Scientific Achievements, Contributions & Benefits to Industry, Invited Lectures, Events Organising

  Web site of Dr. R. K. Goel

Home Page | Curriculum Vitae | Consultancy & Research Areas

Publications | Honours & Awards | Membership

 

  RESEARCH FINDINGS IN TUNNEL MECHANICS

  SUPERVISION

 BENEFITS TO INDUSTRY

 INVITED LECTURES

 ORGANISATION OF CONFERENCE,SYMPOSIUMS, COURSE, etc.

 

Research Findings in Tunnel Mechanics

·         Developed an empirical approach to predict the ground conditions for tunnelling - self-supporting, nonsqueezing or squeezing - using the rock mass number (stress - free Barton's Q), tunnel depth and tunnel size. An approach for obtaining the degree of squeezing has also been developed (Published in Proc. of 35th US Symposium on Rock Mechanics, USA).

·         Developed empirical correlations to estimate the support pressures. Two separate correlations have been developed for non-squeezing and squeezing ground conditions (Published in J. Tunnelling & Underground Space Technology, USA. This is also published in CSIR News Letter).

·         Developed a concept for the effect of tunnel size on support pressure (Published in Int. J. of Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr., UK).

·         Developed new concept for inter-relation between Barton's Q and Bieniawski's RMR (Published in Int. J. of Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr., UK).

·         Developed correlations to estimate the bolt length for underground openings.(Published in Int. J. of Rock Mech. and Min. Sci.)

·         Developed Nomograms and a menu driven computer program for obtaining support pressure using Bieniawski's RMR - work done under the In-house R & D Project

·         Developed empirical correlations of estimating the tunnel closure in both non-squeezing and squeezing ground conditions (Published in the Proc. of Conference on Underground Construction, New Delhi, 1996).

·         Completed Doctoral work (Ph.D) on "Development for Correlations for Predicting Support Pressures and Closures in Tunnels" in 1995 from Mining Engineering Department, V.R.C.E., Nagpur University, Nagpur Research Brief was published in an International Magazine published from USA and in CMRI News Letter.

·         Various case-histories of Himalayan tunnels have been studied to identify the tunnelling problems through Lower Himalayas. Remedial measures have also been suggested for these problems (Published a paper in Tunnels and Tunnelling, UK).

·         Effect of Intermediate principal stress on the strength of anisotropic rock mass (Published in J. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, USA)

·         Developed an empirical correlation to obtain the effective face distance in tunnels through jointed and blocky rock masses ( Published in Proc. of Ist Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium, S. Korea)

·         Developed correlation for time-dependent modulus of deformation

·         Developed Site Selection Rating (SSR) for the Underground storage of oil and its products (work done under OIDB Sponsored R & D Project)

·         Feasibility study for underground traffic tunnel by pass in Delhi, India.

Go to Top

 

Supervision

·         Supervised and guided Master of Engineering (ME) Thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Roorkee on (I) Time - dependent deformation modulus of rocks in tunnels, (II) Strength characteristics of jointed rock mass and (III) Strength of anisotropic rock mass

·         Supervised Master of Technology (M.Tech) Thesis, Dept. of Earth Sciences, University of Roorkee on "Underground Storage of Oil and its Products near Delhi"

·         Guided students of M.E and M. Tech. of University of Roorkee for their Departmental seminars

 

Go to Top

Benefits to the Industry

• Accurate prediction of ground conditions has reduced occurrence of surprises in tunnelling.
• Accurate prediction of support pressure has helped in optimising support costs in many tunnelling projects.
• Accurate analysis of instrumentation data has made it possible to estimate missed data on tunnel closure and support pressure, very vital for correct assessment of rock mass behaviour.
• The knowledge of effective face distance in tunnels through jointed and blocky rock masses would help in taking the decision for the permanent supports.
• Modification and development of the instruments - Depending upon the practical problems in handling/operation of instruments, some modifications have been incorporated in the instruments. On the basis of these modifications it has been possible to develop rugged, easy to use and reliable instruments in the country.
• Instrumentation for the post-construction monitoring was done for the first time in the country. These instruments with remote reading facility were also indigenously developed.
• Instrumentation was very much useful in evaluating the support system at Sardar Sarovar Project. One of the contacts between the basalt and the agglomerate band was widening with a small but constant rate of 0.024mm/month. Extra support of longer rock bolts have been provided to make the contact stable. The work was appreciated by the World Bank.
• Rs 20 million has been saved towards the cost of supports on our advise in the Rihand Project.
• The collapsed portion of Bagur-Navile tunnel and the Kadbagatti tunnel of Karnataka State were successfully reclaimed on our advise.
• First time in the history of mining Industry in India, the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) was adopted in Tandsi Project of Western Coalfields Limited on our advise.
• Experiences of SFRS has helped Koyna Project authorities in taking the decision for adopting SFRS techniques.

