ATC² is short for Austrian Tunnel Competence Center – a platform for innovation and know-how transfer in tunnel construction. In addition to developments in the field of the traditional sequential excavation method or NATM, it will also address continuous excavations as well as special civil engineering measures in underground construction. Special challenges and innovations in deep rock tunnelling, as well as urban (shallow) loose rock tunnelling, will be discussed.
ATC² is a cooperation between the Institute of Rock Mechanics and Tunnelling at TU Graz and the Subsurface Engineering chair at the University of Leoben. In the long term, it is to be established as an international platform for modern tunnelling.

A newly revised and upgraded version of the university course will be launched in 2019. Its objective is to teach students not only in-depth knowledge in NATM tunnelling, but also everything they need to know about tunnel boring machines (TBM). New subjects have been added to cover topics such as renovation, conservation of existing tunnels, safety aspects and risk analysis.
The university course is offered by TU Graz Life Long Learning. Further information on the course is available on the Life Long Learning site.

When Wulf Schubert retires from his active leadership position at the Institute in October 2018, experienced consulting engineer Thomas Marcher will take charge of the Institute of Rock Mechanics and Tunnelling. Like his predecessor, he was actively involved in tunnel construction when he was called to the Graz University of Technology. In addition to alpine tunnelling he also wants to focus on shallow tunnelling, which is increasingly important in metropolitan areas.

Technically, the challenges associated with this type of tunnel construction differ starkly from those that apply to tunnel structures at extreme depth. What we have to deal with here is not so much the stresses on the rock, but primarily the special mechanical properties of less firm ground in the shallow strata. Apart from loose material, the so-called transitional rock plays an important role. Its special characteristic is that while it cannot be described as classical soil material any more, the common rock classifications no longer apply either. The institute intends to develop a special laboratory testing device to analyse these special materials. Furthermore, it is also planned to develop models to come up with new or advanced material laws for this kind of material behaviour.

Another field in which Thomas Marcher wishes to conduct intensive research at the institute is digittization and tunnelling. He wants to find out how BIM (Building Information Modelling) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) can be used optimally in tunnelling, and which new possibilities this can offer.

This fascinating article by Planet Research about the current and past research of the Institute of Rock Mechanics and Tunnelling was released.  

Tunnel vision...greatly enhanced by research

The dissertation of Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Thomas Pilgerstorfer "Mechanical Characterization of Fault Zones" has been published as "Mitteilungsheft" of the Geotechnical Group Graz (GGG).

The publication is available at the Institute.

The Institute of Rock Mechanics & Tunnelling (RMT) has an international reputation concerning underground design and construction, with specialization in rock mass characterization, the influence of geological conditions on ground behavior in underground construction, development of risk oriented design procedures, geotechnical monitoring and data interpretation techniques, and tunnel construction in poor ground with high overburden. Applied research activities are facilitated
by state-of-the-art laboratory and computational facilities, and close cooperation with the engineering and construction industries ensures a smooth transition of research results into engineering practice.

The M.Sc. curriculum in RMT covers a broad range of topics in rock engineering and tunnelling, including numerical methods, tunnel safety and ventilation, laboratory testing procedures, grouting theory and practice, construction contracts for underground works, and geotechnical monitoring and data interpretation. The curriculum provides a strong foundation for professional work in the rock mechanics and tunnelling industries, while also providing the opportunity to develop targeted specialization through the selection of appropriate elective courses.

For detailed information download the information folder or visit the programme's webpage.

The Austrian Society for Geomechanics has the pleasure to invite you to the ISRM Regional Symposium EUROCK 2015 „Future Development of Rock Mechanics“ to be held in conjunction with the 64^th Geomechanics Colloquium in Salzburg, the city where the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) was founded in 1962. The Geomechanics Colloquium in Salzburg since its initiation in 1951 has always been a perfect and distinguished meeting place for researchers and practitioners. The success of this concept not only shows in the continuous meetings over more than 60 years, but also in the attendance of regularly around 1000 participants.

For additional information visit www.EUROCK2015.com!

From the 11^th until the 13^th of June this year's field trip "Fachexkursion Geotechnik", organized by the Institute for Rock Mechanics and Tunnelling, took place. During those three days all participating students were able to take interesting insights in current large-scale tunnel projects, a rockfall and a bridge reconstruction. The excursion tour drove Carinthia, East Tyrol, Tyrol and Italy, guiding to the following construction sites:

As every year the Institute for Rock Mechanics and Tunnelling organized a Workshop, prior to the traditional Barbarafeier.

The last year's topic was "Bemessung von Stützmitteln im Tunnelbau" (Design of support measures in tunnelling).

Click here for further information and for downloading the presentations in PDF format.

We proudly announce that two researchers and doctoral students of our institute, Dr. Markus Pötsch and Dr. Nedim Radoncic received the Leopold Müller Award 2012 for their excellent dissertations.