block-flexure is the most common mode of toppling failure in natural and excavated rock slopes. in such failure, some rock blocks break due to tensile stresses and some overturn under their own weights and then all of them topple together. in this paper, first, a brief review of previous studies on toppling failures is presented. then, the physical and mechanical properties of experimental mode...

Block-flexure is the most common mode of toppling failure in natural and excavated rock slopes. In such failure, some rock blocks break due to tensile stresses and some overturn under their own weights and then all of them topple together. In this paper, first, a brief review of previous studies on toppling failures is presented. Then, the physical and mechanical properties of experimental mode...

In this paper, numerical simulations of circular boreholes under internal hydraulic pressure are carried out to investigate the energy transferred to the surrounding rock and the breakdown pressure. The simulations are conducted by using a micromechanical continuum damage model proposed by Golshani et al. (2006). The simulation results suggest that the borehole breakdown pressure and the energy...

One of the most important parameters used for determining the performance of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) is their penetration rate. The parameters affecting the penetration rate can be divided in two categories. The first category is the controllable parameters such as the TBM technical characteristics, and type and geometry of the tunnel, and the second one is the uncontrollable parameters s...

The prediction of rock sawability is important in the cost estimation and the planning of the stone plants. An accurate estimation of rock sawability helps to make the planning of the rock sawing projects more efficient. Rock sawability depends on non-controlled parameters related to rock characteristics and controlled parameters related to properties of cutting tools and equipment. In the same...

Since rock fracture is a key property for different rock engineering applications, rock fracture measurement is often carried out in classifying the rock mass. Most geo-mechanics models (e.g. finite element) are of the equivalent continuum type in which fractures are represented not individually, but by their influence on a large element of the rock mass. Elastic modulus, for example, is obtain...

Slope stability is one of the most important issues in open pit mining design. The main purpose of any open pit mine design is to propose an optimal excavation configuration, considering safety, ore recovery and financial return. An accurate pit slope design which accounts for the mine geology, structural geology, rock mass properties, and hydrogeology models of the mine area, drastically enhan...

in this study we report the rock magnetic properties of surface soil samples and their spatialvariability from the northernmost district of kerala to understand pedogenic processes and soil erosion. themagnetic signal is mainly from fine grained pedogenic magnetite as other sources like anthropogenic andlithogenic magnetite, bacterial magnetite and greigite are absent. the surface soil samples ...

The homologous mammalian rho kinases (ROCK I and II) are assumed to be functionally redundant, based largely on kinase construct overexpression. As downstream effectors of Rho GTPases, their major substrates are myosin light chain and myosin phosphatase. Both kinases are implicated in microfilament bundle assembly and smooth muscle contractility. Here, analysis of fibroblast adhesion to fibrone...

an important concern in rock mechanics is non-homogeneity as joints or fault. adopting the joints as fractures, fractures are well known for their effects on the mechanical and transport properties of rock. it has been postulated that through fractured/jointed rock, mainly, the polygons turned to the shear vector (ti) are involved in the mobilization of shear resistance. consequently, in order ...