We from the laboratory of the Chair see our central role as actively supporting our scientific staff in the implementation of their research projects. At the same time, we are always available to external partners with our expertise and technical equipment for application and contract research.

In addition to standardized test procedures on solid and loose rock samples to determine mechanical material properties, we also develop special, individual test methods using the latest infrastructure. These help to create a precise data basis for future applications, such as numerical simulations or stability calculations.

In addition to laboratory-scale tests, we also carry out 1:1 scale tests on the own test rig “Elias” of the Chair at Erzberg in Styria. Thanks to our extensive and high-quality measurement infrastructure, we can record real situations and events in detail and process them for further analysis.

In order to achieve a comprehensive understanding of complex scenarios and events, we work with a “three-pillar program” wherever possible: This consists of laboratory tests, 1:1 field tests and the back-calculation of real events, supplemented by computer-aided calculation methods such as numerical simulations.