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Workshops


Important Notice:

Workshops 1–4 will take place at SINTEF, located at S.P. Andersens veg 15, Trondheim, rather than the conference hotel.

Click here to view the location on Google Maps.

WS 01- In-situ rock stress measurements
Demontration and applications


Photo: Simon Hagen/Trond Larsen

Rock stress is critical in rock engineering projects. Information of the rock stress conditions, include magnitude and orientation, or induced stresses around an opening or pillar. The state of stress situation implies for evaluation and design of tunnel, cavern, mine planning, hydropower development, and etc. Whilst, induced rock stress has a direct impact to the stability of any underground openings, high stress may give rock spalling or even bursting, low stress may increase the risk of loosening of rock blocks. Even though, rock stress plays such important role in rock engineering projects, defining rock stress is not an easy task and often not even included in the design works. 

In this workshop, a quantitative way of defining rock stress will be introduced, i.e. stress measurements. Attendees will be provided overview of in-situ rock stress measurement methods being commonly used today. In addition to that, SINTEF methods for in-situ rock stress measurement will be introduced including development, procedure with equipment and exercise, and applications of the stress measurements.

Lecturers

PhD. Mario Morales
SINTEF		 PhD. Yared Bekele
SINTEF		 Trond Erik Larsen
SINTEF		 PhD. Nghia Quoc Trinh
SINTEF • SINTEF’s Laboratory

Program 16.06.2025

09:00 - 09:30 Registration
Theoretical framework and Lab testing
09:30 - 09:35 Opening and introduction
09:35 - 10:00 Overview of rock stress measurement
10:00 - 10:30 SINTEF method and development
10:30 - 10:45 Coffee break
10:45 - 11:45 Laboratory visit with demonstration
11:45 - 12:30 Lunch
Hands on: calculation
12:30 - 13:00 Stress calculations from strain rosette
13:00 - 14:00 Exercise and calculation
14:00 - 14:15 Coffee break
14:15 - 15:00 Project applications: civil and mining
15:00 - 15:25 Open discussion
15:25 - 15:30 Closing remarks


WS 02 - Drillability assessment

Lab testing and applications

SINTEF AND NTNU have over more than 50 years developed a international well reckoned method of estimating TBM performance based on laboratory testing and geological mapping, known as the NTNU/SINTEF method. The method uses specific designed laboratory testing, commonly known as drillability and geological mapping to identify the critical geological parameter to identify the rock mass’ properties in regards to excavation performance and cutting tool life. In mechanized excavation the drillability are used to assess the influence of intact rock properties on performance prediction and cost estimation

In this workshop the most common laboratory tests for drillability and TBM performance assessment will be presented and demonstrated. Participants will presence live testing of rock samples and will discuss about the results. The learning goal of the workshop are to gain understanding fundamentals of mechanized rock breaking and which laboratory tests are best suited for certain cases, the advantages and disadvantages of laboratory tests, and how to use the results of laboratory tests. In addition, the future of drillability testing will be a topic of discussion.


The following tests will be demonstrated in different rock types.

The following tests will be demonstrated in different rock types. • Suite of drillability testing at SINTEF/NTNU:
• UCS and tensile strength
• Abrasivity
• RiAT

The lecturers of the course are among others Professor Amund Bruland,Research manager Sindre Log and Specialist Dirk Van Oosterhout.


Lecturers

Prof. Amund Bruland
NTNU		 Sindre Log
SINTEF		 Dirk Van Oosterhout
SINTEF



Program 16.06.2025

09:00 - 09:30 Registration
Hands on: lab testing
09:30 - 09:35 Opening and introduction
09:35 - 10:00 Fundamentals of mechanised rock breaking and cutter wear
10:00 - 10:15 Overview of common laboratory tests
10:15 - 10:30 Drillability lab testing
10:30 - 10:45 Coffee break
10:45 - 11:45 Development of new test methods
11:45 - 12:30 Lunch
Practical discussions
12:30 - 13:30 Laboratory visit
13:30 - 14:00 Presentation and discussion of laboratory test and results
14:00 - 14:15 Coffee break
14:15 - 15:00 Future of drillability testing and TBM performance estimations
15:00 - 15:25 Open discussion
15:25 - 15:30 Closing remarks

WS 03 - Rock bolt and testing

Design aspect, produce, and laboratory testing

Rock bolts are the most commonly used support elements in various rock engineering projects, such as underground mines, hydropower, underground infrastructures, and rock slopes. The design of rock bolts can be different depending on the purpose of supporting individual rock blocks or in providing a systematic support measure. With long experience of use in many applications and extensive research and development, there are many standard and guidelines for rock bolt design, which may be suitable for different situations. Thus, engineers may sometimes have difficulties to decide which guidelines to follow, and it often ends up in excessive design of rock bolts.

This workshop presents the most important aspects in understanding functionality of rock bolts, the common design and testing methods. Participants will have chance to obtain the overall and also state-of-the-art in rock bolt design and testing. The participants can also learn from failure and successful projects.


