*, Holley, E. A., Walton, G., Petruska, A. J., & Brune, J. F. 2022. Analysis of SLAM-Based Lidar Data Quality Metrics for Geotechnical Underground Monitoring. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, 39(5), 1939-1960. DOI: 10.1007/s42461-022-00664-3

Walton, G., & Sinha, S.# 2022. Challenges associated with numerical back analysis in rock mechanics. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. DOI: 10.1016/j.jrmge.2022.01.010

Hu, X., Fang, Y., Walton, G., & He, C. 2022. Laboratory model test of slurry shield tunnelling in saturated sandy soil. Géotechnique, 1-22. DOI: 10.1680/jgeot.21.00066

Wallace, C. S., Santi, P. M., & Walton, G. 2022. Scoring system to predict landslide runout in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Landslides, 19(6), 1449-1461. DOI: 10.1007/s10346-021-01839-7

Weidner, L.#, & Walton, G. 2021. Monitoring the Effects of Slope Hazard Mitigation and Weather on Rockfall along a Colorado Highway Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning. Remote Sensing, 13(22), 4584. DOI: 10.3390/rs13224584

Sinha, S.#, & Walton, G. 2021. Modeling the behavior of a coal pillar rib using Bonded Block Models with emphasis on ground-support interaction. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 148, 104965. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2021.104965

Walton, G., & Sinha, S.# 2021. Improved empirical hard rock pillar strength predictions using unconfined compressive strength as a proxy for brittleness. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 148, 104934. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2021.104934

Hu, X., He, C., Walton, G., Fang, Y., & Ju, J. W. 2021. Response of sandy soil to the volume losses at the tunnel face level. Soils and Foundations, 61(5), 1399-1418.

Weidner, L.*, & Walton, G. 2021. The influence of training data variability on a supervised machine learning classifier for Structure from Motion (SfM) point clouds of rock slopes. Engineering Geology, 294, 106344. DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2021.106344

Abousleiman, R.*, Sinha, S.#, & Walton, G. 2021. Expanding application of the voussoir beam analog to horizontally bedded and passively bolted flat-roof excavations using the discrete element method. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 148, 104919. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2021.104919

Alejano, L.R., Walton, G., & Gaines, S. 2021. Residual strength of granitic rocks. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 118, 104189. DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2021.104189

Hu, X., He, C., Walton, G., & Fang, Y. 2021. Face failure in cobble-rich soil: Numerical and experimental approaches on 1 g EPB reduced scale model. Soils and Foundations, 61(6), 1500-1528. DOI: 10.1016/j.sandf.2021.08.008

Weidner, L.*, van Veen, M., Lato, M., & Walton, G. 2021. An algorithm for measuring landslide deformation in terrestrial lidar point clouds using trees. Landslides, 18(11), 3547-3558. DOI: 10.1007/s10346-021-01723-4

Sinha, S.#, Abousleiman, R.*, & Walton, G. 2021. Effect of damping mode in laboratory and field-scale Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC) models. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 1-17. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-021-02609-6

Walton, G. 2021. A New Perspective on the Brittle–Ductile Transition of Rocks. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 1-14. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-021-02595-9

Contreras Inga, C. E.*, Walton, G., & Holley, E. 2021. Statistical Assessment of the Effects of Grain-Structure Representation and Micro-Properties on the Behavior of Bonded Block Models for Brittle Rock Damage Prediction. Sustainability, 13(14), 7889. DOI: 10.3390/su13147889

Alejano, L. R., Pérez-Rey, I., Múñiz-Menéndez, M., Riquelme, A., & Walton, G. 2021. Considerations Relevant to the Stability of Granite Boulders. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 1-17. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-021-02525-9

Schovanec, H.*, Walton, G., Kromer, R.#, & Malsam, A.* 2021. Development of Improved Semi-Automated Processing Algorithms for the Creation of Rockfall Databases. Remote Sensing, 13(8). DOI: 10.3390/rs13081479

Weidner, L.*, Walton, G., & Krajnovich, A. 2021. Classifying rock slope materials in photogrammetric point clouds using robust color and geometric features. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 176, 15-29. DOI: 10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2021.04.001

