Short Courses

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Abstract

The course will include developments now widely used internationally that the course holder has developed in the last 50, 25 and 10 years. 1. First of all, Q-system correlations will be described that were not available when Q was first developed. Correlations of Q to parameters useful for design will be shown, like stress-dependent modulus and velocity, tunnel deformation, relative cost and relative time for NMT single-shell tunnels and caverns. A basic illustrative Q-parameter explanation and a streamlined method to collect logging data will lead into these later correlations with Q. Pre-injection in tunnels and improvement of Q parameters will also be touched on. 2. Concerning TBM tunnels, case record analysis including open-gripper, double-shield and world records will be introduced as a starting point for TBM prognosis. This will focus on AR (actual advance rate) and T (total time) not just PR (penetration rate). The Q-TBM prognosis model will be introduced and illustrated with comparison to multi-TBM rail projects. Delays in fault zones will be focused on. 3. Development of the Barton-Bandis JRC-JCS scaled input data for discontinuum modelling will be described, and discontinuum modelling will be contrasted to continuum modelling, also in relation to slopes. JRC or GSI will be a topic here. 4. Nuclear waste rock mechanics research and design experiences during about 30 years of the lecturer’s career will be described. This will include multiple sites in the USA for ONWI and DoE (including ‘the new subject’ of thermal over-closure), and multiple sites in Sweden for SKB, and details from several years consultancy with UK Nirex. A total of ten hard rock projects in five countries.

Outline

Instructors / Coordinators

Dr. Nick Barton (Nick Barton & Associates)

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Dr. Nick Barton (Nick Barton & Associates)

Short Biography

PhD in rock mechanics from Imperial College. 25 years in NGI some of the time as Division Director and Expert Advisor, 4 years in TerraTek, USA some of the time as Manager of Geomechanics. One-man international consultancy NB&A since 2000. Work in 42 countries on several hundred mostly brief contracts: hydropower, metro, dams, nuclear waste research. 40,000 Google Scholar citations, gradually increasing during the last 5 years, 2,600 each year, 550,000 reads in Research Gate. Muller Lecture 2012, 13 international awards, ISRM Fellow since 2016. Developed Q-system and JRC, JCS.

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Abstract

This short course is intended to give participants understanding of rock fractures grouting and the design of watertight structures. The ultimate developments in rock fractures grouting are presented as well as their practical applications and integrations in grouting procedures and models including GIN, the Swedish design, the Amenability theory and the classical approach of grouting to refusal.
This course is vital for all professionals working in major tunnel and dam construction, and scientists and researchers working in the development of advanced experiments, models and procedures for rock grouting.

Outline

Abstract

Earthquakes are among the most devastating natural hazards, often causing severe damage to rock engineering structures such as tunnels, slopes, and dams. Strong ground motion characteristics are strongly controlled by causative faults and local geological conditions.
This short course provides an overview of techniques for estimating and measuring strong ground motions relevant to rock engineering, with emphasis on practical application in design. The course begins with a comparative overview of major strong motion estimation techniques, summarizing their advantages, limitations, application examples, and remaining challenges based on the outcomes of the activities of Dynamic Rock Mechanics Committee in Japan.
Detailed lectures then cover empirical methods, Green’s function–based approaches, finite element–based 3D fault rupture simulations, and its practical application to the estimation of earthquake-induced mountain tunnel damage with multiscale one-way coupling method. Practical applications and strong motion measurement networks are also introduced.

Outline

Instructors / Coordinators

Dr. Naoki Iwata (Chuden Engineering Consultants Co.,Ltd)

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Dr. Naoki Iwata (Chuden Engineering Consultants Co.,Ltd)

Short Biography

Dr. Naoki Iwata is a specialist in dynamic rock mechanics and earthquake-related rock engineering, with extensive experience in strong motion evaluation and its application to the design of underground and rock engineering structures.

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Emeritus Prof. Ömer Aydan (University of the Ryukyus)

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Emeritus Prof. Ömer Aydan (University of the Ryukyus)

Short Biography

Emeritus Prof. Dr. Ömer Aydan is an internationally recognized expert in rock mechanics and rock engineering, with significant contributions to empirical approaches and earthquake-related rock engineering problems.

