The International Society for Rock Mechanics - ISRM was founded in

Salzburg Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872. The town is on the site of the ...

in 1962 as a result of the enlargement of the "Salzburger Kreis". Its foundation is mainly owed to Prof. Leopold Müller who acted as President of the Society until September 1966. The ISRM is a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

scientific association supported by the fees of the members and grants that do not impair its free action. In 2021 the Society had 6,800 members and 49 National Groups. The field of

Rock Mechanics Rock mechanics is a theoretical and applied science of the mechanical behavior of rock and rock masses; compared to geology, it is that branch of mechanics concerned with the response of rock and rock masses to the force fields of their physical env ...

is taken to include all studies relative to the physical and mechanical behaviour of

rocks In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks form the Earth's ...

and rock masses and the applications of this knowledge for the better understanding of geological processes and in the fields of

Engineering Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...

. The main objectives and purposes of the Society are: * to encourage international collaboration and exchange of ideas and information between Rock Mechanics practitioners; * to encourage teaching, research, and advancement of knowledge in Rock Mechanics; * to promote high standards of professional practice among rock engineers so that

civil Civil may refer to: *Civic virtue, or civility *Civil action, or lawsuit * Civil affairs *Civil and political rights *Civil disobedience *Civil engineering *Civil (journalism), a platform for independent journalism *Civilian, someone not a membe ...

mining Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth, usually from an ore body, lode, vein, seam, reef, or placer deposit. The exploitation of these deposits for raw material is based on the economic via ...

and petroleum engineering works might be safer, more economic and less disruptive to the environment. The main activities carried out by the Society in order to achieve its objectives are: * to hold International Congresses at intervals of four years; * to sponsor International and Regional Symposia, organised by the National Groups the Society; * to publish a News Journal to provide information about technology related to Rock Mechanics and up-to-date news on activities being carried out in the Rock Mechanics community; * to operate Commissions for studying scientific and technical matters of concern to the Society; * to award the Rocha Medal for an outstanding doctoral thesis, every year, and the Müller Award in recognition of distinguished contributions to the profession of Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, once every four years; * to cooperate with other international scientific associations. The Society is ruled by a Council, consisting of representatives of the National Groups, the Board and the Past Presidents. The current President is Prof. Resat Ulusay, from

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

. The ISRM Secretariat has been headquartered in

Lisbon Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

, at the

Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil The ''Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil'', National Laboratory for Civil Engineering, ( LNEC) is a public institution of scientific and technological research and development in Portugal and is a civil engineering Civil engineering i ...

- LNEC since 1966, date of the first ISRM Congress, when Prof. Manuel Rocha was elected as President of the Society. ISRM is a member of the Federation of International Geo-Engineering Societies.

References

External links

ISRM website

Federation of International Geo-Engineering Societies
{{Authority control Geotechnical organizations Rock mechanics International organisations based in Portugal International learned societies based in Europe