Activities
2021 ARMA Student Design Competition
The ARMA Student Design Competition, jointly organized by ARMA student chapters at the University of Kentucky and Virginia Tech, offers undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity to test their knowledge, creativity, team-work, and problem-solving skills by exposing them to a real-life rock engineering-related case-study problem. The competition is sponsored by ITASCA Consulting Group and the College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky. ARMA will provide a jury of leading experts in rock mechanics/geomechanics. Winners will be announced at the 55th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium in June 2021.
Details can be found at https://www.armarocks.org/arma-student-design-competition-2021/.
An Overview of Slope Stability Assessment Methods for Open-Pit mines - Webinar
The American Rock Mechanics Association UKY Student Chapter hosted the webinar "An Overview of Slope Stability Assessment Methods for Open-Pit mines" given by MSc. Christian Obregon.
Mr. Obregon provided a review on the different rock slope stability assessment methods through case studies and worked examples. He covered main key points related to rock mass characterization, lab testing, rock mass strength, and numerical simulation.
The Webinar was held on March 19, 2021.
Meeting with the ARMA Board of Directors
The American Rock Mechanics Association-UKY Student Chapter participated in the ARMA Board of Directors meeting held on October 30, 2020. The ARMA Board introduced the new student chapters from different universities such as The University of North Dakota, Monash University, University of Houston and The University of Kentucky.
Applications of Explosives in Rock Blasting - Webinar
The American Rock Mechanics Association UKY Student Chapter hosted the webinar "Applications of Explosives in Rock Engineering" given by Eng. Andres Mesa.
Mr. Mesa talked about the detonation and fragmentation mechanisms through the understanding of the explosive degradation and rock mass in mine blasting.
The Webinar was held on October 20, 2020.
Opportunities in Geomechanics and Rock Engineering-Presentation
The American Rock Mechanics Association UKY Student Chapter hosted the presentation "Opportunities in Geomechanics" given by Dr. Zach Agioutantis.
Dr. Agioutantis talked about the opportunities and challenges of geomechanics in the mining industry, showing some cases of study and ground control software used in the US.
The presentation was held on September 22, 2020.
Wildcat Cage Competition
The College of Engineering of the University of Kentucky held the third annual Wildcat Cage Competition, formerly known as Shark Tank, on September 9, 2020. Industry leaders, company representatives, and individuals came to campus to act as “wildcats,” similar to “sharks” on the Shark Tank Show. During the event the ARMA-UKY leaders presented their initiatives with funding needs to the wildcats. The wildcats allocated $800 to the Student Chapter to organize a student competition among undergraduate students and field trips.