The U.S. national group responsible for participation in activities of the International Society for Rock Mechanics is the U.S. National Committee for Rock Mechanics (USNC/RM). The Committee was formed within the National Research Council, the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, in 1967 for three major purposes:
To provide coordination and promote cooperation among the technical and professional societies and organizations involved in rock mechanics.
To effect appropriate participation in all activities of the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) through the National Academy of Sciences - National Academy of Engineering - National Research Council (NAS-NAE-NRC), which adheres to the ISRM on behalf of United States scientists, engineers, and technologists interested in rock mechanics.
The Committee is composed of eighteen members, including eight members-at-large and ten who are representatives of the following professional societies and organizations: Association of Engineering Geologists American Geophysical Union American Society of Civil Engineers American Society of Mechanical Engineers American Society for Testing and Materials Geological Society of America, Inc Society of Exploration Geophysicists Society of Mining Engineers Society of Petroleum Engineers Transportation Research Board National Research Council Boards with liaison members on the USNC/RM are: Building Research Advisory Board Transportation Research Board An approximate balance of representation from government, industry, and academic/research institutions or organizations is maintained among the members-at-large. The Committee chairmanship changes annually. The present chairman is Dr. Don C. Banks of the Waterways Experiment Station of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The other chairmen since 1974 were:
Dr. Charles Fairhurst, University of Minnesota, July 1, 1974-June 30, 1975
Mr. George B. Wallace, Bovay Engineers, July 1, 1975-June 30, 1977
Mr. Thomas C. Atchison, University of Minnesota, July 1, 1977-June 30, 1978
Mr. Sidney J. Green, Terra Tek, Incorporated, July 1, 1978-June 30, 1979
One of the Committee's major activities each year is to arrange for a U.S. symposium on rock mechanics. The Committee selects a university to act as host and works with that university in planning and organizing the symposium. These annual symposia are the major technical meetings devoted totally to rock mechanics in the United States at which researchers, educators, and practitioners in the field of rock mechanics can meet to discuss mutual problems and newly acquired knowledge. The symposia provide a forum for exchange of information by approximately 300 to 400 participants, representing both national and international viewpoints. The U.S. symposium was not held in 1974 because of the participation of potential hosts in activities associated with the 3rd Congress of the International Society for Rock Mechanics conducted in Denver, Colorado that year.. During the remainder of the reporting period, symposia were conducted as described below. To disseminate the information presented at the symposia, the proceedings are published and distributed to participants and other interested persons and organizations. For the reader's convenience, information on the availability of proceedings is furnished with the description of the symposia.
