Events Calendar

2018 Cornelius Pings Lecture

Speaker: Charles Fairhurst, Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota

Talk Title: Earth Resources Engineering - An Emerging Field

Series: Pings Keynote Lecture Series

Abstract: The term Earth Resource Engineering was Introduced by the US National Academy of Engineering in 2006 to encompass the traditional extractive discIplines of Petroleum, Mining and Geological Engineering plus newer applications - such as long-term isolation of high-level nuclear waste. This
recognized the unique ability of the rock subsurface to isolate the biosphere from toxic contaminants for millennia. A considerable number of additional uses. both shallow and deep. have since been introduced and/or proposed. These will be described briefly. The lecture will focus on some of the specific challenges in mechanics arising in rock engineering. Evolving over several billion years. the
structural make-up of the subsurface is far more complex than materials encountered in most other branches of engineering. This dictates a different engineering methodology. Thus. although continuum mechanics plays a valuable role in rock engineering, discontinuities, anisotropy, and heterogeneity -Iarge and small scale- must be recognized and considered.
A few examples, including efforts to increase advance rates in tunneling "by a factor of ten". will be provided to illustrate the challenges, and the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration. Introduction of Earth Resource Engineering programs at leading research universities would stimulate such collaboration and advances.

MEET & GREET RECEPTION
HED 1st Floor Lobby
10AM



Host: Professor and Chair Richard Roberts

More Information: USC-2018PingsLecture.pdf

Location: Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL) - 101

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Breanne Grady