Workshops


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

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

Lecturers

Helene Strømsvik
SINTEF

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