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Prof. Takaaki Ikeda (Nagaoka University of Technology)

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Prof. Takaaki Ikeda (Nagaoka University of Technology)

Short Biography

Prof. Takaaki Ikeda specializes in strong ground motion evaluation using Green’s function–based approaches and numerical analyses, with extensive experience in earthquake damage mitigation studies through field investigations and seismic modeling.

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Dr. Kenichi Tsuda (Shimizu Corporation)

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Dr. Kenichi Tsuda (Shimizu Corporation)

Short Biography

Dr. Kenichi Tsuda has research experience in natural disaster science and solid earth sciences, focusing on earthquake dynamics, strong ground motion, and related geological processes, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to rock engineering evaluations.

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Prof. Atsushi Sainoki (Kumamoto University)

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Prof. Atsushi Sainoki (Kumamoto University)

Short Biography

Short Biography: Prof. Atsushi Sainoki specializes in rock mechanics and seismic response of deep rock masses, with a focus on numerical simulation of stress conditions, earthquake-related phenomena, and ground amplification in rock engineering.

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Abstract

One of the biggest challenges facing the future of the global mineral sector is the decline in mineral resources due to high production rates and difficulties in extracting deep-earth deposits. Exploring and mining at greater depths offers a potential solution to this urgent problem. However, the violent, uncontrolled failure of rocks in deep mines poses a serious threat to this goal.
This workshop aims to present current research and engineering practices in deep mining and facilitate discussions to share knowledge from research to practice. It will cover rock behaviour and its failure in deep underground openings in both the short and long terms, as well as the operational and design challenges of deep high-stress mining. The workshop will also address methods to handle high-stress and problematic ground conditions and seismicity, with a special focus on numerical modelling to predict mine seismicity. Presenters will demonstrate geomechanical problems faced in operating mines and discuss approaches to tackling these issues.

Outline

Instructors / Coordinators

Dr. Abbas Taheri (Queen’s University, Canada)

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Dr. Abbas Taheri (Queen’s University, Canada)

Short Biography

Dr Abbas TAHERI is a Tenured Associate Professor at the Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada, where he holds the Chair in Mine Design. He has over 23 years of experience in industry, research, and teaching in the Middle East, Japan, Australia, and Canada, spanning mining, rock mechanics, and geotechnical engineering. He serves as the editor, associate editor, and member of the editorial board of several international journals and has produced more than 230 refereed publications. He is the president of the ISRM Commission on Deep Mining and has developed and taught several courses in geotechnical engineering and mining operations.

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Dr. Murat Karakus (Adelaide University, Australia)

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Dr. Murat Karakus (Adelaide University, Australia)

Short Biography

Short Biography: Dr Murat Karakus holds a BSc in Mining Engineering (Hacettepe University) and a PhD in Mining and Minerals Engineering (University of Leeds). He is a senior academic at the University of Adelaide, where he founded the Cave Mining Research Centre. His research focuses on rock mass behaviour in deep and extreme mining environments, including cave propagation, rockburst prediction, mud-inrush mechanisms, thermo-mechanical degradation, and advanced rock support design. He develops continuum and particle-based numerical models, large-scale experimental methods, and data-driven approaches to understand failure processes. His recent work integrates machine learning, digital twins, and smart sensing to improve safety and productivity in deep mining operations.

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Dr. Atsushi Sainoki (Kumamoto University, Japan)

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Dr. Atsushi Sainoki (Kumamoto University, Japan)

Short Biography

Dr. Atsushi Sainoki is an Associate Professor at the International Research Organization for Advanced Science and Technology (IROAST), Kumamoto University, Japan, specializing in rock mechanics, numerical modeling, and induced seismicity. He earned his PhD in Engineering from McGill University, Canada, following undergraduate and master’s studies at Hokkaido University. His research focuses on the mechanical behavior of rock masses, fault slip and fracture processes, and advanced numerical methods such as XFEM applied to underground mining, energy development, and geotechnical engineering. Dr. Sainoki has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and actively contributes to international research collaborations in geomechanics.

