Magmatic sheet intrusions (dykes) constitute the main form of magma transport in the Earth's crust. The size distribution of dykes is a crucial parameter that controls volcanic surface deformation and eruption rates and is required to realistically model volcano deformation for eruption forecasting. Here we present statistical analyses of 3,676 dyke thickness measurements from different tectoni...

There is an increasing need to determine accurately the strength properties of tendons for an effective ground control on mines and underground structures as well as on modelling simulations. The strength properties of cables, used as cable bolts, have been evaluated mainly by their ultimate tensile strength, as this kind of test can be carried out in the field as well as in the laboratory. Onl...

Numerical modelling techniques are not new for mining industry and civil engineering projects anymore. These techniques have been widely used for rock engineering problems such as stability analysis and support design of roadways and tunnels, caving and subsidence prediction, and stability analysis of rock slopes. Despite the significant advancement in the computational mechanics and availabili...

One of the most crucial factors involved in the optimum design and cost estimation of rock sawing process is the rock abrasivity that could result in a significant cost increase. Various methods including direct and indirect tests have been introduced in order to measure rock abrasivity. The Schimazek’s F-abrasiveness factor ( ) is one of the most common indices to assess rock abrasivity.  is t...

In this work, the interaction between the semi-circular space and the neighboring joint with and without the presence of rock bolts was investigated using the particle flow code (PFC) approach. For this purpose, firstly, the calibration of PFC was performed using both the Brazilian experimental test and the uniaxial compression test. Secondly, a numerical model with the dimension of 100 m...

three-dimensional surface geometry of rock discontinuities and its evolution with shearing are of great importance in understanding the deformability and hydro-mechanical behavior of rock masses. in the present research, surfaces of three natural rock fractures were digitized and studied before and after the direct shear test. the variography analysis of the surfaces indicated a strong non-line...

The problem of roadway support in swelling soft rock was one of the challenging problems during mining. For most geological conditions, combinations of two or more supporting approaches could meet the requirements of most roadways; however, in extremely swelling soft rock, combined approaches even could not control large deformations. The purpose of this work was to probe the roadway deformatio...

The study of rock fractures is essential in evaluating stability of underground structures, understanding earthquakes, and assessing storage and transport of oil and gas in rock formations. Geophysical monitoring techniques, particularly compressional and shear wave propagation, can probe the internal structure of rock and fractures remotely and nondestructively and can provide insight into fra...

Using lasers as both sources and detectors we are able to quickly collect large amounts of ultrasonic data on rock samples without the disturbances caused by contacting transducers. Since we excite primarily surface waves, recording the wavefield on the surface is analogous to measuring the wavefield within the scattering medium. Thus we can visualize wavefields as they propagate through rocks ...