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Papers in vol.1 are presented in sections on keynote lectures and retrospective case histories (8 papers), rock slope stability (5 papers), mechanical excavation (5 papers), numerical modelling (7 papers), wellbore stability (10 papers), characterisation and behaviour of very large rock masses (5 papers), laboratory testing (11 papers), joint characterisation (7 papers), mining case histories (10 papers) and DDA and key-block analysis (6 papers). Vol.2 papers are in sections on civil engineering case histories (5 papers), rock support (5 papers), rock physics (5 papers), Yucca Mountain project (11 papers), probabilistic and statistical methods (5 papers), fractures and fluid flow (5 papers), Canadian URL (Underground Research Laboratory) project (5 papers), time-dependent phenomena (5 papers), field testing and instrumentation (8 papers), drill cuttings disposal (4 papers), rock deformation and fracture monitoring (4 papers), constitutive modelling (4 papers), fracture mechanics (6 papers), in situ stresses (6 papers) and engineering geology case histories (6 papers). Each volume has an individual author index., Papers in vol.1 are presented in sections on keynote lectures and retrospective case histories (8 papers), rock slope stability (5 papers), mechanical excavation (5 papers), numerical modelling (7 papers), wellbore stability (10 papers), characterisation and behaviour of very large rock masses (5 papers), laboratory testing (11 papers), joint characterisation (7 papers), mining case histories (10 papers) and DDA and key-block analysis (6 papers). Vol.2 papers are in sections on civil engineering case histories (5 papers), rock support (5 papers), rock physics (5 papers), Yucca Mountain project (11 papers), probabilistic and statistical methods (5 papers), fractures and fluid flow (5 papers), Canadian URL (Underground Research Laboratory) project (5 papers), time-dependent phenomena (5 papers), field testing and instrumentation (8 papers), drill cuttings disposal (4 papers), rock deformation and fracture monitoring (4 papers), constitutive modelling (4 papers), fracture mechanics (6 papers), in situ stresses (6 papers) and engineering geology case histories (6 papers). Each volume has an individual author index.

Papers are presented on: contributions of the URL to nuclear waste disposal and rock mechanics; developing tools for excavation design; excavation response studies; the influence of rock fabric on excavation damage in the Lac du Bonnet granite; in-situ stress determinations in deep boreholes; quantification and interpretation of seismicity; a bonded-particle model for rock; dynamic modelling of induced seismicity; an in-situ thermo-hydraulic experiment in saturated granite; excavation-induced damage studies; innovative laboratory testing; and damage around a cylindrical opening in a brittle rock mass., Papers are presented on: contributions of the URL to nuclear waste disposal and rock mechanics; developing tools for excavation design; excavation response studies; the influence of rock fabric on excavation damage in the Lac du Bonnet granite; in-situ stress determinations in deep boreholes; quantification and interpretation of seismicity; a bonded-particle model for rock; dynamic modelling of induced seismicity; an in-situ thermo-hydraulic experiment in saturated granite; excavation-induced damage studies; innovative laboratory testing; and damage around a cylindrical opening in a brittle rock mass.

Excavation-induced damage in a test tunnel through the Lac du Bonnet granite at Canada's Underground Research Laboratory was characterised by measuring ultrasonic wave velocity and amplitude between transducers in boreholes and on the tunnel surface. Wave velocities and amplitudes in the tensile stress region were found to be low and to show significant anisotropy, indicating the presence of oriented microcracks as deep as 1 m into the tunnel wall. In the compressive stress region velocities and amplitudes were higher and showed less anisotropy, indicating that the rock was relatively undamaged away from the tunnel wall while the velocity anisotropy suggested that the dominant orientation of microcracks was everywhere tangential to the wall, even though the minimum principal stress was tangential and tensile in the sidewall. The inferred distribution of microcracks was consistent with extensive microseismicity detected during and after excavation., Excavation-induced damage in a test tunnel through the Lac du Bonnet granite at Canada's Underground Research Laboratory was characterised by measuring ultrasonic wave velocity and amplitude between transducers in boreholes and on the tunnel surface. Wave velocities and amplitudes in the tensile stress region were found to be low and to show significant anisotropy, indicating the presence of oriented microcracks as deep as 1 m into the tunnel wall. In the compressive stress region velocities and amplitudes were higher and showed less anisotropy, indicating that the rock was relatively undamaged away from the tunnel wall while the velocity anisotropy suggested that the dominant orientation of microcracks was everywhere tangential to the wall, even though the minimum principal stress was tangential and tensile in the sidewall. The inferred distribution of microcracks was consistent with extensive microseismicity detected during and after excavation.

An overview is presented of the various experiments and studies leading up to the development of the Thermal-Mechanical Stability Study (TMMS) at the Underground Research Laboratory, Canada. The objective of TMSS was to link characterisation, numerical modelling, monitoring and design of underground excavations. The development of a rock mechanics, rock fracturing, and excavation stability knowledge base is described. Contributions to the fundamental understanding of rock mechanics related to underground excavations, and to the design of stable underground openings with minimal excavation damage are discussed., An overview is presented of the various experiments and studies leading up to the development of the Thermal-Mechanical Stability Study (TMMS) at the Underground Research Laboratory, Canada. The objective of TMSS was to link characterisation, numerical modelling, monitoring and design of underground excavations. The development of a rock mechanics, rock fracturing, and excavation stability knowledge base is described. Contributions to the fundamental understanding of rock mechanics related to underground excavations, and to the design of stable underground openings with minimal excavation damage are discussed.

A project to develop an excavation design process for potential application in construction of a nuclear fuel waste repository is described. The design process involved four elements, characterisation, modelling, monitoring and design. Fundamental issues in rock mechanics were addressed including increasing the understanding of the micro-mechanical phenomena leading to time-dependent cracking in situ, quantifying rock mass damage through field measurements, coupling mechanical rock fracture analyses with thermal and hydraulic numerical tools and using results of laboratory long-term loading tests to calibrate properties related to time-dependent strength degradation., A project to develop an excavation design process for potential application in construction of a nuclear fuel waste repository is described. The design process involved four elements, characterisation, modelling, monitoring and design. Fundamental issues in rock mechanics were addressed including increasing the understanding of the micro-mechanical phenomena leading to time-dependent cracking in situ, quantifying rock mass damage through field measurements, coupling mechanical rock fracture analyses with thermal and hydraulic numerical tools and using results of laboratory long-term loading tests to calibrate properties related to time-dependent strength degradation.

Blast rounds up to 8.5 m in length have been excavated in granite at Atomic Energy of Canada's Underground Research Laboratory in Manitoba. The blast rounds were designed to minimise damage to the walls of the tunnel and to optimise performance. Various types of explosive and charge densities were utilised. Drilling equipment was adapted to accommodate the drilling of longer blastholes while close attention was given to blasthole location and drilling accuracy. Consequently, the rounds were progressively lengthened to achieve a blast round length-to-diameter ratio exceeding 2.0, with very high quality of tunnel walls., Blast rounds up to 8.5 m in length have been excavated in granite at Atomic Energy of Canada's Underground Research Laboratory in Manitoba. The blast rounds were designed to minimise damage to the walls of the tunnel and to optimise performance. Various types of explosive and charge densities were utilised. Drilling equipment was adapted to accommodate the drilling of longer blastholes while close attention was given to blasthole location and drilling accuracy. Consequently, the rounds were progressively lengthened to achieve a blast round length-to-diameter ratio exceeding 2.0, with very high quality of tunnel walls.