PREVIEW | ICSMGE 2026
WORKSHOPS Five workshops are planned to be held, as follows: Experimental rock mechanics; distributed fibre optic sensing for monitoring; geotechnical workflows; Data quality and ownership; and, workflows for soil-structure interaction. For the experimental rock mechanics workshop the
range of tests are to be briefed as well as innovative laboratory methods (optical fibre sensing and digital image correlation (DIC)). The half-day workshop will also look at lessons from Canada and Finland from research studies on deep geological repositories of radioactive waste in sedimentary and crystalline rocks, respectively.
TECHNICAL PROGRAMME The Technical programme has the following themes in the parallel tracks:
15 June, afternoon Session 1 ● Energy Geotechnics; ● Ground Improvement 1; ● Laboratory Testing; ● Earthquake; ● Safety, Serviceability & Observational Method; ● Geo-Environmental; ● Deep Foundation 1; and, ● Slope Stability. Session 2 - same first four, with the others being ● Physical Modelling & Underground Construction; ● Young Engineers; ● Deep Foundations; and, ● Risk & Safety, and Serviceability & System Performance.
On subsequent days, the parallel tracks include some of the same themes as well as many others, including: ● Unsaturated Soils; ● Site Characterisation; ● Sustainability and Transportation; ● Field Monitoring & System Performance; ● Micro to Macro & Geo-Education; ● Geotechnical BIM and Machine Learning; ● Physical Modelling; and, ● Underground Construction & Megacities & Historical Sites.
Looking in more detail at the presentations offered in the packed programme, there are a number of tunnel- related research studies and modelling projects, and much more, to be discussed across all days of the programme. For a taste, we spotlight a busy selection of those scheduled for only one afternoon - 16 June:
16 June ● The second mainline rail (S-Bahn) tunnel and deep
stations being built in Munich, where the focus of a paper will be on ground movement assessments for TBM excavations. Track: Numerical Methods;
32 | May 2026
● Investigating the permeability characteristics of foam conditioned soils in shield tunnelling. Track: Unsaturated Soils;
● Lessons learnt from fully equipped insitu test galleries in Austrian tunnel projects, where data obtained help to investigate transition or deforming zones, support risk management, and can test potential construction methods. The economic value of ground investigation with such adits is considered against cost. Track: Site Characterisation;
● Exploring the soil-structure interaction problems for shotcrete-lined tunnel structures, using a hybrid approach of experimental and numerical methods. Track: Numerical Methods;
● From French research, the 3D finite element modelling (FEM) for a simplified numerical approach - the TULIP project - of TBM-induced pile response, which builds upon the 2D plane strain investigation. Considers the rheology of grout injected behind the segmental lining and the speed of advance of the shield. Track: Numerical Methods;
● Looking to find an approach that could be a preliminary seismic design strategy, investigators undertook physical modelling of connected deep shafts in soft saturated soils. They focusing on 3D deformation modes and internal forces to calibrate a set of prescribed displacements that would be the boundary conditions for a full design model. Track: Numerical Methods;
● Soil conditioning such as by permeation grouting, which can consolidate soils for tunnel construction, was investigated using a new calibration chamber testing apparatus in physical modelling. Track: Ground Improvement & Soft Soils;
● Investigation of how geological joints, infill and shear/fault zones affect tunnel stability under static and dynamic loading, such as seismic forces. Track: Young Engineers; and,
● Analytical modelling of thermo-mechanical behaviour of energy tunnels,source heat exchange systems, is applicable more widely for circular cavities. Track: Young Engineers.
TECHNICAL VISITS The following destinations are to be offered for Technical visits: Traunfall hydropower plant, which involves major tunnel works; the underground research facility at the Styrian Erzberg, operated by Montanuniversitate Leoben; The River Lab; the Wiental Collector Relief Tunnel; and the Terzaghi Archive at TU Vienna. The Relief Tunnel is to help improve the water quality
of the Wien River by adding storage capacity during heavy rainfall. The tunnel is to be approx 9km-long and bored by TBM through three different geological formations.
Go to:
www.icsmge2026.org www.issmge.org/events
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