Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After completion of this course the student:

- can describe the work cycles in rock excavation: Hauling and loading, crushing and rock reinforcement in hard rocks
- can characterize and explain rock excavation techniques: Drilling & blasting, mechanical excavation including TBM (tunnel boring machine technique) and underground mining methods
- can select suitable excavation methods and equipment for typical rock excavation projects
- can describe dewatering and ventilation for excavation works
- recognize the environmental effects related to rock excavation and blasting
- can apply the above knowledge to design simple rock excavations.

Credits: 5

Schedule: 07.01.2025 - 18.02.2025

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Mateusz Janiszewski

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Drilling, blasting and mechanical excavation methods for quarrying, tunneling and mining. Raise boring and shaft sinking methods. Theory and application of blasting, explosives and detonators and planning of simple blasting work. Loading, hauling, dumping and processing of blasted rock and selection of machines. Rock reinforcement, especially bolting and shotcreting. Basic concepts in grouting, ventilation and dewatering.

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Lectures, exercises, exam.

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Lectures 22 h (11 x 2 h)

    Numerical exercises 21 h (7 x 3 h)

    Practical exercises 8 h (2 x 4 h)

    Preparing for lectures, exercises and examination 80 h

    Examination 3 h

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    E. Hoek, P.K. Kaiser, and W.F. Bawden (2000). Support of Underground Excavations in Hard Rock. Lecture presentations and additional material distributed during the course.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

    11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

    12 Responsible Production and Consumption

    15 Life on Land

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Language: English

    Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Spring III
    2025-2026 Spring III

    Registration:

    Registration for courses take place on Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi).