Skip to content

Divisions

The team’s activities deal with issues related to geomechanics, geotechnics, rock mechanics and the assessment of the impact of underground works on the land surface and buildings.

Many scientific and engineering works are carried out for industry, both in Poland and abroad (including Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, the USA).

This allowed us to build a team of specialists with extensive experience and engineering sense, who are not afraid of new challenges. In its work, the team uses analytical and numerical methods based on proprietary programs and the finite element method, adhering to the maxim:

Finite Element Analysis makes a good engineer great, and a bad engineer dangerous” (Robert D. Cook)

The team has been cooperating with leading scientific institutions from various countries for years.

From the right: K. Unrug (University of Kentucky), A. Sroka, S. Peng (West Virginia University), K. Tajduś, A. Preusse (RWTH Aachen).

From the right: A. Preusse (RWTH Aachen), A. Sroka.

Team members:

Professor Stanisław Knothe (February 2, 1919 – December 31, 2015), full member of the Polish Academy of Sciences. In 1951, he completed his doctoral thesis entitled: “The impact of underground exploitation on the surface from the point of view of securing objects located on it”, which became the basis for a very subtle and a clear theory of rock mass movement caused by mining operations. This approach is based on the concept of an influence curve and the selection of an appropriate Gaussian function. The theory has been very well received for predicting surface subsidence problems in Poland and around the world, and has inspired many who have worked on subsidence problems caused by mining activities. This theory is still used today, despite the availability of more advanced numerical methods. Professor S. Knothe was also an expert on mine ventilation.

Professor S. Knothe obtained the degree of Ph.D. in 1954, then associate professor in 1958 and full professor in 1975. He twice held the position of Dean of the Faculty of Mining at AGH, in the years 1958-1960 and 1981-1984, and for many years was the head of the Department of Mine Ventilation.

In 1954, Prof. S. Knothe was invited by prof. W. Budryk to undertake research at the newly established Rock Mechanics Department in Kraków. There he headed the Rock Mechanics Department, the Transfiguration Laboratory and served as deputy director of the Institute until his retirement. His contribution to the development, reputation and international recognition of the Institute of Rock Mechanics was significant. His personal involvement in lobbying for the construction of a new building of the Institute of Rock Mechanics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (1968) was decisive.

Professor S. Knothe was elected a corresponding member (1976) and a full member (1989) of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków (1994). He served as a member (1960-2015), chairman (1981-1995), honorary chairman (2003-2015) of the Mining Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and editor-in-chief of the Archives of Mining Sciences (1968-2003). He was invited to participate in scientific councils of institutes and engaged in extensive consultations for state bodies and mining companies. He took part in numerous congresses and symposia in Poland and abroad. Professor S. Knothe was honored with the highest state awards and recognition from the mining community.

Professor S. Knothe passed away peacefully on December 31, 2015. He was buried in Krakow on January 13, 2016 with distinction, in the presence of his family and representatives of the academic and mining communities.

Friends, colleagues and his students will remember him as a man of principles and kindness. Text about Prof. Knothe was taken from an article by prof. Wacław Trutwin

Anton Sroka is a professor at the Strata Mechanics Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow. He also worked as a professor at TU Clausthal (Germany) and TU Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany) and as an expert at Deutsche Steinkohle AG (Germany). He is a member of the International Society of Mining Surveyors, the International Society of Rock Mechanics (ISRM) and the International Association of Soil Mechanics and Foundations. Professor Anton Sroka is a graduate of Mining Geodesy at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków (1971). At the same university, in 1975, he obtained a doctorate in technical sciences, and in 2000, a habilitated doctorate in mining geomechanics. In the years 1971-1980 he was an assistant, senior assistant and adjunct professor at the Faculty of Geodesy of AGH. In 1980 he left Poland. In the years 1982-1984 he was a teaching assistant, and in the years 1984-1990 a professor at the Technical University of Clausthal/Lower Saxony. In the years 1990-1999 he worked for the coal company Deutsche Steinkohle AG, responsible for mining extraction planning in terms of minimizing its impact on the surface and rock mass as well as minimizing induced seismicity. He was the head of the research team that conducted research in the above-mentioned field. In 1999, he became a full professor in the field of mining surveying and mining damage at the Technical University of Bergakademie Freiberg/Saxony. In the years 2003-2013 he was the director of the Institute of Mining Geodesy and Geodesy at TU Bergakademie Freiberg. He was also Dean of the Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geotechnics and Mining (2006-2009) and director of the training and experimental mine “Reiche Zeche” and “Alte Elisabeth” in Freiberg (2005-2012). Since 2008, he has been employed as a professor at the Strata Mechanics Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow. In 2012, he received the title of professor of technical sciences from President Komorowski. In April 2013, he retired and took up the position of honorary professor at TU Bergakademie Freiberg, remaining a lecturer there, and since mid-2013 he has been a full professor at IMG PAN in Kraków.

Professor Sroka is the author and co-author of over 200 publications in the field of mining geodesy, mining geotechnics and geophysics, as well as computational methods, several dozen scientific and research topics, and many projects and implementations for mining. He was a supervisor of 20 completed doctoral theses and a reviewer of over 20 doctoral theses, as well as a reviewer of many habilitation and professorship proceedings.

