The facilities of the Rock Mechanics and Explosive Research center are divided into 3 main areas:
Generic Rock Mechanics | Explosives Labratory | WaterJet Labratory
 
1) Generic Rock Mechanics The lab contains several compressive/tensile strength testing machines, including a Terra-Tek computer controlled stiff testing machine rated to 600,000 lbs. These machines are complimented by triaxial cells, strain transducers, load cells and control, data acquisition, computation and hard copy systems. Additional equipment includes ultrasonic pulse velocity test equipment for P and S waves, rock bolt testing equipment including direct shear machine, pull test equipment and instrumentation. The lab also has an Unholtz-Dickie vibration test machine capable of 500 lbs force with a 1" stroke, and SP2000 motion analysis system, and a Rockwell hardness testing machine.

A Terra-Tek Machine.
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2) Explosive LaboratoryThe laboratory has facilities in the lab for running explosive tests of up to 1 kilogram (kg) in size. We also have a chemistry lab, machine shop, and computing facilitates (Novell, WinNT, UNIX servers) insight. Diagnostic equipment includes ultrahigh speed cameras (capable of multiple frames at 1.25 million frames/sec), gated ICCD single frame camera capable of exposures as short as 55 nanoseconds, high speed film cameras (capable of up to 10,000 frames/sec), high speed video camera (capable of 2000 frames/sec), and flash x-ray equipment.

A Testing Chamber.
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The larger charge sizes are taken to experimental mines. This facility has access to two underground mines, a surface quarry, numerous rock drills, and magazines capable of containing 3,000 lbs+ of explosives and detonators.

3) WaterJet LaboratoryA suite of pumps including Triplex and intensifying varieties is available to produce both plain and abrasive laden waterjets at pressures up to 60,000 psi continuously. Both conventional abrasive and abrasive slurry jets are in use in the lab. This area also includes 3 sizes of X-Y cutting tables (up to 8ft x 20ft)) which are used in the automated cutting facilities.

A X-Y Cutting Table.
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