Dear All,

Below is a reminder of the lecture on Monday the 
5th of December 2011 at Loughborough University, 
organised by the ICE East Midlands Geotechnical 
Group (EMGG), in conjunction with the South 
Midlands Mining and Minerals Institute :

Date : Monday 5th December 2011, 6.00 for 6.30pm

Subject : "Rock Mechanics Modelling in Mining"

Venue: Room RT037, Sir Frank Gibb Building (Civil 
Engineering Building) Loughborough University. 
Loughborough LE11 3TU (Map shown at the following 
link : http://www.lboro.ac.uk/about/findus.html ).

Light refreshments will be available from 6.00 pm.

Speaker : Nic Lightfoot,  Golders (UK)

Abstract :

Numerical modelling in mining rock mechanics is 
faced with many challenges. Traditionally, 
numerical modelling is used in disciplines with 
large amounts of data and a very good 
understanding of the materials in question. In 
mining rock mechanics we are almost always 
dealing with a very limited amount of relevant 
data and our understanding of the rock mass 
behaviour can be considered as limited at best. 
Conventional wisdom would tell us that this is 
not a field in which we can apply numerical 
modelling techniques with any confidence. Despite 
this we have been able to develop approaches that 
allow us to apply models that are both useful and 
able to make valid predictions. The models also 
help us better understand the environment we are 
dealing with and most importantly prime us “rock 
doctors” to ask the most relevant questions of 
mine developers faced with difficult challenges. 
And not forgetting that we have been able to 
extend this to the world of civil engineering

  --------------------------------------------------------
Speakers' Biography :

Born in the UK, began studying geology at the age 
of 14 at O’Level and Nic fell in love with the 
earth sciences. Subsequent A’Levels, S’ Level and 
Degree in Mining and Exploration Geology at 
RSM  were followed by a move to South Africa in 
1984 and an almost immediate fall-out with 
professional geology and a move to rock mechanics.

After a few years of experience in a mine rock 
mechanics department moved to research at the 
Chamber of Mines Research Organisation (later 
COMRO) where a shared interest in the mechanics 
of deep level rock bursting and the application 
of computers to mining rock mechanics resulted in 
first managing the Rock Burst Control Project at 
COMRO and later the Software Development Group at 
CSIR Miningtek who took over COMRO. This also 
involved a 2 year stint at the University of Minnesota.

14 years at COMRO were followed by 4 years at 
Itasca Africa, then 2 years with Golder 
Associates in the Toronto Office. Moved back to 
the UK with Golder Associates almost 3 years ago.

Apart from mining loves photography and 
mortorsport with a particular emphasis on F1 
(supports Schumacher and Button but has a soft 
spot for Webber and Massa and great respect for 
Alonso – which covers most of the top three teams :)

If you would like to be on our mailing list, 
please send me an e-mail. More information may be 
obtained about the various talks at :

http://emgg.lboro.ac.uk/

Regards,

Ashraf

---------
Dr A. El-Hamalawi BEng, PhD (Cantab), MASCE,MCGS,MILT,PEng
Senior lecturer in Geomechanics
Civil and Building Engineering Department,
Loughborough University,
Loughborough LE11 3TU
United Kingdom

Tel: +44-1509-223206
Fax: +44-1509-223981