Some of the significant developments in the field of mining rock mechanics are reviewed. Three time periods are considered: pre-history to 1960, 1960 to 1983, and 1983 to date. Significant advances were made in this field during the middle period, which is defined as the renaissance era. In the most recent and current period research activity in this field has declined and the emphasis has been on transferring knowledge to mining operations. The research needs for mining rock mechanics as we move into the 21st century are considered.
Certains des developpements significatifs de la mecanique des roches appliquee à l'exploitation minière sont passes en revue. Trois periodes sont considerees; de la prehistoire à 1960, de 1960 à 1983 et de 1983 à aujourd'hui. D'importants progrès ont ete accomplis durant dans la 2ième periode, que I'on definit comme une ère de renaissance. Durant la dernière periode, la recherche en geomecanique a diminue d'intensite au profit de la mise en application des connaissances existantes dans l'industrie minière. Alors que nous entrons dans Ie 21ième siècle, les besoins de recherche de I'industrie minière en mecanique des roches sont consideres.
Dieser Überblick schilderet einige der bedeutungsvollsten Entwicklungen in der Bergbaurock mechanik, und fuehrt uns durch drei Epochen des Bergbaus. Prahistorisch bis 1960, 1960 bis 1983, und 1983 bis Heute. Bedeutungsvolle Entwicklungen erfolgten wahrent der mittleren Epoche, der Renaissance. In den letzten undo heutigen Epochen sind Forschungsactifitaten zurueckgegangen, der Schwerpunk beschrankte sich auf die Üebertragung von Wissen auf Bergbauunternehmen. Übergehend in das 21. Jahrhundert ziehen wir in Betrachtung das Beduerfnis fuer Forschung in der Bergbaurockmechanik.
We make a case that the renaissance period (in the sense of a period of vigorous artistic and intellectual activity) for the field of mining rock mechanics, and perhaps rock mechanics generally, was from (roughly) the beginning of the 1960s to (again roughly) 1983, the year of the Fifth Congress of the International Society for Rock Mechanics. The design of excavations for mining has, of course, occupied mankind from the dawn of history and numerous research workers and mining practitioners had, prior to this time, made important contributions to the mining rock mechanics field. However, the rapid global expansion of mining activity following World War II created an urgent need to improve the design of rock excavations. In the 1950s and 60s mines were being opened at an unprecedented rate, new mining techniques were being introduced, and mines (both surface and underground) were operating at hitherto unknown depths. This activity highlighted the need for a more scientific approach to excavation design. This need attracted the interest and attention of some very talented people at a number of centres around the world. We begin this paper by, reviewing briefly the prerenaissance period of rock mechanics. Next we discuss some of the major issues identified for mining rock mechanics during the 1950s and'60s. We discuss the leaders who emerged during the '60s, '70s and early '80s to tackle these issues and we review some of the main approaches that were developed in this period to solve these problems.. The post-renaissance period (1983 to today) has been one of consolidation of knowledge, refinement of technique, incremental advances, and, importantly, transfer of knowledge from the research specialist to the consulting engineer. In keeping with the trend in other industries, today a mining company is more likely to outsource (to use the current jargon) to consultants the bulk of its rock mechanics needs than it is to employ a number of its own experts in this field. We comment on this trend and, in particular, we highlight the need to manage this interface between consultant and mining operator well, in the interests of both mine safety and mining productivity.
