Course overview
The course aims to provide students with a basic knowledge in rock mechanics, rock excavations, geotechnical risks and hazards assessments, dynamic events, instrumentation and monitoring, and rock supports in mining operations. The course also gives an introduction to numerical modelling for mining geomechanical problems.
Course learning outcomes
- Have a working knowledge of the engineering properties of rock
- Be able to select and use appropriate analytical and numerical methods for the design of underground structures and support systems
- Have the necessary grounding in rock mechanics to embark upon a study of the principles of rock engineering
- Recognise the evolving nature of the discipline and develop skills to access, evaluate and integrate new knowledge and processes
- Explain the contribution of rock breakage to the mining process
- Describe the various methods of rock breakage
- Select appropriate methods of drilling and rock breakage for given in-situ rock conditions
- Apply fundamental principles to the design and selection of safe and efficient blasting to:Design blasts to achieve particular outcomes; Manage and control blast damage and environmental impacts; Evaluate productivity and economics
- Appropriate technical knowledge
- Skills of analysis, synthesis and problem solution, and the ability to tolerate ambiguity
- Lifelong ability to learn