Ground support for tunnels in rock

(83 student reviews)

50 hours / 6 weeks

Online course

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    Introduction

    One of the most important tasks of a tunneling/mining professional is to develop construction and ground support methods that achieve safe underground excavations. Safety must be guaranteed not only throughout the design life of the structure (long-term) but also during construction (short-term). To successfully complete this task, engineers must have, as a minimum, basic knowledge of the design principles associated with ground support. The purpose of this course is to provide the learner with easy-to-understand introductions to some of the knowledge required to design ground support for tunnels in rock.

    Firstly, it is essential to understand what failure mechanisms need to be addressed via design. In rock tunnels, these failure mechanisms are different than those observed in soft ground tunneling and soil mechanics due to the discontinuous nature of rock masses. One must consider and understand the inherent inter-relation between these failure mechanisms and the three basic ground support principles in rock tunneling: (a) suspension, (b) reinforcement and (c) surface retention. Secondly, the designer must also understand the inter-relationship between these failure mechanisms and construction methods. For example, the same ground support could be either safe or unsafe depending on the time of its installation (advance and support sequence) or if the tunnel has been excavated in full face or multiple headings (excavation sequence). Another example is the method of excavation and its associated impacts on ground support performance. For example, mechanized excavation methods such as roadheaders are much less likely to disturb the rock mass around the excavation opening than in drill and blast operations which certainly improve the performance of both reinforcing and surface retention elements (e.g. rockbolts and sprayed concrete linings)

    Last, but not least, engineers must understand the most fundamental difference between the concepts used in the design of ground support and those used in the design of other structures, such as bridges or buildings, particularly when using a Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) approach. The main component that loads a tunnel support is the ground or rock mass which also provides resistance. In other words, load and resistance are interdependent. With some exceptions, this also means that the design of ground support is inherently associated with displacement-controlled failure mechanisms where loads are not constant but a function of deformation. This also explain why some yielding is acceptable in ground engineering whereas it is avoided in other fields of engineering where failure mechanisms are load-controlled, e.g. the structural design of bridges.

    Objectives

    By the end of this course, you will have the needed background and basic knowledge to understand:

    • The typical failure mechanisms in rock tunnels and how to address them
    • The inter-dependency between loads and resistance and its impact on design
    • The basic ground support design principles in rock tunneling: (a) suspension, (b) reinforcement and (c) surface retention.
    • The detailed design of rockbolts and sprayed concrete linings
    • The impact of construction methods and excavation sequence

    All subjects will be explained with easy to understand examples. Lessons will mainly focus on practical aspects of actual designs such that the contents of this course cannot be found in a single textbook. Where applicable and possible, design tools in the form of spreadsheets and trial period of useful programs will also be provided.


    Full-featured versions of Unwedge and RS2 software included: to put the theory into practice, the course also includes the use of two Rocscience programs: Unwedge and RS2. Practical tutorials and exercises are used to illustrate the application of rockbolts and sprayed concrete lining in the design of ground support in the same way as used in real industry practice


    Limited places.

    Module 1: Brief overview of Rock Mechanics

    • – Rock classification
    • – Strength and deformability of intact rock
    • – Strength and deformability of rock discontinuities
    • – Strength and deformability of rock masses
    • – Continuum versus discontinuum modelling

    Module 2: Ground Behaviour and Ground-Structure Interaction

    • – Failure Mechanisms and their impact on ground support
    • – Displacement-controlled versus load-controlled mechanisms
    • – Design Principles: (a) suspension, (b) reinforcement and (c) surface retention
    • – Use of numerical methods

    Module 3: Design of rock bolts

    • – Types of rockbolts
    • – Suspension effect
    • – Reinforcement effect
    • – Use of numerical methods

    Module 4: Design of sprayed concrete linings

    • – Impact on global or large-scale stability
    • – Design against local instability or small rock wedges
    • – Fibre versus mesh reinforcement
    • – Basics design requirements for fibre-reinforced sprayed concrete linings

    Module 5: Effect of construction methods and excavation sequence

    • – Advance length, unsupported ground and personnel re-entry requirements
    • – 3D effects on support installation
    • – Impact of excavation sequence on support performance
    • – Need for pre-support or pre-reinforcement

    David Oliveira

    David is a Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Australia (FIAust) with over 20 years of experience in geotechnical and civil engineering and highly regarded technical competence. He is passionate about innovation and intelligent risk taking in ground engineering and focus on delivering the highest levels of service and quality engineering to clients.