 Go to Top

 

Invited Lectures Delivered

·         Invited by Western Coalfields Ltd., Nagpur, India to deliver lectures in their technology upgrading programme

·         Invited by Manganese Ore India Ltd., Nagpur India to deliver lectures in their in-company training programme

·         Delivered a lecture on "Tunnelling in Himalayas - Problems and Solutions" on an invitation by M/S SKEC, South Korea

·         Invited by School of Civil & Structural Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore to deliver a Seminar/Lecture on "Recent R&D Achievements in Tunnelling"

·         Lecture on "Instrumentation in Tunnels and Large underground Openings" in the Training course on Instrumentation in Hydraulic Structures of River Valley Projects organised by CWC at New Delhi between 21 and 23 April, 1999.

·         Lecture on "Instrumentation in Tunnels and Large underground Openings" and "Rock Mass Classification" in the Short-term course on Investigations, Planning, Design and Construction of Tunnels for Irrigation Department, Orissa organised by Continuing Education Department, University of Roorkee, Roorkee from Oct. 25 – 30, 1999.

·         Guest Lecture in Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad on “Rock mass classifications and their application in mining and tunnelling” in March 2002.

·         Lecture on “Investigations in Rock” in the Short term course on Geotechnical investigations on Civil Engg Projects organized by Institution of Engineers (India), Roorkee in Feb. 2003.

·         Lectures on “Rock mass classification” and “Introduction to Rock Mechanics” in an In house Training Programme on Underground Excavation and Lining organized by Larsen & Toubro, Panvel (Mumbai) in Feb., 2003.

·         Lecture on “Rock mass classification as design approach” in the QIP short course on Rock Mechanics in Civil Engineering Projects organized by Deptt. of Civil Engg., IITRoorkee in Dec. 2003.

·         Lecture on “Forepoling Techniques as Case Studies in Himalayan Region” in the In-house Training Programme for Engineers organized by Larsen & Toubro, New Delhi in Jan., 2004.

·         Lecture on “Recent work in Tunnelling & underground space Technology” in PTRC’s UTRE programme in Dept. of Civil & Env. Engg., Singapore in April 2005.

·         Lecture on “Tunnel Instrumentation and monitoring” in the course on Tunnels and u/g Structures, Sponsored by CWC, Govt. of India organized by WRDTC, Continuing Education, IIT Roorkee in Nov.-Dec., 2005.

·         Lecture on “Rock Mass Classification System” in the course on Tunnels and u/g Structures, Sponsored by CWC, Govt. of India organized by WRDTC, Continuing Education, IIT Roorkee in Nov.-Dec., 2005.

·         Lecture on “Rock mass classification as design approach” in  a Training course on Application of Rock Engineering in hydropower projects organized by CSMRS, New Delhi in Sept., 2006.

·         Lecture on “Tunnelling Problems in Himalayas” in the meeting of ISRM Commission of case histories in rock engineering(CCHRE), Singapore organized by Prof. Zuyu Chen, President CCHRE President in Nov., 2006.

·         Lectures on “Rock Mass Classification-New Developments” and “Tunnel Instrumentation and Monitoring” in a QIP short-course on Advances in Rock Engineering organized by Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee in Dec., 2006.

·         Lecture on “Tunnelling Problems of the Himalayas” and “Tunnel Instrumentation and Monitoring” for the Engineers of KRCL at Reasi (J&K) in Feb. 2007.

·         Lectures on “Tunnelling Techniques” and “Tunnel Instrumentation and Monitoring” in an in-house training programme for Enginners organized by M/s Abir Construction Company Pvt. Ltd. at Mallana Power Project Stage II in Oct. 2007.

 Go to Top

Organising Capapcity

·         Organised one day Research-Industry meet on "Rock Mechanics in Tunnels" at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi in January 1986.

·         Organised two residential Workshops on "Rock Mechanics Problems of Tunnels, Mine Roadways and Caverns" in India. One at Srinagar in 1986 and the other at Ooty in 1991.

·         Arranged an in-company training programme on "Rock Mechanics Applications in Mining" for the Engineers of Manganese Ore India Ltd., Nagpur, India.

·         Member of the organising committee of the World Mining Environment Congress '1995 (WOMEC' 95), New Delhi, India.

·         Organised First National Course on "Underground Storage of Oil, LPG and other Petroleum Products" in 1996 at Mussoorie, India.

·         Member, organizing committee of International Conference on “Innovative Technologies for Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation”, Organised by Centre for Continuing Education, University of Roorkee, Oct. 12-13, 2000.

·         Member, organizing committee of National Workshop on “Application of Rock Engineering in Nation’s Development” in the honour of Prof. Bhawani Singh, Organised by IGS and ISRMTT Roorkee Local Chapters, Roorkee, April, 2001.

·         Member, Technical Committee World Tunnel Congress being organised by CBIP in Sept. 2008 at Agra, India.