Bolkas, D., Walton, G., Kromer, R.#, & Sichler, T. 2021. Registration of multi-platform point clouds using edge detection for rockfall monitoring. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 175, 366-385. DOI: 10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2021.03.017

Shirole, D.#, Hedayat, A., & Walton, G. 2021. Damage monitoring in rock specimens with pre-existing flaws by non-linear ultrasonic waves and digital image correlation. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 142. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2021.104758

Walton, G., Gaines, S., & Alejano, L.R. 2021. Evaluating the Validity of Continuous-Failure-State Unloading Triaxial Tests as a Means to Estimate the Residual Strength of Rock. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. DOI: 10.1016/j.jrmge.2021.01.009

Alejano, L.R., Estevez-Ventosa, X., Glez.-Fdez., M.A., Walton, G., West, I.G.*, Glez.-Molano, N.A., & Alvarellos, J. 2021. A method to correct indirect strain measurements in laboratory uniaxial and triaxial compressive strength tests. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-021-02392-4

Sinha, S.* & Walton, G. 2021. Integration of a three-dimensional continuum model and a two-dimensional Bonded Block Model (BBM) for studying the damage process in a granite pillar at the Creighton Mine, Sudbury, Canada. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. DOI: 10.1016/j.jrmge.2020.06.011

Hu, X., He, C., Walton, G., Fu, W., & Fang, Y. 2021. Face Stability Analysis of EPB Shield Tunnels in Dry Granular Soils Considering Non-uniform Chamber Pressure and a Dynamic Excavation Process. International Journal of Geomechanics. 10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0002032

Pérez-Rey, I., Muñiz-Menéndez, M., González, J., Vagnon, F., Walton, G., & Alejano, L.R. 2021. Laboratory physical modelling of block toppling instability by means of tilt tests. Engineering Geology, 282. DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2021.105994

Sinha, S.*, & Walton, G. 2021. Investigation of pillar damage mechanisms and rock-support interaction using Bonded Block Models. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 138. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2021.104652

Qiu, Y., Hu, X., Walton, G., He, C., He, C., Ju, J.W. 2021. Full scale tests and a progressive failure model to simulate full mechanical behavior of concrete tunnel segmental lining joints. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 110. DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2021.103834

Kim, B.H., Walton, G., Larson, M.K., & Berry, S. 2020. Investigation of the Anisotropic Confinement-Dependent Brittleness of a Utah Coal. International Journal of Coal Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1007/s40789-020-00364-7 

Hu, X., He, C., Walton, G., Fang, Y., & Dai, G. 2020. Laboratory model test of EPB shield tunneling in a cobble-rich soil. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2020.103410

Shirole, D.*, Hedayat, A., & Walton, G. 2020. Illumination of Damage in Intact Rocks by Ultrasonic Transmission‐Reflection and Digital Image Correlation. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. DOI: 10.1029/2020JB019526

Yang, W., Lin, M., Walton, G., Lin, B., Sinha, S.*, Lu, C., & Li, G. 2020. Blasting-enhanced water injection for coal and gas out-burst control. Process Safety and Environmental Protection. DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2020.05.013

Hu, X., He, C., Lai, X., Walton, G., Fu, W., & Fang, Y. 2020. A DEM-based study of the disturbance in dry sandy ground caused by EPB shield tunneling. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology. DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2020.103410

Boyd, D.L.*, Walton, G., & Trainor-Guitton, W. 2020. Geostatistical estimation of Ground Class prior to and during excavation for the Caldecott Tunnel Fourth Bore project. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 100. DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105246.

Sinha, S.*, Shirole, D.#, & Walton, G. 2020. Investigation of the Micromechanical Damage Process in a Granitic Rock using an Inelastic Bonded Block Model (BBM). Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. DOI: 10.1029/2019JB018844.

Hu, X., He, C., Walton, G., & Chen, Z. 2020. A Combined Support System Associated with the Segmental Lining in a Jointed Rock Mass: The Case of the Inclined Shaft Tunnel at the Bulianta Coal Mine. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-020-02056-9.

