Research Topics at the Division
The Rock Deformation Division deals with issues of rock and soil mechanics, in particular the assessment of the impact of underground mining works on the rock mass and the land surface. Current research work focuses largely on the topic of surface protection in post-mining areas. These issues concern the disclosure of discontinuous deformations in the form of sinkholes and crevices, the occurrence of residual subsidence after the end of mining works, and uplifts of the land surface during flooding of underground workings in the process of mine closure. The second leading aspect of research is the development of methods and computational models using analytical methods, numerical methods based on the finite element method, as well as unique programs based on proprietary solutions describing the behavior of the rock mass in the area of: salt caverns, oil, gas and solid deposits exploitation. Verification of the adopted assumptions and validation of the models is performed on the basis of point clouds acquired using modern unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with a laser scanner (UAV LiDAR) and by performing satellite measurements.
Main Research Areas of the Division
- Post-mining – deformations of the land surface in post-mining areas:
- Methods of forecasting the occurrence of sinkholes for closed mines during flooding of underground mine workings.
- Methods of forecasting discontinuous deformations in post-mining areas.
- Forecasting residual subsidence after the end of mining operations.
- Determining the time of revealing residual subsidence on the surface after the end of underground mining – determining soil stability for the purposes of re-development of post-mining areas.
- Methods of forecasting land surface uplifts for closed mines by flooding underground mine workings.
- Terrain surface deformations in the areas of underground gas storage facilities (UGS):
- Deformations of the rock mass related to the construction and use of salt caverns for the storage of natural gas.
Head of the Division
Ph.D. Eng. Andrzej Nowakowski
email: andrzej.nowakowski@imgpan.pl
phone: 12 637-62-00 (56, 61)