    David is also an Adjunct Principal Fellow at the University of Wollongong, casual Lecturer at the University of Sydney and reviewer of International Journals such as the Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Computers and Geotechnics, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Science, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering and Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (UK)-Civil Engineering. He provides Technical Expertise and Advice on Underground Space Geomechanics, Ground Behaviour, Rock Mechanics and Numerical Modelling issues.

    David is the receipient of a few technical awards such as the 2016 Australian Geomechanics Award while in 2012 he received the distinguished Coffey Medal Award for Technical Excellence in Consulting, a global award within Coffey. In 2009 he also received the David Sugden Award from the Australasian Tunnelling Society for young tunnelling engineers.

    David has been involved on a broad range of projects varying from complex open pit designs and deep and highly stressed underground mines to major infra-structure civil projects within densely populated cities (tunnels, motorways, etc.).

    The course is delivered online through our easy-to-use Virtual Campus platform. For this course, a variety of content is provided including:

    – eLearning materials
    – Videos
    – Interactive multimedia content
    – Live webinar classes
    – Texts and technical articles
    – Case studies
    – Assignments and evaluation exercises

    Students can download the materials and work through the course at their own pace.
    We regularly update this course to ensure the latest news and state-of-the-art developments are covered, and your knowledge of the subject is current.

    Live webinars form part of our course delivery. These allow students and tutors to go through the course materials, exchange ideas and knowledge, and solve problems together in a virtual classroom setting. Students can also make use of the platform’s forum, a meeting point to interact with tutors and other students.

    The tutoring system is managed by email. Students can email the tutor with any questions about the course and the tutor will be happy to help.

    This course is aimed at professionals who have some undergraduate understanding of soil mechanics or geomechanics, such as:

    • – Geology, Geological, Mining and Geotechnical/Civil Engineering post-graduate students interested in learning the principles of ground support for support
    • – Geology, Geological, Mining and Geotechnical/Civil Engineering professionals who want to pursue or transition into a tunneling career
    • – Tunneling practitioners (technicians and engineers alike) who need to refresh or update their knowledge of ground support for tunnels in rock
    • – Structural Engineering professionals who want to have a more comprehensive understanding of Ground Support Design for tunnels in rock

    Once a student finishes the course and successfully completes the assignments and evaluation tests, they are sent an accreditation certificate. The certificate is issued by Ingeoexpert to verify that the student has passed the course. It is a digital certificate that is unique and tamper-proof – it is protected by Blockchain technology. This means it is possible for anyone to check that it is an authentic, original document.

    You will be able to download the certificate in an electronic format from the Virtual Campus platform. The certificate can be forwarded by email, shared on social networks, and embedded on websites. To see an example, click here.

    Underground structures are one of the best solutions for urban problems and for interurban links in mountainous landscape. A wide range of underground structures are continuously needed to improve living conditions in cities. Tunnels for transportation (motorways, metros) and for public utilities (water supply, sewerage, electrical and telephone cables) are a priority in most developing countries, and underground structures for city center revitalization and for public use (libraries, museums, car parking, entertainment and leisure facilities) are of great interest in developed countries.

    Whatever the type of underground structures in an urban environment, they all aim to free surface space for more noble human needs, improving the living conditions of our cities. In the case of interurban links, long-length tunnels are justified by saving time and reducing costs (shorter journeys and less energy consumption), maximizing safety and minimizing environmental impacts. There has never been a better time to become a tunneling engineer and this video by the ITA-AITES explains it well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvDhlSpfjC0

    Introduction

    One of the most important tasks of a tunneling/mining professional is to develop construction and ground support methods that achieve safe underground excavations. Safety must be guaranteed not only throughout the design life of the structure (long-term) but also during construction (short-term). To successfully complete this task, engineers must have, as a minimum, basic knowledge of the design principles associated with ground support. The purpose of this course is to provide the learner with easy-to-understand introductions to some of the knowledge required to design ground support for tunnels in rock.

