Rock Mechanics

Laboratory Staff

Dean
Director | (+30) 2821037648 | msteiakakis<at>tuc.gr

Dr. Pantelis Liolios
Laboratory Teaching Staff | (+30) 2821037606 | pliolios<at>tuc.gr
Mineral Resources Engineer, MSc, Dr.

Stelios Maurigiannakis
Special Technical Laboratory Staff | 2821037644 | smavrigiannakis<at>tuc.gr
Mining Engineer, MSc.

Laboratory objective

• Measurement of mechanical properties of rocks and other natural or man-made materials (uniaxial compressive strength, strength under triaxial conditions, indirect tension test, elastic modulus, deformation modulus, Poisson’s ratio, strain field, stress field, bending strength, strains, anisotropy, etc).
• Measurement of acoustic and dynamic properties of rocks and other natural or man-made materials (acoustic emissions, p- and s-wave velocities, etc)
• Measurement of mechanical properties of concrete (uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus, etc) for quality control in construction projects.
• FEM analysis of stress / strain and displacement fields in geomechanics.
• Stability analysis of structures in geomechanics (tunnels, slopes, etc).
• Quality control in laboratory testing.
• New technologies in mine design.
• Software development for rock mechanics.
• Software development for mining (planning, maintenance, etc).
• Development of database applications in mining.

Infrastructure

• Integrated testing system for compression and tension that includes a stiff loading frame by MTS with a capacity of 1600KN, microconsole for test control, external load cell with a capacity of 500KN, strain gage and extensometer subsystems etc.

• Triaxial loading cylinder with a maximum lateral pressure of 14MPa by Wykeham Farrance.

• Loading frame with a capacity of 50kN in compression by Triscan.

• Pundit ultrasonic measuring instrument

• Laboratory specimen preparation devices (drilling machine, cutting machine, grinder).

Research and Development Projects

Research Projects

1. YPER '97-homogenization of Greek lignites (research, GSRT)

2. DIAULOS 1996 – (technology transfer, GSRT)

3. PENED 2003 – Methodology for standardized geotechnical investigations combining geological, geophysical, drilling and experimental data (research, GSRT)

4. CRINNO – Measurements of mechanical properties and correlation with insitu properties (research)

5. Development of a geotechnical database for tunnel monitoring, funded by Istria, Dec 2009 – Dec 2010

6. Development of on-line data acquisition system for SCADA, South Field Mine, PPC”, funded by PPC (Public Power Corporation), Nov 2009-April 2011

7. Design of support measures for the steep cliffs at Topolia, Western Crete," June 2010-May 2011

8. Geological, Geophysical and Geotechnical Evaluation of limestone/schist slopes at the Mauropigi Mine, PPC”, funded by PPC, July 2011-February 2012

9. SARMa - Sustainable Aggregate Resource Management (Interreg)

10. SNAP - Sustainable Aggregates Planning in South East Europe

11. Development of an Integrated System for Rockfall Identification in Highways

12. Geotechnical characterization of selected areas in Crete using geophysical and geotechnical methods”, Thalis Framework, funded by the General Secretariat of Research and Technology, Greece, Sept 2012 – Jun 2015

13. Development and assessment of innovative experimental techniques for the study of the mechanical behaviour of natural building stones: Applications to the conservation and restoration of monuments of Cultural Heritage, Thalis Framework, funded by the General Secretariat of Research and Technology

14. Integrated understanding of Seismicity, using innovative Methodologies of Fracture mechanics along with Earthquake and non extensive statistical physics - Application to the geodynamic system of the Hellenic Arc (SEISMO FEAR HELLARC)” Thalis Framework, funded by the General Secretariat of Research and Technology

15. Maintenance and Enhancement of the on-line data acquisition system for SCADA, for all PPC mines, funded by PPC, September 2013-August 2016

Development Projects

1. EPEAEK – Practicum, MRED (development, Greek Ministry of Education)

2. EPEAEK – Undergraduate Program MRED (development, Greek Ministry of Education)

3. EPEAEK – Graduate Program MRED (development, Greek Ministry of Education)

4. EPEAEK – TUC Library (development, Greek Ministry of Education)

 Research Results/Products

• Standardization of measurements of mechanical properties of rocks

• Optimization of testing procedures

• Numerical modeling in geomechanics

• Software development for mining applications

• Software development for geomechanical applications