The Evolution of Geotech - 25 Years of Innovation

Abstract

I have been teaching and researching rock engineering and practicing as a consultant since 1972. I have spent most of that time in underground mining. I have seen significant changes, both evolutionary and radical, in the sector. In this paper, I reflect on some of these changes in mining geomechanical practice. I will also comment on some of the positive and occasionally less positive impacts of these changes. One constant throughout my career is that geomechanical designs will always be fraught with uncertainty. As a result, we will discuss geomechanical design as being, in its essence, a risk management exercise. I will argue that, as impressive as modern numerical analysis techniques are, they do not on their own mitigate design risk; under worst-case scenarios, they make things worse. Empirical and simple models must be used as a check. The paper intends to provoke healthy skepticism in geomechanics practitioners, designers and managers regarding all the aspects of the geomechanical analysis and design process. A failure to recognize the risks in these processes can have catastrophic effects.