    Firstly, it is essential to understand what failure mechanisms need to be addressed via design. In rock tunnels, these failure mechanisms are different than those observed in soft ground tunneling and soil mechanics due to the discontinuous nature of rock masses. One must consider and understand the inherent inter-relation between these failure mechanisms and the three basic ground support principles in rock tunneling: (a) suspension, (b) reinforcement and (c) surface retention. Secondly, the designer must also understand the inter-relationship between these failure mechanisms and construction methods. For example, the same ground support could be either safe or unsafe depending on the time of its installation (advance and support sequence) or if the tunnel has been excavated in full face or multiple headings (excavation sequence). Another example is the method of excavation and its associated impacts on ground support performance. For example, mechanized excavation methods such as roadheaders are much less likely to disturb the rock mass around the excavation opening than in drill and blast operations which certainly improve the performance of both reinforcing and surface retention elements (e.g. rockbolts and sprayed concrete linings)

    Last, but not least, engineers must understand the most fundamental difference between the concepts used in the design of ground support and those used in the design of other structures, such as bridges or buildings, particularly when using a Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) approach. The main component that loads a tunnel support is the ground or rock mass which also provides resistance. In other words, load and resistance are interdependent. With some exceptions, this also means that the design of ground support is inherently associated with displacement-controlled failure mechanisms where loads are not constant but a function of deformation. This also explain why some yielding is acceptable in ground engineering whereas it is avoided in other fields of engineering where failure mechanisms are load-controlled, e.g. the structural design of bridges.

    Objectives

    By the end of this course, you will have the needed background and basic knowledge to understand:

    • The typical failure mechanisms in rock tunnels and how to address them
    • The inter-dependency between loads and resistance and its impact on design
    • The basic ground support design principles in rock tunneling: (a) suspension, (b) reinforcement and (c) surface retention.
    • The detailed design of rockbolts and sprayed concrete linings
    • The impact of construction methods and excavation sequence

    All subjects will be explained with easy to understand examples. Lessons will mainly focus on practical aspects of actual designs such that the contents of this course cannot be found in a single textbook. Where applicable and possible, design tools in the form of spreadsheets and trial period of useful programs will also be provided.


    Full-featured versions of Unwedge and RS2 software included: to put the theory into practice, the course also includes the use of two Rocscience programs: Unwedge and RS2. Practical tutorials and exercises are used to illustrate the application of rockbolts and sprayed concrete lining in the design of ground support in the same way as used in real industry practice


    Limited places.

    Read more

    Module 1: Brief overview of Rock Mechanics

    • – Rock classification
    • – Strength and deformability of intact rock
    • – Strength and deformability of rock discontinuities
    • – Strength and deformability of rock masses
    • – Continuum versus discontinuum modelling

    Module 2: Ground Behaviour and Ground-Structure Interaction

    • – Failure Mechanisms and their impact on ground support
    • – Displacement-controlled versus load-controlled mechanisms
    • – Design Principles: (a) suspension, (b) reinforcement and (c) surface retention
    • – Use of numerical methods

    Module 3: Design of rock bolts

    • – Types of rockbolts
    • – Suspension effect
    • – Reinforcement effect
    • – Use of numerical methods

    Module 4: Design of sprayed concrete linings

    • – Impact on global or large-scale stability
    • – Design against local instability or small rock wedges
    • – Fibre versus mesh reinforcement
    • – Basics design requirements for fibre-reinforced sprayed concrete linings

    Module 5: Effect of construction methods and excavation sequence

    • – Advance length, unsupported ground and personnel re-entry requirements
    • – 3D effects on support installation
    • – Impact of excavation sequence on support performance
    • – Need for pre-support or pre-reinforcement

    Read more

    David Oliveira

    David is a Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Australia (FIAust) with over 20 years of experience in geotechnical and civil engineering and highly regarded technical competence. He is passionate about innovation and intelligent risk taking in ground engineering and focus on delivering the highest levels of service and quality engineering to clients.

    David is also an Adjunct Principal Fellow at the University of Wollongong, casual Lecturer at the University of Sydney and reviewer of International Journals such as the Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Computers and Geotechnics, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Science, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering and Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (UK)-Civil Engineering. He provides Technical Expertise and Advice on Underground Space Geomechanics, Ground Behaviour, Rock Mechanics and Numerical Modelling issues.

    David is the receipient of a few technical awards such as the 2016 Australian Geomechanics Award while in 2012 he received the distinguished Coffey Medal Award for Technical Excellence in Consulting, a global award within Coffey. In 2009 he also received the David Sugden Award from the Australasian Tunnelling Society for young tunnelling engineers.

    David has been involved on a broad range of projects varying from complex open pit designs and deep and highly stressed underground mines to major infra-structure civil projects within densely populated cities (tunnels, motorways, etc.).

