International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences

International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences
Title	International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences
Discipline	Rock mechanics; Mining engineering
Abbreviation	Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci.
Publisher	Elsevier
Country	Netherlands
Frequency	Monthly
History	1964–present
Issn	0148-9062

International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering research in rock mechanics, mining engineering, geomechanics, and related applied geosciences. It publishes original research, reviews, and technical notes that inform practice and policy in mining operations, underground construction, petroleum engineering, and civil infrastructure. The journal serves as a bridge among researchers affiliated with institutions such as Imperial College London, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Colorado School of Mines, Stanford University, and Delft University of Technology.

History

The journal was founded in the 1960s during a period of rapid expansion in rock engineering driven by projects like the Hoover Dam, Three Gorges Dam, and postwar developments in mining at locations such as Kennecott Utah Copper and Kopanica. Early editorial leadership drew contributors from laboratories associated with United States Bureau of Mines, British Geological Survey, CSIRO, and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Milestones include adoption of peer review practices aligned with journals such as Nature, Science (journal), and Geotechnique, expansion alongside international events such as the International Society for Rock Mechanics congresses and integration with digital platforms pioneered by Elsevier.

Scope and Topics

The journal covers experimental, numerical, and theoretical studies relevant to rock mass behavior and mining systems, intersecting with research programs at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Institut Français du Pétrole, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Specific topics include rock fracture mechanics linked to studies from Max Planck Institute for Iron Research, rockburst analysis in contexts like Mponeng Gold Mine, slope stability analyses applied to projects at Bingham Canyon Mine, tunnelling mechanics in projects such as the Channel Tunnel, hydro-mechanical coupling seen in Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant site studies, and induced seismicity investigated in regions like Groningen (city). The journal frequently publishes work on constitutive modelling used in simulations by groups at ETH Zurich, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Politecnico di Milano.

Publication and Editorial Information

Published by Elsevier, the journal follows editorial standards comparable to titles such as Journal of Geophysical Research and Engineering Geology. The editorial board has included editors affiliated with Imperial College London, University of Toronto, University of Western Australia, Tsinghua University, and McGill University. Articles undergo rigorous peer review by reviewers drawn from professional networks including the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, International Society for Rock Mechanics, and the American Rock Mechanics Association. Frequency and production pipelines align with indexing services like Scopus and Web of Science.

Abstracting and Indexing

The journal is indexed in bibliographic databases and citation services comparable to Science Citation Index Expanded, Scopus, GeoRef, and Inspec. Metadata are integrated with platforms used by researchers at Google Scholar, ResearchGate, ORCID, and university repositories at University of California, University of Oxford, and University of Melbourne. Coverage in these services facilitates discoverability alongside articles from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Geology (journal), and Tectonophysics.

Impact and Reception

The journal's impact factor and citation metrics are discussed in contexts alongside publications from ICE Publishing, Springer Nature, and Wiley-Blackwell. Influential reviews published in the journal are cited in guidelines by organizations such as the International Commission on Large Dams and national agencies including US Geological Survey and British Coal. Reception in the professional community is reflected by citations in monographs published by Cambridge University Press, Elsevier Science, and conference proceedings from the World Mining Congress and International Conference on Rock Mechanics.

Notable Papers and Contributions

Notable contributions include foundational papers on fracture toughness drawing on methods from Griffith (scientist)-inspired fracture mechanics, constitutive models extending theories from Karl Terzaghi, landmark case studies of underground excavation at Gotthard Base Tunnel, analyses of seismicity related to Koyna Dam and induced seismic events near Husavik, and advances in numerical methods employing codes developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory and CIMNE. Papers from research groups at University of Pretoria, Seismological Society of America, and National Taiwan University have informed practice in hard-rock mining and deep geothermal projects like those in Iceland.

Related Societies and Conferences

The journal is closely associated with professional organizations and events including the International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, American Rock Mechanics Association, Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, European Geosciences Union, and conferences such as the ISRM International Congress, EAGE Annual Conference, World Tunnel Congress, and specialized symposia hosted by UNESCO and regional bodies like the Asia-Pacific Rock Mechanics Symposium.

Category:Engineering journals Category:Mining engineering