Rock Mechanics – An Introduction2013
Rock mechanics is a subject that is not commonly present in most under- graduate civil engineering curriculums worldwide. It is sometimes taught as an elective subject in the final year of the bachelor’s degree program or as a postgraduate subject. Nevertheless, civil and mining engineers and aca- demicians would agree on the usefulness and the value of some exposure to rock mechanics at the undergraduate level. Ideally speaking, engineer- ing geology and rock mechanics are the two areas that should always be included in a comprehensive civil engineering curriculum. A good under- standing of engineering geology and rock mechanics enables future practi- tioners to get a broader picture in many field situations. They are often the weakest links for many geotechnical/civil engineering professionals.