    Read more

    The course is delivered online through our easy-to-use Virtual Campus platform. For this course, a variety of content is provided including:

    – eLearning materials
    – Videos
    – Interactive multimedia content
    – Live webinar classes
    – Texts and technical articles
    – Case studies
    – Assignments and evaluation exercises

    Students can download the materials and work through the course at their own pace.
    We regularly update this course to ensure the latest news and state-of-the-art developments are covered, and your knowledge of the subject is current.

    Live webinars form part of our course delivery. These allow students and tutors to go through the course materials, exchange ideas and knowledge, and solve problems together in a virtual classroom setting. Students can also make use of the platform’s forum, a meeting point to interact with tutors and other students.

    The tutoring system is managed by email. Students can email the tutor with any questions about the course and the tutor will be happy to help.

    Read more

    This course is aimed at professionals who have some undergraduate understanding of soil mechanics or geomechanics, such as:

    • – Geology, Geological, Mining and Geotechnical/Civil Engineering post-graduate students interested in learning the principles of ground support for support
    • – Geology, Geological, Mining and Geotechnical/Civil Engineering professionals who want to pursue or transition into a tunneling career
    • – Tunneling practitioners (technicians and engineers alike) who need to refresh or update their knowledge of ground support for tunnels in rock
    • – Structural Engineering professionals who want to have a more comprehensive understanding of Ground Support Design for tunnels in rock

    Read more

    Once a student finishes the course and successfully completes the assignments and evaluation tests, they are sent an accreditation certificate. The certificate is issued by Ingeoexpert to verify that the student has passed the course. It is a digital certificate that is unique and tamper-proof – it is protected by Blockchain technology. This means it is possible for anyone to check that it is an authentic, original document.

    You will be able to download the certificate in an electronic format from the Virtual Campus platform. The certificate can be forwarded by email, shared on social networks, and embedded on websites. To see an example, click here.

    Read more

    Underground structures are one of the best solutions for urban problems and for interurban links in mountainous landscape. A wide range of underground structures are continuously needed to improve living conditions in cities. Tunnels for transportation (motorways, metros) and for public utilities (water supply, sewerage, electrical and telephone cables) are a priority in most developing countries, and underground structures for city center revitalization and for public use (libraries, museums, car parking, entertainment and leisure facilities) are of great interest in developed countries.

    Whatever the type of underground structures in an urban environment, they all aim to free surface space for more noble human needs, improving the living conditions of our cities. In the case of interurban links, long-length tunnels are justified by saving time and reducing costs (shorter journeys and less energy consumption), maximizing safety and minimizing environmental impacts. There has never been a better time to become a tunneling engineer and this video by the ITA-AITES explains it well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvDhlSpfjC0

    Read more

    83 reviews for Ground support for tunnels in rock

    1. Rasmus Bjoerkman

      This course helped me immensely on how to adopt different approaches, fundamental principles and common rock engineering tools compared to how I’m used to adopt these. Most of my background is from Stockholm(Hard crystalline rock environment) and being put in a completely new geological environment here in Sydney(Sedimentary rock environment) has been challenging. The basic principles are the same but being provided key papers and having crucial tweaks to theories explained to you in person make all the difference.

      I’m now in a much better position to proceed my career as a Tunnel Engineer in Australia.

      Thank you David!

    2. Sina

      David is an excellent instructor and researcher. What I most appreciate about him is his different thinking method about the tunnel/rock mechanics problems. He has always something new to teach/discuss. I really enjoyed this online course and would definitely participate in other more advanced geotechniocal/tunnel courses proposed by him in the future.
      Thank you so much David

    3. Alex

      I highly recommend Dr. Oliveira`s course. The course modules are explained in detail and all aspects of tunnelling design are covered, including cutting edge case studies and numerical modelling.
      Dr. Oliveira is highly skilled in numerical modelling and other design software (such as the ones developed by Rocscience Inc.) which have been used to carry out course related design. Answers and explanations have been provided to all questions.

    4. Yucânia Da Cruz

      Just like the rest of the class said, David is an excellent instructor.
      Being a engineer geologist with a short experience in tunneling surveillance, the course helped me to gain a geotechnical knowledge and to understand the geotechnical side during design phase.
      David made an extraordinary work to make us understanding the importance of numerical modeling while providing us practical/realistic cases.
      Thank you!

    5. Wei She

      Great course by master David. Highly recommend.