He is the organizer/co-organizer of scientific sessions at TU Bergakademie Freiberg, such as Geokinematischer Tag and Altbergbau-Kolloquium, and the originator of the international conference named after Stanisław Knothe.

The topics of his scientific and research work and expert opinions for the domestic and global mining industry or for state offices in many countries mainly concern the calculation of deformations of terrain and rocks and their impact on the surface of objects in the case of, among others:

  • exploitation of coal, salt, iron and copper ore deposits,
  • exploitation of fluidized beds (crude oil, gas and sulfur),
  • tunneling,
  • creation of caverns used to store liquid and gaseous energy resources,
  • deep geothermal regions, and
  • uplift the land surface during mine closure (through irrigation).

Krzysztof Tajduś is a professor at the Strata Mechanics Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow. He is a member of the Scientific Council of the Strata Mechanics Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the International Association of Rock Mechanics (ISRM), the International Association of Soil Mechanics and Foundations, and an appraiser in the State Mining Complex. Since 2018, he has been the editor of the section (in the field of rock mechanics) in the journal Archives of Mining Sciences (with IF).

In 2003, he graduated from the Faculty of Mining and Geoengineering of the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków and obtained a master’s degree in geomechanics. After graduating, he started working at IMG PAN. In 2008, he obtained a double doctorate: in the field of mining and engineering geology at AGH and in the field of geotechnics in Germany at TU Bergakademie Freiberg. In 2016, he obtained his habilitation in mining and engineering geology at the Central Mining Institute. In 2009, he became the youngest member of the Committee at the Mining Office for the state of water and rock hazards in the “Wieliczka” S.A. Salt Mine, and since 2010 he has been a member of the Surface Protection Committee. In 2011-2014 he worked at the Faculty of Drilling, Oil and Gas of AGH University of Science and Technology.

Professor Tajduś is the author and co-author of over 80 publications, about a quarter of which were published in IF journals (in the field of rock mechanics, soil mechanics, mining). He has worked on over 100 industry projects in Europe related to rock mass displacement, rock stabilization, rock bursts, tunneling, hydraulic fracturing, CBM, and in almost 30 national and international research projects. He was a reviewer of 9 doctoral and habilitation theses and almost 40 scientific publications. He is a co-organizer of the Altbergbau-Kolloquium conference and the Conference. Stanisław Knothe.

Rafał Misa is an assistant professor at the Strata Mechanics Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow.

In the years 2011-2017 he taught at the Faculty of Mining and Geoengineering of the AGH University of Science and Technology. He holds a PhD and Master of Science in Engineering. in construction and an engineer’s degree in geodesy. He completed engineering studies at Abertay Dundee University in Great Britain and doctoral studies at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków.

Thanks to a one-year scholarship from the Scottish Government, in 2008 he graduated from Abertay Dundee University in Scotland with a BSc with Honors in Civil Engineering. He is a graduate of the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow – in 2009 he obtained a master’s degree in construction engineering, and a year later a master’s degree in geodesy. In the same year, he completed postgraduate studies in Innovation Manager at the Warsaw School of Economics. In 2015, he completed doctoral studies in mining and engineering geology, and in 2016, he defended his doctorate in construction at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków.

Since 2010, he has been a member of professor Sroka at the Strata Mechanics Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow. Deals with issues of surface protection against the effects of underground mining. He is interested in broadly understood geomechanics and mining geotechnics. He is a co-organizer of the Altbergbau-Kolloquium conference and the Conference. Stanisław Knothe.

Dr. Misa is the author and co-author of 35 scientific papers, several research projects (domestic and international), over 60 engineering projects and expert opinions in the field of coal, ore, salt and oil mining as well as construction and geotechnics, carried out in Poland and abroad.

Dawid Mrocheń has been employed at the Strata Mechanics Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow since 2021 as an engineering and technical employee.

He is a graduate of the AGH University of Science and Technology, where in 2015 he completed master’s studies in Geodesy and cartography, specializing in Geoinformation and Mining Geodesy. In 2022, he started PhD studies at the AGH Doctoral School as part of the Implementation Doctorate program, conducting research in the field of optimization of determining the parameters of the geomechanical model. He deals with the use and integration of modern and classic geodetic techniques, including: UAV, LiDAR, InSAR, GNSS for the description of the displacement field in mining and post-mining areas and parameterization of geomechanical models.

MSc. Dawid Mrocheń is the author or co-author of 20 scientific publications, over 20 studies and scientific and technical expertise in the field of mining geodesy and protection of mining areas, and he also appeared at 7 national conferences presenting the results of his work.

Research Topics at the Division

The Mine Ventilation Division conducts a broad range of scientific research and development activities in the field of mine ventilation. This includes the study of unsteady air and gas flow in complex networks of workings, ducts, pipelines, and other ventilation systems under flow disturbance conditions. The division also develops methods for measuring gas flow using thermoanemometry and anemometry, employing modern instruments for measuring flow velocity, temperature, and gas pressure, which are mainly designed and manufactured at the Institute. Additionally, advanced numerical studies are carried out to support the modeling of gas flows in the mining environment and complex ventilation systems.

