Friction

News and information for geotechnical professionals and rock engineers working in the mining industry.

First things first, just look at the rocks

For geotechnical engineers, it’s easy to go straight for the detail, the data, and pour energy into what’s perceived, and known, to work best.

In this article, Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics Director Tim Cartledge explores the simple yet often overlooked process of stepping away from the desk, getting out on site and just looking at the rocks – adding another dimension to the benefits of numerical modelling – to gain the fullest picture of what’s really going on.

Read More ⟶

News

Q&A with Michael Munro

Like a geologist inspecting all rock discontinuity, let's unearth the hidden layers of Michael Munro, Technical Director at GMEK, by asking the important questions in our monthly Q&A feature.

Laboratory Testing of Rock Properties: Challenges and Opportunities

When it comes to geotechnical investigation and design, laboratory testing plays a fundamental role in ensuring the success of any project. However, like any industry, when you take a look under the microscope there are usually more than one challenge that need to be addressed.

In this article, Zhongwei Chen, Associate Professor for the School of Mechanical & Mining Engineering, at The University of Queensland, investigates the challenges such as sample availability and preparation, which hinder laboratory testing and how addressing such challenges can provide long term benefit for Australia’s mineral and resources sector well into the future.

Garbage in, garbage out. The importance of data acquisition and data management

At its core, geotechnical engineering is nothing without accurate and complete Data Acquisition and Data Management.

In this article, Jed Watts, Client Relationship Manager at Datanest - software that enables the geotechnical industry to improve efficiency and accuracy – looks at the pivotal role data plays in ensuring not only the technical success of a project but also the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the entire process.