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Abstract

X-ray CT methods have been extensively employed in the field of rock mechanics, as one of the non-destructive testing techniques, to characterize hydraulic and mechanical properties of rocks. Although various relevant studies have been undertaken, their applications are often limited to the microscopic visualization of porous materials.
X-Earth Center at Kumamoto University has been accumulating CT-related knowledge and technologies for almost 30 years, with multiscale X-ray CTs, including the latest nano-focused X-ray CT. Taking the full advantage of the uniqueness, we have been conducting cutting-edge studies to characterize and elucidate the microscopic mechanical and hydraulic behaviour of geomaterials whilst developing and employing various small-scale in-situ testing devices as well as latest three-dimensional image analysis methods.
In this short course, we will introduce our recent studies, covering fundamentals of the X-ray CT method, in-situ testing methods, and image analyses, to visualize and quantify the microscopic deformation of geomaterials, pore-scale miscible fluid flow, and enzyme-induced mineral precipitation. These studies are intended to provide new insights into applications of X-ray CTs to elucidate complicated mechanical, chemical, and hydraulic responses of geomaterials related to emerging various engineering projects.

Outline

Instructors / Coordinators

Prof. Akira Sato (Kumamoto University)

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Prof. Akira Sato (Kumamoto University)

Short Biography

Akira Sato is a Professor at Kumamoto University, Japan. His research field is rock mechanics, and he has been working on applying X-ray CT techniques to visualize rock geometry, particularly pore structures, and to analyze the migration processes of various fluids, such as water and liquid CO2, within these pore structures. He is also developing and introducing new image analysis techniques based on image subtraction methods that are well suited for rock materials.

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Prof. Toshifumi Mukunoki (Kumamoto University)

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Prof. Toshifumi Mukunoki (Kumamoto University)

Short Biography

Toshifumi Mukunoki is a Professor at Kumamoto University, Japan, specializing in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering. His research focuses on elucidating microscale fluid behavior in geomaterials using X-ray computed tomography (CT). By visualizing the internal pore structure of porous media, his work integrates laboratory experiments with micro-hydrological interpretation, providing new quantitative insights into fluid transport processes in geomaterials and other porous media.

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Prof. Daiki Takano (Kumamoto University)

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Prof. Daiki Takano (Kumamoto University)

Short Biography

Daiki Takano is an Associate Professor at Kumamoto University, Japan, working in geotechnical engineering. His research focuses on revealing the microscopic mechanical behavior of geomaterials using X-ray computed tomography (CT) combined with Digital Volume Correlation (DVC). By visualizing internal deformation and strain localization in 3D, his work bridges laboratory experiments and micromechanical interpretation, providing new insights into failure and deformation processes in geomaterials.

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Abstract

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) has become an increasingly popular non-contact, full-field measurement technique in rock mechanics, offering significant advantages over conventional point-based instrumentation for capturing displacement and strain fields. Despite its wide adoption, DIC measurements in rock mechanics experiments often suffer from inaccuracies arising from inadequate speckle patterns, improper subset or element size selection, unquantified noise, and incorrect interpretation near discontinuities such as joints and cracks. This short course aims to provide a practical, rock-mechanics-oriented introduction to DIC, with a strong emphasis on reliability, physical interpretation, and good experimental practice.
The course begins with the fundamental theory of subset-based and global DIC (2D and 3D), outlining their underlying assumptions, capabilities, and limitations. Typical applications of DIC in rock mechanics such as deformation monitoring, strain localization, joint characterization, and fracture initiation are then discussed to provide experimental context. A substantial portion of the course focuses on best practices for DIC measurements, including the design and implementation of effective speckle patterns on rock surfaces, quantitative assessment of speckle quality, and speckle-aware selection of subset or finite element sizes.
Key challenges specific to rock mechanics experiments, such as handling displacement and strain discontinuities, large rigid-body motions, and material heterogeneity, are addressed in detail. Methods to estimate the noise floor of a DIC system, distinguish measurement noise from physical deformation, and validate DIC results against conventional sensors (e.g., LVDTs) are presented. An introductory overview on linking DIC measurements with numerical simulations, including finite element–based interpretations of displacement and strain fields, is also provided. The course also highlights common do’s and don’ts in DIC experimentation and provides guidance on transparent and reproducible reporting of DIC results in research publications.
Targeted at students, researchers, and practitioners in rock mechanics, this short course aims to bridge the gap between DIC theory and robust, physically meaningful experimental measurements.

