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- Robert Cummings, P.E.
Construction & Contractors/Expert Profile
Expertise
I can answer questions related to rock blasting, rock and soil excavation (such as tunnels and highway cuts), stability of such excavations, and foundations in rock and soil. I can also answer questions related to geology and mining.
Experience in the area
30+ years as a geotechnical engineer and minerals engineer. Active consulting practice in rock blasting, geotechnical engineering, and rock mechanics for mining and heavy construction.
Organizations
Society of Mining Engineers, Deep Foundations Institute, Association of Engineering Geologists, and International Society of Explosives Engineers.
Publications
Mining Engineering, AEG Bulletin.
Education/Credentials
BS and MS Geological Engineering
What do you like about this subject?
There are no two projects that are exactly alike, and not everyone can deal with the uncertainties inherent in designing with real earth materials.
What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?
The perfect blast, each and every time.
Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:
In geological engineering, unllike other engineering fields, the behavior and properties of the engineering medium (rock) cannot be fully controlled by Man. This makes geological engineering a complex mix of judgment, statistical evaluation, risk analysis, and explicit engineering calculation.
Something controversial or provocative about this subject
People think it is cool it is to perform blasting consulting. It would be much more cool if it were not necessary to drill holes in rocks first. Drilling a hole in a rock is an inherently difficult and refractory task.
Average Ratings
Recent Reviews from Users
K = Knowledgeability C = Clarity of Response P = Politeness| User | Date | K | C | P | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Csele | 05/19/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | You are awesome! Exactly the information I ..... |
| Dave | 04/24/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thanks your answer was what I was ..... |
| priyantha | 02/08/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | clear and perfect explanation thank you sir |
| Joel | 01/19/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Many thanks Mr. Cummings. I appreciate your ..... |
| Pino | 01/09/12 | 9 | 8 | 9 | Tks Robert, absolutely professional answer !i feel ..... |
Recent Answers from Robert Cummings, P.E.
2012-05-17 Pinning foundation to rock:
Mike, I understand you're financially limited, which is unfortunate, because it would be best if a professional visited your site. I'm not familiar with the building codes in your area, but presume
2012-04-21 explanation on answer about grouting:
Straight Portland cement and water will normally develop sufficient strength for anchoring applications. The chief reason for adding sand is to reduce cement consumption, so for large annular spaces one
2012-04-01 TUNNEL:
You should be able to figure this out from basic geometry. For the round portion -- the arch, or crown -- you first figure the circumference of a circle with radius 4.15 m. (Surely you must know the
2012-03-29 TUNNEL:
By "excavation" I mean the interior of the tunnel. In forepoling, the support is angled upward at a shallow angle from the crown area of the opening, beyond the face, into the rock above. It is used
2012-03-22 TUNNEL:
Sorry for the delayed answer -- I have been out of the US for several days... Forepoling is a method of installing roof support in advance of the face. The support is drilled upwards into the face
Answers by Expert:
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