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  • 2018 Cornelius Pings Lecture

    Wed, Apr 04, 2018 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, USC Viterbi School of Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    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

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