Outline

Instructors / Coordinators

Prof. Debasis Deb (Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur)

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Prof. Debasis Deb (Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur)

Short Biography

Prof. Debasis Deb is a Professor of the Department of Mining Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, India. He graduated from IIT Kharagpur, India with a Mining Engineering degree in 1990. He received his MS and PhD degrees in Mineral Engineering and Interdisciplinary Mining and Engineering Mechanics from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA. He worked in Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), USA and Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), South Korea as an Assistant Professor and a Visiting Researcher, respectively. Recipient of the prestigious “National Geoscience Award” from the President of India, Prof. Deb has three books and five patents to his credit. He has published over 210 papers in reputed journals and at national and international conferences. Prof. Deb is currently serving as the President of the Indian Group of ISRM.

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Mr. Tushar Bhandari (Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur)

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Mr. Tushar Bhandari (Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur)

Short Biography

Tushar Bhandari is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Mining Engineering at IIT Kharagpur under the Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) scheme. His research focuses on the development of Finite Element based Non-Local Digital Image Correlation (DIC) methods for displacement and strain measurement in geomaterials, with ongoing work toward FE-based three-dimensional DIC. He holds a B.Tech. degree in Mining Engineering from NIT Raipur and an M.Tech. degree in Geomechanics from IIT Kharagpur, where he received the Institute Silver Medal for the best academic performance. His research interests lie at the intersection of experimental rock mechanics, full-field deformation measurement, and computational mechanics.

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Abstract

Bio-Rock Mechanics is an emerging interdisciplinary field that investigates the interactions between biological processes and the mechanical behavior of rocks and rock masses. While traditional rock mechanics has largely focused on physical and chemical factors, growing evidence shows that biological activity can significantly influence rock strength, deformation, permeability, and long-term stability in natural and engineered subsurface systems.
This short course provides a comprehensive introduction to Bio-Rock Mechanics, covering fundamental concepts, experimental and analytical approaches, and recent advances in the field. The course is structured as a series of lectures delivered by multiple experts, each addressing a key aspect of bio-mediated rock mechanical behavior. Topics include microbial and biological processes relevant to geological materials, mechanisms of bio-induced alteration of rock properties, laboratory and field observations, and modeling approaches that couple biological, chemical, and mechanical effects.
In addition to foundational principles, the course highlights recent research trends and emerging applications of Bio-Rock Mechanics. These include bio-mediated rock modification, long-term performance of underground infrastructure, energy and environmental applications such as CO₂ sequestration and nuclear waste disposal, and the role of biological processes in rock degradation and healing.
Designed for researchers, engineers, and graduate students in rock mechanics and related geoscience and engineering disciplines, this course aims to provide participants with a unified framework for understanding and incorporating biological processes into rock mechanical analyses. By bridging traditionally separate disciplines, the short course seeks to foster new perspectives and stimulate interdisciplinary research in this rapidly developing field.

Outline

Instructors / Coordinators

Prof. Hitoshi Matsubara (University of the Ryukyus)

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Prof. Hitoshi Matsubara (University of the Ryukyus)

Short Biography

Short Biography: His research interests include microbially influenced rock weathering and biomineralization, using laboratory experiments, field observations, and numerical simulations. Some of the study has been reported in journals such as Acta Geotechnica, Engineering Geology, Soils and Foundations, and Biogeotechnics.

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Additional instructors will be appointed from the Commission on Bio-Rock mechanics before the course is held.