Grasmick, J.G., Mooney, M.A., Trainor-Guitton, W., and Walton, G. 2020. Local vs. Global Simulation of Geotechnical Parameters for Tunneling Projects. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 146. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002262.

Fang, Y., Yao, Z., Walton, G., Zhou, J., Xu, W., & Zheng, Y. 2020. Evaluating the Impact of Blast-Induced Damage on the Rock Load Supported by Liner in Construction of a Deep Shaft: A Case Study of Ventilation Shaft of Micangshan Road Tunnel Project. Advances in Civil Engineering. DOI: 10.1155/2020/9068345

Kurre, R.* and Walton, G. 2020. A Case Study on the Efficacy of Different Roof Bolting Schemes in Lhoist North America’s Crab Orchard Mine. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2019.12.014.

Weidner, L.*, Walton, G., Kromer, R.#, 2020. Generalization considerations and solutions for point cloud hillslope classifiers. Geomorphology 354, 107039. DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107039

Shirole, D.*, Walton, G., and Hedayat, A. 2020. Experimental investigation of multi-scale strain-field heterogeneity in rocks. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 127. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2020.104212

Shirole, D.*, Hedayat, A., Ghazanfari, E., and Walton, G. 2020. Evaluation of an Ultrasonic Method for Damage Characterization of Brittle Rocks. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-020-02045-y

Abousleiman, R.*, Walton, G., and Sinha, S.* 2020. Understanding roof deformation mechanics and parametric sensitivities of coal mine entries using the discrete element method. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2019.12.006

Hu, X. Y., He, C., Lai, X. H., Walton, G., and Xu, G. W. 2020. Study on the interaction between squeezing ground and yielding supports with different yielding materials. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 97. DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2019.103242

Sinha, S.* and Walton, G. 2020. Modeling behaviors of a coal pillar rib using the progressive S-shaped yield criterion. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. DOI: 10.1016/j.jrmge.2019.12.002

Sinha, S.* and Walton, G. 2020. A study on Bonded Block Model (BBM) complexity for simulation of laboratory-scale stress-strain behavior in granitic rocks. Computers and Geotechnics, 118. DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2019.103363

Weidner, L.*, Walton, G., and Kromer, R.# 2019. Classification methods for point clouds in rock slope monitoring: a novel machine learning approach and comparative analysis. Engineering Geology. DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105326

Sinha, S.* and Walton, G. 2019. Understanding continuum and discontinuum models of rock-support interaction for excavations undergoing stress-induced spalling. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 123. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2019.104089

Kromer, R.#, Walton, G., Gray, B.*, and Lato, M. 2019. Development and Optimization of an Automated Fixed-Location Time Lapse Photogrammetric Rock Slope Monitoring System. Remote Sensing, 11(16). DOI: 10.3390/rs11161890

Boyd, L.*, Walton, G., and Trainor-Guitton, W. 2019. Quantifying Spatial Uncertainty in Rock through Geostatistical Integration of Borehole Data and a Geologist’s Cross-Section. Engineering Geology, 260. DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105246

Young, M.*, Walton, G., and Holley, E. 2019. Factors predictive of roof instability in addition to the existing CMRR criteria at two case study coal mines. International Journal of Coal Geology, 213. DOI: 10.1016/j.coal.2019.103255

Sinha, S.* and Walton, G. 2019. Investigation of longwall headgate stress distribution with an emphasis on pillar behavior. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 121. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2019.06.008

Wnuk, K.*, Walton, G., and Zhou, W. 2019. Four-dimensional filtering of InSAR persistent scatterers elucidates subsidence induced by tunnel excavation in the Sri Lankan highlands. Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, 13(3). DOI: 10.1117/1.JRS.13.034508

Hu, X., He, C., Feng, K., Liu, S., and Walton, G. 2019. Effects of polypyrrole coated rebar on corrosion behavior of tunnel lining with the combination effect of sustained loading and pre-existing cracks when exposed to chlorides. Construction and Building Materials, 221, 318-331. DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.06.092