    6. Desmond Vlietstra

      This course has an excellent balance of background, theory and practical information and is extremely well presented I would highly recommend this course, regardless of your level of knowledge there is something here for anyone from young graduates to long practicing practitioners and anyone in between.

      David is an outstanding presenter and happy to share his immense knowledge.

    7. Howard Toi

      Excellent course delivered by David for both students and tunnel professionals to improve their knowledges on tunneling in rock. The course covers fundamentals, some latest development in tunneling, numerical modelling and very useful industry practices. I would highly recommend anyone who is interested in tunneling.

    8. Esteban Litvin

      Great course and better instructor!!! Very practical course covering all aspects from fundamental rock mechanics all the way to tunnel construction methodologies.

    9. Bruno Ferraz

      Indispensable learning for everyone involved in this market, our teacher Dr. David successfully managed to gather in a few hours a large volume of important information that is already making a difference in my day.

      Thank you David and thank you Ingeoexpert for this opportunity.

    10. Ahmet Sefa Ozer

      Excellent course with excellent instructor. Thank you David. I would highly recommend anyone who is interested in.
      Thank you again

    11. Priscila Ferraz

      Amazing course, especially for me, new on this industry. I’ve learned a lot with Dr. David and his support during all course was essential for my learning! Thank you David!

    12. Anna Zuin

      It was a pleasure to take part to the course. I have learned so much from it and it gives me the opportunity to improve my knowledge in tunnelling that, until now, was only academic. I highly recommend it because it deals with practical aspects of excavation.

    13. VALERIO GIORDANO

      I signed up for this online course because I wanted to deepen my knwoledges in tunnelling especially from the practical and designing side.
      There are no many courses which covering this fascinating topic (except the full time Masters with a typical one year duration), and most of them are much theoretical. But this one did not dissappoint my expecations. The lecturer, David, shared with us all his expertise and know how, and this was magnificent because he is a “egnineer on field”, so he could share his direct experience with us as well.
      Practical cases of ground support, technical insights on rock bolting (that for me has been very precious), rock classifications, lining design, tutorials on how to use FEM softwares, etc. have been faced.
      Therefore, this is a really well done course for all those who wants to approach to tunnelling world.

    14. Michele Camin

      Very interesting, useful and pragmatic course. Professor David is very expert and to show it during the video lessons and the webinars. Highly recommend.

    15. Harry Asche

      Excellent and detailed course. I would highly recommend it. The course demonstrates David’s knowledge, patience and generosity.

    16. Jacek Rachocki

      Excellent course delivered by a very passionate and extremely knowledgeable tunnel engineer. Course has been prepared to the highest standard with theory and practice being linked extremely well. I can highly reccomend it to engineers involved in the tunnelling industry.

    17. Thanh Nguyen

      This is a brilliant course thanks to David for his enthusiastic, active and superior leadership. The course is an excellent combination between fundamental background of rock mechanics and practical applications in tunnels. I have transformed myself from zero of rock tunneling to a certain degree of confidence in this field. David has a fabulous knowledge and experience in tunneling, but more importantly, he is very passionate and willing to share with learners through various exercises and discussions. Furthermore, David truly understands how busy we are nowadays, and he has made a great approach to optimize the learning curve.

      Again thanks David for giving and leading this course.

    18. Ramtin Tajeddin

      Highly recommended. David is very knowledgeable, good instructor, well organized and generous in sharing his knowledge.

    19. ALI K E N E T I

      It is a great course concisely summarizing basic design concepts required for tunneling in hard rocks. David is a well-known expert in practical rock engineering, a well resourced teacher who perfectly delivers this course in a friendly atmosphere, and an approachable professional for any questions you might have. I recommend this course particularly to people with rock mechanics background to shape their knowledge and enhance their understanding of different aspects of tunneling. For those with less exposure to geomechanical designs or theories, this course certainly exposes you to wide range of topics you might explore further using the complementary references provided by David.

    20. Gustavo Ranalli

      This is an excellent course, with right balance between theoretical and practical subjects. I have found it very well arranged, with a focus on all those issues that matter at design and construction stage. The lessons are very clear and the support in terms of tools, softwares, and relevant papers is good and useful for the scope. Dr. David Olivera is an excellent teacher and an experienced professional. He is always available, his lessons are interesting, and the regular webinars are a good opportunity for the attendees to go deeper in some topics or to discuss some key issues of the exercises. Highly recommended.