Lecturers
Prof. Charlie Chunlin Li
NTNU		 PhD. Bjarte Grindheim
NTNU		 Erik Thomsen
VIK Ørsta		 Philip O. Møller
Pretec



PhD. Nghia Quoc Trinh
SINTEF • SINTEF’s Laboratory


Program 16.06.2025

09:00 - 09:30 Registration
  Morning session
09:30 - 09:35 Opening and introduction
09:35 - 10:00 Rock bolt categories and their reinforcement functions
10:00 - 10:30 Rock anchor: failure modes, design, and testing
10:30 - 10:45 Coffee break
10:45 - 11:10 Spiling bolt: design and 3D modelling
11:10 - 11:45 Norwegian rock support – Design and theory (Vik Ørsta/Pretec)
11:45 - 12:30 Lunch
  Afternoon sessions
12:30 - 13:05 Norwegian rock support – Practical Application (Vik Ørsta/Pretec)
13:05 - 13:35 Laboratory Full-Scale Rock Bolt testing
13:35 - 14:00 Group discussion
14:00 - 14:15 Coffee break
14:15 - 15:25 Laboratory visit
15:25 - 15:30 Closing remarks

WS 04 - Rock mass grouting and sustainability

Presentations and group work


Photo: Helene Strømsvik 

Pre-excavation rock mass grouting constitutes a substantial proportion of the CO2 emissions associated with tunnelling activities, particularly in urban environments. While significant advancements have been made over the past decade in reducing cement content in most cement-based construction materials, the adoption of such innovations in grouting materials within the tunnelling industry has been comparatively slow.

This workshop will explore various strategies for minimizing material consumption and reduce CO2 emissions in grout materials. The primary objective of the workshop is to identify opportunities for improvement and innovation, fostering advancements in this critical area.

The following areas will be covered and discussed:
• Examples of grout consumption and CO2 emissions
• Alternative methods to reduce grout consumption
• Alternative methods to reduce CO2 emissions from grout • Example from ongoing tunnelling project
• How contract inflicts on the grout consumption

The participants can contribute with knowledge sharing.


Program 16.06.2025

09:00 - 09:30 Registration
  Theoretical framework
09:30 - 09:40 Opening and introduction
09:40 - 10:05 Examples of grout consumption and CO emissions in projects
10:05 - 10:30 CO2 emissions from cement-based grouts
10:30 - 10:45 Coffee break
10:45 - 11:10 Alternative methods to reduce grout consumption
11:10 - 11:35 Example of real-time monitoring
11:35 - 11:45 Summary and Q&A
11:45 - 12:30 Lunch
  Group work
12:30 - 12:40 Preparation for group work
12:40 - 13:40 Group Work
13:40 - 13:55 Coffee break
13:55 - 14:30 Presentations of group work
14:30 - 14:50 Open discussion
14:50 - 15:00 Closing remarks
Helene Strømsvik
SINTEF

WS 05 - The second generation of Eurocode 7 is here– use it!

Updates on contents and implementation, specific topics, design examples and testing standards.

The three parts of the second generation of Eurocode 7 have been finalised and formally approved as European Standards (EN 1997-1:2024, EN 1997-2:2024 and EN 1997-3:2025).

Many new topics have been introduced, with rock engineering being one of them.
To support its implementation, four guidelines on specific aspects of design and two volumes of application examples have been developed and published as reports by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Union.

Currently, National Annexes are being prepared by National Standardisation Bodies.
Since 2015, the development of the second-generation Eurocode 7 has been led by the CEN/Technical Committee 250 “Structural Eurocodes” and its Sub-Committee 7 “Geotechnical Design” (TC250/SC7),
involving a large team of European geotechnical engineers. This process has also been supported by the Rock Engineering Platform (REP), a group of rock engineering experts from across Europe working under the auspices of TC250/SC7. In October 2023, the REP organised an informative Seminar in Salzburg, Austria, alongside a special issue of the journal Geomechanics and Tunnelling (Volume 16, Issue 5). This issue, titled Rock engineering design in tomorrow’s geotechnical toolbox, features six papers addressing key aspects of the revised Eurocode 7 relevant to rock engineering design. To further promote the use and awareness of the revised Eurocode 7 among rock engineers, the REP has decided to organize this one-day Seminar. The Seminar will cover organisational and implementation aspects, address a series of specific topics relevant to rock engineering, provide practical application examples of design of rock structures, and explore future perspectives in the field.


Program 16.06.2025

Session 1 - 9:00-13:00 – Introductory and specific topics

·       Opening remarks

·       The status of the 2nd generation of Eurocode 7

Gunilla Franzén

·       The design process and the 4 guidelines published as JRC reports

Luís Lamas

·       Prescriptive rules for LS verification to EC7 – principles and example

Märit Berglind Eriksson

·       Numerical models for LS verification to EC7 – principles and example

Herbert Walter, Rima Ghazal

·       Probabilistic Methods for LS verification to EC7 – principles and example

Renato Pereira

·       Geometrical properties and LS verification to EC7 – principles and example

José Estaire

·       Rock bolts and rock surface support – different approaches to LS verification to EC7

Natalia Maca and Roger Olsson

·       ISO standards for load testing of rock bolts

Natalia Maca

·       ISO standards for laboratory testing of rock

Didier Virely

·       Implementation of EC7 during execution and design service life

Witold Bogusz

·       Discussion

 

Session 2 – 14:00-18:00 – Design examples and perspectives for the future

·       Geotechnical reliability example – requirements on design and construction

Gunilla Franzén

·       Ground properties and ground model example

Didier Virely

·       From derived to representative values

José Muralha, José Estaire

·       LS verification of slopes – sliding and toppling

José Estaire, Paulo Pinto, Renato Pereira

·       LS verification of rockfall protections

Rita Migliazza, Anna Maria Ferrero

·       LS verification of spread foundations

Witold Bogusz, Renato Pereira, Luís Lamas

·       LS verification of rock bolts

Natalia Maca, Didier Virely, Rima Ghasal, Roger Olsson

·       LS verification of rock anchors

Klaus Dietz

·       Groundwater control measures

To be confirmed

·       EN 1997:2025: one step in the continuing development of EN1997

John Harrison

·       Discussion

·       Closing remarks

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