Walton, G., Labrie, D., and Alejano, L. R. 2019. On the Residual Strength of Rocks and Rockmasses. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-019-01879-5

Walton, G. 2019. Writing skills development in an engineering geology course through practice and feedback on report submissions using a rubric. Journal of Geoscience Education. DOI: 10.1080/10899995.2019.1625997

Shirole, D.*, Hedayat, A., and Walton, G. 2019. Experimental relationship between ultrasonic attenuation and surface strains in prismatic rock specimens. Journal of Geophysical Research – Solid Earth. DOI: 10.1029/2018JB017086

Walton, G., Rahjoo, M., and Hedayat, A. 2019. Relating Plastic Potential Function to Experimentally Obtained Dilatancy Observations for Geomaterials with a Confinement-Dependent Dilation Angle. International Journal of Geomechanics, 19(8). DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001484

Li, X.*, Kim, E., and Walton, G. 2019. A study of rock pillar behaviors in laboratory and in-situ scales using combined finite-discrete element method models. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 118, 21-32. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2019.03.030

Hu, X., Fang, Y., Walton, G., and He, C. 2019. Experimental Analysis of Shield TBM Tunnel Lining Mechanical Behaviour in an Anisotropically-Jointed Rock Mass. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, 23(6), 2733-2745. DOI: 10.1007/s12205-019-1808-1

Walton, G. 2019. Initial guidelines for the selection of input parameters for cohesion-weakening-friction-strengthening (CWFS) analysis of excavations in brittle rock. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 84, 189-200. DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2018.11.019

Hu, X., Fang, Y., Walton, G., and He, C. 2019. Analysis of the behaviour of a novel support system in an anisotropically jointed rock mass. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 83, 113-134. DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2018.09.028

Young, M.*, Walton, G., and Holley, E. 2018. Investigation of factors influencing roof stability at a Western US longwall coal mine. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2018.11.019

Sinha, S.*, and Walton, G. 2018. Numerical analyses of pillar behavior with variation in yield criterion, dilatancy, rock heterogeneity and length to width ratio. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. DOI: 10.1016/j.jrmge.2018.07.003

Walton, G., Fotopoulos, G., and Radovanovic, R. 2018. Extraction and Comparison of Spatial Statistics For Geometric Parameters of Sedimentary Layers from Static and Mobile Terrestrial Laser Scanning Data. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience. DOI: 10.2113/EEG-2068

Shirole, D.*, Walton, G., Ostrovsky, L., Masoumi, H., and Hedayat, A. 2018. Non-linear ultrasonic monitoring of damage progression in disparate rocks. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 111, 33-44. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2018.08.010

Boyd, L.*, Trainor-Guitton, W., and Walton, G. 2018. Assessment of rock unit variability  through use of spatial variograms. Engineering Geology, 233, 200-212. DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.12.012

Cowie, S.*, and Walton, G. 2018. The effect of mineralogical parameters on the mechanical properties of granitic rocks. Engineering Geology, 240, 204-225. DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.04.021

Fang, Y., Yao, Z., Walton, G., and Fu, Y. 2018. Liner Behavior of a Tunnel Constructed Below a Caved Zone. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, 1-10. DOI: 10.1007/s12205-018-1162-8

Kim, B. H., Walton, G., Larson, M. K., and Berry, S. 2018. Experimental study on the confinement-dependent characteristics of a Utah coal considering the anisotropy by cleats. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 105, 182-191. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2018.03.018

Sinha, S.*, and Walton, G. 2018. A progressive S-shaped yield criterion and its application to rock pillar behavior. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 105, 98-109. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2018.03.014

Walton, G., Alejano, L. R., Arzua, J., and Markley, T.* 2018. Crack Damage Parameters and Dilatancy of Artificially Jointed Granite Samples Under Triaxial Compression. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 51(6), 1637-1656. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-018-1433-1

Walton, G., Diederichs, M. S., Weinhardt, K., Delaloye, D., Lato, M. J., and Punkkinen, A. 2018. Change detection in drill and blast tunnels from point cloud data. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 105, 172-181. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2018.03.004