    21. Arya Predana

      Amazing course with exceptional learning materials. Dr. David Oliveira is successfully providing both theory and practical things on site which is important to have deeper understanding on tunneling specifically in rocks. As a postgraduate student who is keen to learn more on tunneling, this course really helps me to explore more on this particular topic. Well done and highly recommended!

    22. Sani Ibric

      The entire course was a wonderful experience, very well structured with valuable learning outcomes for a broad range of engineering audiences. David as a presenter is very dedicated and always able to make complex subject matter easy understandable for everyone involved. His decades of experience as a tunnel designer (both from a design and practical perspective) are well implemented throughout the entire course providing a great learning outcome and a valuable take away for everyone involved. Very well done, thanks David.

    23. Ahsan Tahir

      This course has been great for my learning as it has helped me gain understanding of some of the tunneling concepts for ground support in rock. The format of online lectures and recordings is great as you can rewind and re watch the lectures again if you don’t understand something the first time. Highly recommended!!

    24. Simon Yau

      This training course has exceeded my original expectations where I found it informative and useful. The course (in five modules) was well structured starting from a basic introduction to deeper end of tunnel engineering encompassing both design and construction issues. Thank you David!

    25. Pawel Kozak

      An amazing course where experienced tunnel engineers can refresh their memory or, as was the case in my case, join all the dots, which I thought I understood but not necessarily in the right context. David, who is very passionate about tunneling, covers a wide range of topics related to tunneling in rock and at varying difficulty levels so everyone, from a graduate or a student indeed, to an experienced tunneller will find something for themselves. The live seminars are invaluable as you can ask David your own questions, whether they are related to the written assignments or not. After the course, you will able able to keep David’s presentations with enough information in them to write a tunnel design book.

    26. Adrian Tola

      I recommend the course to all the colleagues that are working on tunnelling or would like to work on tunnelling projects. The structure of the course was perfect and the professor has enough experience to answer all the questions.

    27. Rogerio Aguirre Dias

      “The course was very good, excellent teacher to all professionals working in underground and civil and mining operations”

    28. Petrina Kontrec Sahin

      Excellent course! I recommend it to everyone who wants to get a deep knowledge of rock tunnels. Dr. Oliveira has done a great job organizing this course.

    29. Sirous Agha Amiri

      I’ve really could find this course useful and I am recommending it to engineering geologists, geotechnic and rock mechanic engineers.

    30. Renato Gomes dos Reis

      One of the best courses that I have already participated. David has great experience in Tunneling and the course perfectly combines the technical and practical aspects. I really recommend the course.

    31. Jonny

      Really good course. Well presented and highly recommended for those new to hard rock tunneling.

    32. Matthew Pearson

      David has provided a very well structured and in-depth course. He also makes time to answer student questions and assist where required. Highly recommend!

    33. Kieran Pugh

      As a young tunnel engineer I found this course an invaluable resource that I will utilise going forward in my career. I would highly recommend to anyone who is interested.

    34. Myles Baiden Assan

      Dr David Oliveira is clearly a passionate educator who has developed a well rounded set of resources for students to get a clear understanding of the fundamentals of the subject, with plenty of references for additional reading.

    35. Leandro Costa

      Professor David Oliveira is very didactic professional with a broad understanding of the industry challenges. This course provided good insigths also for the mining industry.

    36. Vikum Chandrasena

      I love being a Tunnel Engineer. I always like to learn more about design aspects. David is well known in the industry and it was a great honour to be able to learn from him.

    37. Juan Sesma Plaza

      Really enjoyed the course and how David runs the classes, presentations and webinars.

    38. Mike Mehic

      Dr David Oliveira is a great educator. He has provided a great set of Resources for anyone involved in the Hard Rock Tunnelling. This course has filled in the knowledge gaps for me.

    39. Iris Yim

      Dr. David Oliveria is an expert in rock mechanics and he explained the course materials very well with interactive webairs question and answer time. Highly recommended this course.

    40. Denny Jacob

      This course is a great starting point for professionals who are keen on looking to understand the engineering and design aspects of tunneling in rock. David is passionate about what he teaches and the course is testament to his expertise in this field.

    41. Ben Hackenberg

      The course was great, I wish it was longer so it did not feel as rushed. Content and slides were fantastic and the lecturer is very very experienced and provided some great examples.

