Our commitment to research and development forms the backbone of our expertise. The Institut für Gebirgsmechanik (IfG) continuously works on groundbreaking research projects that help expand our understanding and capabilities in rock mechanics. Together with renowned national and international partners, we develop innovative solutions to the challenges of mining. The following research projects represent our commitment to scientific excellence and practical application.
| Duration | Topic | Acronym | Title / Description | Partner / Funding by* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 - 1995 |
Host rock characterization | ANTON | Rock Mechanics: Anhydrite / Salt Clay | BMWi/CP |
| 1995 - 1998 | BARITON | Barrier Rock Salt / Anhydrite / Salt Clay | BMWi/CP | |
| 1998 - 2001 | BARIAN | Barrier Anhydrite | BMWi/CP | |
| 2002 - 2004 | BARIAN 2 | Barrier Anhydrite | BMWi/CP | |
| 1991 | Deep geological repository (DGR) in flat layering |
Review of Model Concepts Salinar / Convergence of Complex Mine Structures |
BMWi | |
| 1992 - 1995 | DGR in flat layering Ph 1 | BMBF | ||
| 1995 - 1999 | DGR in flat layering Ph 2 | BMBF | ||
| 2000 - 2002 | DGR in flat layeringPh 3 | BMBF | ||
| 1995 - 1999 | Fundamentals of mine working stability | Brittle fracture behavior of carnallite | BMBF | |
| 2000 - 2001 | Dynamic long-term stability | BMBF | ||
| 2002 - 2004 | Dynamics and layered surfaces | BMBF | ||
| 2005 - 2009 | Preservation of Evidence / Barrier Sizing | BMBF | ||
| 2000 - 2003 | Crushed salt for backfill and closure | Backfill / Host Rock + Temperature | CP | |
| 2004 - 2007 | Crushed salt-Briquettes (NF-Pro) | Characterization and Potential Assessment | EU | |
| 2012 - 2015 | GESAV | TUBAF / SC | ||
| 2017 - 2020 | GESAV II | TUBAF / SC | ||
| 2021 - 2023 | SAVER | Development of a crushed-salt-based backfill concept with the option of retrievability for the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste in the Salinar | TUBAF / SC | |
| 2018 - 2020 | KOMPASS |  Compaction of crushed salt for safe containment (GER)18.59 MB |
BMWi | |
| 2021 - 2023 | KOMPASS II | Compaction of crushed salt for safe containment – Phase 2 (GER)26.25 MB |
BMWi | |
| vorauss. 2024 - 2027 | MEASURES | Multi-scale experiment and numerical analysis of crushed salt material used as engineered backfill for a nuclear waste repository in rock salt | BMWi/CP | |
| 2004 - 2007 | Bentonite/clay barrier structures | Claystones (NF Pro) | Hydromechanical Properties of Clay Rocks | EU |
| 2009 - 2013 | FORGE | Bentonite Molds - Gas Transport and HM Coupling | EU/BMWi | |
| 2017 - 2019 | SANDWICH – VP | Preliminary Project: Vertical Hydraulic Sealing System Based on the SANDWICH Principle (GER)15.48 MB |
BMWi | |
| 2019 - 2023 | SANDWICH - HP-Project | Main Project: Vertical Hydraulic Sealing System Based on the SANDWICH Principle (GER)35.97 MB |
BMBF | |
| 2024 - 2027 | SANDWICH – HP-Project - Phase 2 | Laboratory tests on mini-sandwich samples and swelling pressure tests on bentonite as part of the R&D project “Main Project: Vertical Hydraulic Sealing System Based on the SANDWICH Principle – Phase 2” | BMBF | |
| 1996 - 2002 | Shaft and tunnel closures | Shaft sealing for DGR | Salzdetfurth shaft sealing project | K+S |
| 1997 - 2004 | Tunnel sealing structure Sdhs. | Tunnel sealing using bentonite blocks | TUBAF | |
| 2013 - 2019 | ELSA II | Shaft seals for final repositories for high-level radioactive waste: Concept development for shaft seals and testing of functional components of shaft seals (GER)13.13 MB |
BMWi/TUBAF/SC | |
| 2021 - 2024 | SalVe | Feasibility Study on the Applicability of Low-Temperature Molten Salts for Sealing Measures in Final Repositories for Radioactive Waste in Salt Host Rock (GER)7.02 MB |
BMWi/TUBAF/SC | |
| 2021 - 2022 | VergE | Backfilling and Sealing of Geological Repositories: Assessment of the Current State of Knowledge Regarding Backfill and Sealing Materials and Concepts (GER)12.99 MB |
BMU | |
| 2002 - 2004 | MgO concrete sealing structures | CARLA I | Development of a basic concept for long-term stable embankments in easily soluble salt rock (carnallite) for DGR (GER)4.92 MB |
GTS/SC |