Walton, G., Kim, E., Sinha, S.*, Sturgis, G., and Berberick, D. 2018. Investigation of shaft stability and anisotropic deformation in a deep shaft in Idaho, United States. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 105, 160-171. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2018.03.017

Walton, G. 2017. Scale effects observed in compression testing of stanstead granite including post-peak strength and dilatancy. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 1-21. DOI: 10.1007/s10706-017-0377-7

Walton, G., Hedayat, A., Kim, E., and Labrie, D. 2017. Post-yield strength and dilatancy evolution across the brittle-ductile transition in Indiana Limestone. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 50(7), 1691-1710. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-017-1195-1

Quinones, J., Arzua, J., Alejano, L.R., Garcia-Bastante, F., Mas Ivars, D., and Walton, G. 2017. Analysis of size effects on the geomechanical parameters of intact granite samples under unconfined conditions. Acta Geotechnica, 12(6), 1229-1242. DOI: 10.1007/s11440-017-0531-7

Hedayat, A. and Walton, G. 2017. Laboratory Determination of Rock Fracture Shear Stiffness Using Seismic Wave Propagation and Digital Image Correlation. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 40(1), 92-106. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20160035

Walton, G., Mills, G., Fotopoulos, G., Radovanovic, R., and Stancliffe, R. P. W. 2016. An approach for automated lithological classification of point clouds. Geosphere, 12(6), 1833-1841. DOI: doi:10.1130/GES01326.1

Walton, G., Diederichs, M., Punkkinen, A., and Whitmore, J. 2016. Back analysis of a pillar monitoring experiment at 2.4 km depth in the Sudbury Basin, Canada. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 85, 33-51. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2016.03.001

Walton, G. and Diederichs, M.S. 2015. A mine shaft case study on the accurate prediction of yield and displacements in stressed ground using lab-derived material properties. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology. DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2015.04.010

Walton, G., Diederichs, M.S., Punkkinen, A. 2015. A study on the influence of constitutive model choice on stress path and the development of yield in deep mine pillars – experience from the Creighton Mine, Sudbury, Canada. Eurock 2015. Salzburg, Austria.

Walton, G. and Diederichs, M.S. 2015. A new model for the dilation of brittle rocks based on laboratory compression test data with separate treatment of dilatancy mobilization and decay. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. DOI: 10.1007/s10706-015-9849-9

Walton, G. and Diederichs, M.S. 2015. Dilation and post-peak behaviour inputs for practical engineering analysis. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. DOI: 10.1007/s10706-014-9816-x

Walton, G., Lato, M., Anschütz, H., Perras, M.A., and Diederichs, M.S. 2015. Geophysical detection of fractures, fractures zones, and rock damage in a hard rock excavation – experience from the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory in Sweden. Engineering Geology. DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2015.07.010

Delaloye, D., Diederichs, M. S., Walton, G., and Hutchinson, J. 2015. Sensitivity testing of the newly developed elliptical fitting method for the measurement of convergence in tunnels and shafts. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 48(2), 651-667. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-014-0566-0

Walton, G., Delaloye, D., and Diederichs, M. S. 2014. Development of an elliptical fitting algorithm to improve change detection capabilities with applications for deformation monitoring in circular tunnels and shafts. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 43, 336-349. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2014.05.014

Walton, G., Diederichs, M.S., Alejano, L.R., and Arzua, J. 2014. Verification of a lab-based dilation model for in-situ conditions using continuum models. J. Rock Mech. and Geotech. Eng. DOI: 10.1016/j.jrmge.2014.09.004

Walton, G., Arzua, J., Alejano, L.R., Diederichs, M.S. 2014. A laboratory-testing based study on the strength, deformability, and dilatancy of carbonate rocks at low confinement. Rock Mech. And Rock Eng. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-014-0631-8

Arzua, J., Alejano, L., Walton, G. 2014. Strength and dilation on jointed granitic samples during servo-controlled triaxial tests – a potential analogue for rock masses at the lab scale. Int. J. of Rock Mech. and Min. Sci., 69, 93-104. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2014.04.001