    42. Carla Martin-Clave

      I am very happy with the outcomes of this course. I have learnt a lot on rock mechanics applied to tunnel support design and I can’t wait to start using my new skills at work!

    43. Zhenyi Ye

      It is a great short course in rock tunnel design field, David made the complex theory and knowledge very easy to understand, highly recommend to the rock tunnel design learners.

    44. Ahsan Saif

      The course is nicely structured and focuses on the exact important aspects which a beginner in tunneling (in rock) needs. The tools and knowledge provided really helps a tunneling newcomer to feel at home after the first two weeks only.

    45. Dr Paul Buddery

      A very comprehensive and well presented course. The theory was explained in a clearly understandable manner. The course provided numerous practical examples which participants will be able to apply with confidence in their own situations. Thank you, David.

    46. Erik van der Horst

      Very informative and quality course. Recommended!

    47. Kara Stariha

      Excellent course! It was both theoretically interesting and practically applicable.

    48. Hangyu Qiu

      The courses are well structured by Dr David Oliveira and worth being reviewed constantly during my career! Highly recommended!

    49. David Olger Najar Jiménez

      It was a really nice experience, i really liked the course . I’d recommend it for all people interested in geotechincal areas. Overall i enjoyed it the new information and guideness the professor gave us.

    50. Thiago Dias

      I have been working in the tunnel field for a while and finally found a course that has an excellent combination of rock mechanic theory, numerical modelling, and practical applications. The modules are organized in a practical way and explain in detail the essential aspects of tunnelling design.
      Dr David Oliveira is enthusiastic and dedicated to make all subjects understandable. The webinars are a great opportunity to discuss topics and clarify concepts addressed during the course and also learning from his experience. Thank you David for making this course possible and leading it with mastery!

    51. Mohammad Islam Jaber

      An excellent course for anyone who wants to get started with a career in tunneling, Dr David did an excellent job compiling the course. I have learned alot of things beyond my expectations for the course.

    52. Aniculaesi Mircea

      This is a fantastic course!!!

    53. Moahmmad Sorkhabi

      The course content is very well organized. Dr. David Oliveira is very generous in sharing his knowledge and experiences and is a passionate educator. I think it will be very useful and recommended for all engineers involved in infrastructure projects. The lectures are very well explained in detail and they will be a good reference for future use.

    54. Dena Gabbassova

      Very accessible and user-friendly platform. The Professor, David Oliveira, was knowledgeable, thorough, and attentive. Material is very relevant to industry, and I was able to implement it in my work immediately.

    55. Kevin Martella

      The course was great and a lot to learn in a short time and the skills gain in this course in the area of ground support for tunnels. Also, special thanks to Dr David Olivera for his great contribution to this course and Ingeoexpert for organising this course. I highly recommend this course for anyone need to learn more about. ground support for tunnels.

    56. Fernando Norambuena

      Thank you very much teacher. Best course I have attended.

    57. Hamidreza Ashtari

      This course is incredibly valuable, providing a wealth of information for designing tunnels in hard rock. I have utilized the numerical analysis techniques taught in the course to enhance my understanding of rock mechanics and its applications in underground construction. Overall, the course has expanded my knowledge and proficiency in designing underground spaces.

    58. Jinwoo Jung

      Ingeoexpert is a company based in Spain that offers online courses on geotechnical and rock engineering, making it one of the few learning platforms worldwide dedicated to practical applications in these fields. The courses cover a wide range of topics, from basic theoretical explanations to advanced techniques applicable in real-world scenarios. They are beneficial not only for professionals with 1 to 2 years of experience but also for seasoned practitioners with over 10 years of experience. The instructors, who are influential figures in our industry, are invited to deliver these highly informative lectures. I highly recommend it.

    59. Sue Xin Poo

      Love the course, practical and useful. Lecturer is very kind and accommodating, he responded very fast.

    60. Simon Prassetyo

      David is really a great professor. His lectures are really essential to understand what failure mechanisms need to be considered for tunneling in hard rock. The numerical modeling approach was also clear and concise. I believe this course will benefit geotechnical/rock mechanics engineers when analyzing the stability of hard rock tunnels.

    61. Richard Badiola

      Excellent content organization in a brief and substantial presentation that is more engaging to students! Thanks much Dr. Oliveira for your Long life-learning class that comes from real experience! Richard Badiola

    62. Claudio Cabral Dias

      Professor David Oliveira has a real passion for tunnels and rock mechanics, which makes the course very enjoyable and easy to follow. The content is explained in a theoretical and practical way and the webinars are very useful to discuss doubts. It is a privilege to learn how to build rock tunnels with one of the world’s biggest enthusiasts and experts in the area.

