When dealing with rock in civil engineering, mining engineering and other engineering, the process by which the rock fails under load should be understood, so that safe structures can be built on and in the rock. However, there are many ways for loading rock and rock can have a variety of idiosyncracies. This reference book provides engineers and researchers with the essential knowledge for a clear understanding of the process of rock failure under different conditions. It contains an introductory chapter explaining the role of rock failure in engineering projects plus a summary of the theories governing rock failure and an explanation of the computer simulation method. It subsquently deals in detail with explaining, simulating and illustrating rock failure in laboratory and field. The concluding chapter discusses coupled modelling and the anticipated future directions for this type of computer simulation. An appendix describing the RFPA numerical model (Rock Failure Process Analysis program) is also included. About the Authors Chun'an Tang has a PhD in Mining Engineering and is a Professor at the School of Civil & Hydraulic Engineering at Dalian University of Technology in China. He is an advisor for design and stablity problem modelling in mining and civil rock engineeringand and Chairman of the China National Group of the International Society for Rock Mechanics. John Hudson is emeritus professor at Imperial College, London and is active as an independant consultant for Rock Engineering Consultants. He has a PhD in Rock Mechanics and completed over a 130 rock engineering consulting assignments in mining and civil engineering. He is a fellow at the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK and President of the International Society for Rock Mechanics.

Underground Excavations in Rock deals with the geotechnical aspects of the design of underground openings for mining and civil engineering processes.

The safe and economical construction of tunnels, mines, and other subterranean works depends on the correct choice of support systems to ensure that the excavations are stable. These support systems should be matched to the characterstics of the rock mass and the excavation techniques adopted. Establishing the support requirements, designing support systems and installing these correctly are essential elements in safe underground construction. This is a comprehensive and practical work which also gives access to user-friendly computer programmes which enable the investigation and design of support techniques. Details on how to obtain this software are also included in the book.

The combined finite discrete element method is a relatively new computational tool aimed at problems involving static and / or dynamic behaviour of systems involving a large number of solid deformable bodies. Such problems include fragmentation using explosives (e.g rock blasting), impacts, demolition (collapsing buildings), blast loads, digging and loading processes, and powder technology. The combined finite-discrete element method - a natural extension of both discrete and finite element methods - allows researchers to model problems involving the deformability of either one solid body, a large number of bodies, or a solid body which fragments (e.g. in rock blasting applications a more or less intact rock mass is transformed into a pile of solid rock fragments of different sizes, which interact with each other). The topic is gaining in importance, and is at the forefront of some of the current efforts in computational modeling of the failure of solids. * Accompanying source codes plus input and output files available on the Internet * Important applications such as mining engineering, rock blasting and petroleum engineering * Includes practical examples of applications areas Essential reading for postgraduates, researchers and software engineers working in mechanical engineering.

When dealing with rock in civil engineering, mining engineering and other engineering, the process by which the rock fails under load should be understood, so that safe structures can be built on and in the rock. However, there are many ways for loading rock and rock can have a variety of idiosyncracies. This reference book provides engineers and r

Introduction to geologic fracture mechanics covering geologic structural discontinuities from theoretical and field-based perspectives.