Main Research Areas of the Division

  1. Ventilation and gas flow:
    • Forecasting unsteady air and gas flow in complex networks of mine workings.
    • Research on gas flow measurement using thermoanemometry and anemometry.
    • Verification of developed theories and analyzed physical phenomena and processes through experimental work.
  1. Metrological research and production of measuring instruments:
  1. Work safety in mining:
    • Research in the area of mining work safety, leading to obtaining expert certification for mining operations from the President of the Higher Mining Authority.
    • Participation of laboratory experts in problem-solving commissions and in formulating guidelines for modernizing mining regulations and providing opinions on issues arising from mining disasters.
  1. Physicochemical phenomena in burning spoil heaps:
    • Extinguishing heating spoil heaps.
    • Heat removal from spoil heaps.
    • Elimination of spoil heaps.
  2. Processes in the mining face area:
    • Studies considering the operation of the mining complex and conducting degassing.
  1. Modeling, design, and experimental studies:
    • Measurement and recording of mine atmosphere parameters in the face area during the operation of the mining complex.
    • Thermoanemometric measurements of three-dimensional velocity distributions in the sidewall zone of the mine working.
    • Design and execution of experimental studies (at both laboratory and industrial scales) describing turbulent phenomena in fluid flow within complex geometric structures.
    • Determination of dynamic properties of various types of sensors for measuring physical parameters of the mine atmosphere.
    • Development of computer programs with graphical visualization of numerical simulation results – VentGraph package.
    • Utilization of commercial CFD codes to determine important quantities characterizing air movement and air-methane mixture in a complex network of mine workings.

Head of the Division

Prof. D.Sc. Eng. Wacław  Dziurzyński
email: wdziurzyn@gmail.com 
phone: 12 637-62-00 (82)

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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)

Research Topics at the Division

The Micromeritics Division specializes in research on the porous medium-fluid system. This research responds to the needs of environmental and energy engineering, mining and geological engineering.

Main Research Areas of the Division

  1. Phenomena occurring in the pore space of porous media (sorption/desorption, diffusion, diffusion kinetics, filtration):
    • Structural and textural analysis of the surface and pore space of porous media, taking into account their macro-, meso- and microporosity.
    • Identification of structural parameters of porous media such as: open porosity, total porosity, density, specific surface area according to the BET, Langmuir and BJH models, pore volume and pore size distribution according to the KH, DFT, NLDFT and BJH models.
    • Determination of sorption efficiency towards gases and vapors, including: sorption capacity, sorption isotherm, isosteric heat of adsorption.
    • Determination of filtration parameters of porous media for gases and liquids, including: permeability and diffusion.
  2. Mining metrology, with particular emphasis on the presence of gases in hard coal and other rock seams:
    • Construction of dedicated mining equipment for measuring the gas content in coal.
  3. Gasogeodynamic phenomena:
    • Recognition of processes related to gasogeodynamic phenomena and outbursts of gases and rocks, especially methane and carbon.
    • Analysis of the elemental composition of gases contained in the pore space of porous media.
    • Assessment of the risk of gas-geodynamic phenomena in underground mines.
  1. Underground energy storage:
    • Obtaining hydrocarbons from reservoir rocks.
    • Assessment of energy storage potential.
    • Sequestration of greenhouse gases.
  2. Computer modeling and stereological analysis:
    • Use of computer modeling and artificial intelligence methods to forecast and simulate physical processes and analyze measurement data.
    • Use of image analysis and mathematical morphology to measure rock structures, mapping and analyzing 3D morphology.
    • Quantitative description of the geometric structure of rocks and other materials.
    • Testing the surfaces of rock fractures, composites and other materials.

Head of the Division

D.Sc. Eng. Anna  Pajdak, Associate Professor
email: pajdak@imgpan.pl 
phone: 12 637-62-00 (31)

Research Topics at the Division

The laboratory is specialised in the development of methods for the measurement of environmental parameters (such as temperature, humidity and gas velocity) and their temporal and spatial analysis. Research focuses on improving existing and developing new measurement techniques.

Main Research Areas of the Division

  1. Flow velocity measurement:
    • Development of original flow velocity measurement methods, including techniques for the absolute measurement of gas flow velocity (heat wave method, optical measurement methods).
  1. Thermoanemometry technology:
    • Development of thermoanemometry, including the design of modern constant-temperature systems and hot-wire sensors.
  1. Industrial Applications:
    • Adaptation of measurement tools for industrial applications such as mining, waste disposal, chemical and medical technologies, and ventilation and air-conditioning systems.
  1. State-of-the-art measurement solutions:
    • Use of artificial intelligence and numerical modelling (CFD) in data analysis and development of advanced measurement systems.

This research is important for both research laboratories and practical industrial applications, supporting the advancement of measurement technologies in various fields of science and technology.

Head of the Division

Prof. D.Sc. Eng. Paweł Ligęza
email: ligeza@imgpan.pl
phone: 12 637-62-00 (25)

Skip to content