1. New technologies for rock mass fracture characterization
- Use of LIDAR and Digital Image Processing to image rock faces.
- Development of software to automatically extract fracture information from LIDAR and digital images.
- Use of digital images of rock faces to determine Digital Rock Mass Rating (DRMR)
- Field case studies to determine accuracy and best-practices
- Develop software for smooth transition to numerical models
2. Time-dependent rock fracture mechanics
- Development of time-dependent fracture mechanics models for rock bridge failure
- Time-dependent drift degradation due to the failure of rock bridges
- Implementation of rock bridge failure model into UDEC and 3DEC
- Lab testing on the mechanics of rock bridge failure
- Mode II subcritical crack growth
- Yucca Mountain geomechanics
3. Digital image processing applied to rock fragments and rock fragmentation
- Software for delineating rock fragements and estimating the size distribution
- Application of the software in blasting, crushing and grinding
- Use of image processing and drill monitoring for blast modeling and optimization
- Mine-to-mill optimization
4. Use of the web in engineering education and general education
- Web courses in geomechanics and underground construction
- Digital library for rock engineering
- Tri-University (UofA, NAU, ASU) web Master of Engineering program
- Web natural science general education course
4. Other Topics in Geomechanics and Fracture Mechanics
- Yucca Mountain geomechanics
- Coupling of mechanical, thermal, hydrologic due to fractures