The curriculum is structured to serve multiple academic levels and teaching formats:

• Undergraduate students enrolled in introductory rock mechanics, slope stability, or underground excavation courses.
• Graduate students in advanced rock mechanics, mining geomechanics, or directed/self-study courses.

Students are expected to have at least a basic foundation in rock mechanics, but no prior experience in numerical modeling is required.

A Complete Graduate-Level Course Package

The graduate-level course is structured around 10 core topics and includes a complete set of teaching and assessment materials:

• Lecture slides (PPT)
• Laboratory tutorials (PPT)
• Class exercises (with instructor solutions)
• Assignments (with instructor solutions)
• Course projects (with implementation guides)
• Exam questions (with solutions)
• Reference materials

Core Topics and Structure

The graduate curriculum begins by introducing students to the fundamentals of rock engineering and numerical modeling and progresses to practical applications using FLAC2D and IMAT.

Rock Mechanics and Numerical Modeling Foundations – The graduate curriculum begins by introducing the fundamentals of rock engineering and numerical modeling:

• Introduction to rock mechanics and rock engineering principles
• Fundamentals of numerical modeling
• Overview of FLAC2D

Core Rock Mechanics Applications – After these core topics, progress to practical applications using FLAC2D-based modules that include lectures and lab tutorials around topics like:

• Constitutive models
• Failure criteria
• Stress distribution around circular openings
• Tunnel support design
• Brittle failure in underground excavations
• Rock reinforcement systems
• Slope stability analysis
• Pillar strength and failure mechanisms

Underground Mining Geomechanics – The last section includes a lecture and 2 tutorials specific to underground applications using IMAT-based modules:

• Lecture covering core underground mining methods
• IMAT lab tutorials
  • Elastic stress analysis around underground mine openings
  • Rock mass damage assessment using elastic and elasto-plastic constitutive models

Term Projects – Two projects based on real-world engineering cases gives students practical experience in numerical modeling by constructing model geometries, assigning input parameters, and interpreting results:

• Staged Tunnel (or shaft) excavation and support design using FLAC2D
• Impact of fault on underground mine openings and pillars using IMAT

Undergraduate Lab Tutorials

Four FLAC2D-based laboratory tutorials were developed for undergraduate courses, focusing on complementary key foundational topics in rock mechanics and numerical modeling, including:

• Elastic stress distribution around circular openings
• Slope stability
• Constitutive models
• Rock mass behavior near an underground opening adjacent to a fault

Supported by assignment materials and instructor solution packages, these materials are designed for flexible integration into a wide range of undergraduate courses, such as:

• Introduction to Rock Mechanics
• Applied Rock Mechanics
• Ground Control
• Underground Excavation Design
• Slope Stability

Design Philosophy and Learning Approach

The tutorials included in the curriculum are built for step-by-step learning progression with accessible exercises. There is no use of the FISH programming language as would be required in advanced applications of ITASCA Software.

Each tutorial is independent from the other topics, so students can move through the tutorials in any order they choose. They are designed for independent study of beginners in FLAC2D and IMAT, with no extensive instructor support needed, although of course guidance from teaching assistants or graduate students can undoubtedly enhance the learning experience.

Flexible Integration into Existing Courses

The modular design of this curriculum gives instructors the freedom to choose the materials that best suit the needs of their program. Instructors can use all the materials as a full course or integrate elements into existing courses in different ways:

• Supplement Existing Lectures – Incorporate lecture slides into their own course material or adapt them to align with specific course objectives.
• Enhance Graduate Courses – Integrate individual components (lab tutorials, assignments, and projects) into existing graduate-level courses in rock mechanics, tunneling, or slope stability.
• Support M.Sc. and Ph.D. Studies – Apply materials in directed study or self-study courses, ideal for graduate students transitioning into rock mechanics from related fields, like soil mechanics.

Preparing the Next Generation of Geomechanics Engineers

This curriculum is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical rock mechanics education and practical numerical modeling skills. The modular structure is ideal for instructors to adapt elements into various geomechanics-related courses, providing students with hands-on experience using FLAC2D and IMAT, industry-standard numerical modeling tools.

The curriculum is part of the support package of the ITASCA Software Teaching License, a flexible licensing option for educators that includes an instructor seat with multiple student seats. The ITASCA Academic Program is committed to training future engineers who are not only familiar with rock mechanics theory, but also capable of applying numerical modeling techniques to real-world mining and geomechanical engineering problems.

Learn more about licensing options with the ITASCA Software Academic Program and start a conversation with our team to find the right option for your classroom.