Engineers use rock mechanics to design support systems (like rock bolts or shotcrete) that prevent tunnels from collapsing under the weight of the mountain above.
Rock mechanics is used to find stable, deep-earth geological formations that can safely house radioactive material for thousands of years without leaking. Fundamentals and Applications of Rock Mechanics
Fundamentals distinguish between a small, solid piece of rock (intact) and the "rock mass," which includes fractures, joints, and faults. Most engineering failures occur along these pre-existing discontinuities rather than through the rock itself. Engineers use rock mechanics to design support systems
This involves measuring how rock deforms under pressure. Because rocks are often brittle, rock mechanics calculates "yield points"—the exact moment a rock will crack or shatter. " which includes fractures