Engineering Rock Mechanics

The subject of rock mechanics 7

Figure 1.10 Large open-pit mine in Chile.

All these rock engineering projects, whether we have experience of them
or not, can be summarized in the diagram in Fig. 1.12. In this diagram, there
is appreciation of the three main aspects of such engineering projects:

the outer ring represents the whole project complete with its specific

objective-and different projects can have widely differing objectives.

the middle ring represents the inter-relation between the various

components of the total problem. For example, there will be relations

Figure 1.11 Hydroelectric cavern in Portugal.