Course Description
Introduction to the brittle field of rock deformation, the rock
mass concept, and its role for site characterization and
engineering design. Understanding rock as a material, the
relationship between stress and strain, and deformation and
failure of rock to classify rock fracture types and rock
fracturing behavior.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are required to write a research paper
containing original research and a literature review that
applies the learned material in this course to a topic of their
choice. The topic of the research paper, however, must be
relevant to geomechanics and must be approved by the
instructor. The research paper must be comparable in content
and style to topics covered in the "International Journal of
Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences" or a similar journal in the
field (10-15 written pages and 20-40 references). A brief
outline of the approved topic is due before the detailed
literature review and the research begins. A detailed outline
and list of references will be due mid-semester, with the final
draft being due on the last day of class. The research paper
will be graded and be a substantial part of the overall course
grade.
Athena Title
Introduction to Rock Mechanics
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to collect and express geologic information contained in rock core in verbal, numeric, graphical, computational, and symbolic forms.
- Students will be able to solve stress problems numerically and graphically, use the rock mass concept and apply it to theoretical framework of various geologic failure criteria.
- Students will be able to plan, initiate, manage, complete, and evaluate a rock mass rating (project) involving geologic field work.
- Students will be able to communicate orally and in a written technical report rock-mechanical concepts from information collected at rock exposures and/or rock core using appropriate terminology with clarity and precision.
Topical Outline
- Rock mass concept (2-3 weeks).
Rock as an engineering material (rock masses)
Early rock mass classifications
Geomechanics classification (RMR)
RMR applications
- 2. Stress and Strain (3 weeks)
Deformation and strain
Stresses and nomenclature (2D and 3D)
Mohr circles
- 3. Friction (1 week)
- 4. Failure of rock (3 weeks)
Stress-strain curve, rock strength
Types of fractures, stress states and faulting
Failure criteria
Effects of pore fluids and anisotropies on strength
- 5. Linear Elasticity (2 weeks)
Elastic constants
Hooke’s law
Laboratory tests (uniaxial, biaxial, triaxial
conditions)
- 6. Fracture models (2 weeks)
Linear elastic fracture mechanics
Post yield fracture mechanics
Inglis-Kolosov fracture tip model
- 7. Fractures observed in rock (1 week)