    63. Rajat Purwar

      This platform is one of the best platforms which delivers courses in Civil Engineering with great and valuable content. The lecturers having great expertise in their fields to explain the course in most structured way to make it easy understanding. I am excited to attend more courses in future to enhance technical skill sets.

    64. Zhifeng Zhan

      Well organized and presented. useful for relevant engineers.

    65. Osvaldo Vitali

      Excellent course. I highly recommend.

    66. Dragos Dumitrascuta

      The course was very well taught by David, very practical and thorough as well.

    67. Saman Kazemi

      It was all good

    68. Jhan-Paule Arbizo

      The lecturer demonstrated his experience and passion in relation to rock mechanics, hope to see some more!

    69. James Loucas

      Great course where David gave a good introduction into rock mechanics and tunnelling. The course contained great exercises to instil the knowledge taught within the lectures. David also provided bonus tutorials and software licenses were provided for geotechnical programs, Unwedge and RS2. He gave a good overview of the programs which i feel was great value for money. I would definitely recommend for all engineering levels.

    70. Omar Tharwat

      This course was an amazing experience. I appreciate the effort and passion Dr. David he has put into the course and his help during the course duration and through the webinars. This course helped me enhance my understanding in rock mechanics and tunnelling as I learned many things beyond my expectations of the course. Dr. David has provided very helpful insights from his expertise in a very comprehensive course covering variety of topics that would certainly add valuable information to professionals and juniors alike. This course really made a big difference, and I would like to thank Dr. David for it.

    71. Vinai Xaivongkham

      The course is well-structured and provides a good balance of theoretical and practical knowledge. the instructors are knowledgeable and experienced, and the course materials are well-written and easy to follow. I would highly recommend this course to engineers involved in rock tunnel design or construction tunnels. Again thanks David for giving and leading this course.

    72. Raditya Ahmad Syah Arrafi

      This course opened my knowledge about tunnel support systems, especially in rocks. I recommend this course to geotechnical friends who want to get into tunneling. If you don’t have a basic understanding of rock mechanics, don’t worry, this course will explain the fundamentals.

    73. Benjamin Hulme

      I really enjoyed the course. It covered several tunnel and rock engineering subjects that I have been wanting to explore.

    74. Fernando Pequenino

      Overall this was a great and very interesting course. The course was well structured and content engaging. Dr Oliveira explained difficult or new concepts well and his passion for the topic came through strongly. Furthermore, the flexible platform, allowing learners to proceed at their own pace, added to the overall enjoyment of the course.

    75. Mike Mehic

      Great Course, Great content and great delivery. Loads of useful resources and references for delving into detail if you desire.

    76. Pinchas Harari

      Dr Oliviera was very knwolagable and helpfull .The course is very well structured .Adminstrative matters were answered clearly and on time.

    77. Voo Kien Hiung

      This course has giving me a lot of information that I never learn before, easy to understand and very applicable to the current job.

    78. PATRICE MCLEAN

      Excellent course for a structural engineering professional like me, wanting to understand the fundamentals of ground support in the context of tunnelling. Dr. Oliveira generously answered every one of my questions. I will warmly recommend the course to my colleagues.

    79. Afshin Arabzadeh

      I would like to thank you for presenting this course. Also, I would like to appreciate Dr. David Oliveira for presenting the useful course.

    80. Cheng Kim Bong

      I enjoyed the course which is informative with up-to-date information.

    81. William Binsted

      Great relevant content including for me as a project manager not coming from a design role. Modern platform and flexibility to watch content at a time when suited me was flexible and great, couldn’t have done it without this option.

    82. Leon Hedwig

      Dr. Oliveira presented the topic of rock tunnels in a very comprehensive and engaging manner. All important aspects were discussed, from rock mechanics to software programs used in the industry. I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in the topic!

    83. Rushidhar Madisetty

      The course provided a comprehensive overview of tunnelling principles and practices. David Oliveira is undoubtedly a tunnelling legend and delivered the material in an engaging manner. The course materials were well-organized and easy to follow. This course has equipped me with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the field of tunnelling engineering. This course is undisputedly essential for every early stage Tunnelling Engineer.

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