Rock Mechanics

This Rock Mechanics group develops basic and applied research for different areas of the rock mechanics field.

Basic research includes the rock behavior under different stress levels and its deformation processes, the effect of temperature, and water presence.

Applied research addresses issues of rock engineering related to mining, such as design of underground excavations, slope stability in open pit mining, induced seismicity, fault stability, rock mass classification methods, and others.

The group uses both numerical modelling tools and experimental work at the laboratory to pursue its research.

Researchers

• Prof. Luis Felipe Orellana
• Prof. Kimie Suzuki
• Prof. Javier Vallejos