Click here of Geomechanics Research Centre
Information Sheet (pdf, 513 kb)

The Geomechanics Research Centre (GRC) conducts engineering and scientific research and development in the field of geotechnical engineering and applies its findings to promote safer and more economical excavations at depth.

The GRC was established in 1987, and is located on the campus of Laurentian University at Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

Our Mission

Engineering research in support of the mineral resource sector through excellence in geomechanics, including product development, technology transfer, and provision of technical services.

Our Mandate

• Conduct research and development in engineering and scientific areas, chosen in collaboration with industry and government, directed towards the solution of specific problems or the development of new opportunities, for the mineral resource sector. Our primary focus is geomechanics and its application to mining and civil engineering projects.
• Contribute to fundamental research thereby advancing the state-of-the-art. Specifically, develop geomechanics knowledge that can be used effectively by both experts and non-specialists in industrial and socio-economic decision making processes.
• Educate and train engineers and scientists working in the mineral resource sector and in civil engineering.
• Demonstrate the technical viability of new concepts or methods resulting from the research and contribute to the development of products that are of practical value.
• Communicate results on a timely basis to industry, government and the scientific community in the manner most appropriate to promoting a strong science and technology-oriented culture in Canada.
• Provide specialised technical services to the mineral resource sector when the Centre's expertise is requested.
• Operate as a self-sustaining, non-profit Research Centre, providing a working environment beneficial to the professional and career development of its staff.

Research Programme

Research and development activities at GRC fall into several categories:

• Research Projects, collaborative projects funded by government and industry, are of a fundamental and exploratory nature. They are essential for long-term progress and are intended to extend the current state-of-the-art.
• Industry Projects, funded by industry, deal with clearly defined goals and are of an applied nature.
• Technical Service Contracts and Consultancies, utilising the specialised experience and facilities of GRC, are offered to assist in solving rock mechanics and ground control problems.

Research Skills and Activities

GRC's highly skilled and experienced staff are able to provide research, consulting and technical services in several interrelated fields.

• Support design for hard rock mining, especially under rockbursting conditions, including the development of methods for recording rockburst damage and for assessing the potential for rockburst damage.
• Development and evaluation of new support methods for rockburst-prone areas, including field trials of support systems under static and dynamic conditions.
• Cablebolt theory practice and design.
• Shotcrete evaluation for support under static and dynamic loading conditions.
• Installation and operation of digital mine-wide microseismic systems including data interpretation.
• Rockburst risk assessment, where seismic and historical damage information are used to develop risk and hazard models for rockbursts.
• Seismic tomographic imaging.
• Numerical modelling of dynamic failure processes around underground excavations.
• In situ stress and deformation monitoring.
• Paste and high-density backfill testing.
• Rock testing.
• Drillability assessment for mechanised excavation.