| 2004 - 2010 | CARLA II | Construction of embankments in easily soluble salt rock (carnallite) for DGR (GER)8.97 MB |
GTS/SC | |
| 2005 - 2007 | DBM2-Magnesia binder (K-UTEC) | Characterization1.39 MB | BMWi/CP | |
| 2010 - 2014 | MgO-Building materials | Fundamentals | BMWi/TUBAF/SC | |
| 2012 - 2018 | ESA-Long term stability A1 | Phase Composition Development / Hydromechanical Properties | ERCOSPLAN | |
| 2015 - 2019 | MgO-Seal | MgO shotcrete: Behavior when exposed to MgCl₂ solution (GER)19.60 MB |
BMWi/TUBAF/SC | |
| 2018 - 2021 | MgO-S3 | MgO shotcrete: Geomechanical Investigations | BMWi/TUBAF/SC | |
| 2022 - 2025 | MgO-C3 | MgO-concrete C3 as a long-term stable and rapidly effective sealing element for shaft closures in future HAW repositories in the Salinar | BMWi/TUBAF/SC | |
| 2022 - 2025 | DeSpriBi | Demonstration structure for a tunnel seal in anhydrite made of magnesia-based material as shotcrete and bitumen/asphalt | BGE | |
| 2004 - 2006 | Properties of Rock Salt | Joint Project I on the Comparison of Constitutive Models | Modeling the Mechanical Behavior of Rock Salt: A Comparison of Current Constitutive Models and Methods (GER)30.49 MB |
BMBF |
| 2006 - 2009 | MOLDAU | THMC for EDZ | EU | |
| 2007 - 2010 | Joint Project II on the Comparison of Constitutive Models | Comparison of current material codes and methodologies using 3D model calculations of the long-term mechanical behavior of a real underground structure in rock salt (GER)16.11 MB |
BMBF | |
| 2010 - 2016 | Joint Project III on the Comparison of Constitutive Models | Comparison of current material regulations and practices based on model calculations of the thermomechanical behavior and healing of rock salt (GER)13.72 MB |
BMWi | |
| 2016 - 2021 | WEIMOS | Further Development and Validation of Rock Mechanics Modeling for HAW Disposal in Rock Salt (GER)13.52 MB |
BMWi | |
| 2004 - 2006 | Safety analyses for Final Repositories | Data sources | Reliable data sources for site selection | BfS/Golder |
| 2006 - 2008 | Requirements Methods | Requirements for Site Survey Methods | BfS/Golder | |
| 2009 - 2011 | Glacigenic impact | Glacigenic impact on final repositories (long term) (GER)20.96 MB |
BfS/Golder | |
| 2010 - 2013 | VSG | Preliminary Safety Analysis of Gorleben | CP | |
| 2015 - 2018 | KOSINA |
|
CP | |
| 2021 - 2024 | MeMoDeck | Evaluation of methods and models for predicting the protective function of surface rock in Germany over a period of 1 Ma | BMU | |
| 2004 - 2007 | Basics of Barrier Integrity | single-repository / Gasfrac | Studies on barrier integrity in relation to the single-repository concept (GER)7.93 MB |
BfS |
| 2009 - 2012 | Effects of Gas Formation | Effects of gas formation in the repository on the rock mass effective for containment (GER)6.6 MB |
BfS | |
| 2018 | PeTroS | Pressure-driven percolation in a geological repository: Investigation of percolation-driven fluid transport in rock salt host rock under conditions relevant to a geological repository (GER)49.22 MB |
BMU | |
| 2017 - 2020 | Energy storage in caverns: H2, CO2 | GEOMINT | Experimental studies on pressure-driven percolation in barrier rocks (salt, clay) and numerical simulation using discontinuous-medium computational models (GER)17.14 MB |
BMBF |
| 2017 - 2020 | SUBI | Geomechanical laboratory tests and modeling to assess the safety of underground storage facilities in salt rock under cyclic loading—verification of functionality and integrity | BMBF | |
| 2018 - 2021 | HYPOS - UGS | Zwanzig20: HYPOS Collaborative Project: In-situ Geomechanical Investigations and Modeling (GER)23.61 MB |
BMBF | |
| 2019 - 2021 | HYPOS - H2-Research Cavern |
Zwanzig20 – HYPOS Joint Project: H2 Research Cavern; Geotechnical Feasibility Study at the Bad Lauchstädt Site (GER)5.22 MB |
BMBF | |
| 2020 - 2022 | GEOMINT 2 | Modeling the Formation of Cracks Using a Continuum Mechanics Approach (GER)3.34 MB |
BMBF | |
| 2019 - 2021 | ESsCO2 | Energy storage in salt caverns using supercritical CO2 (GER)46.88 MB |
BMBF | |
| 2022 - 2024 | SAMUH2 | Safe and innovative development concepts for the expansion, repurposing, and monitoring of underground hydrogen storage facilities; Subproject: Simulation of salt cavern storage facilities | BMWE |
*Abbreviations:
- BMWi / BMBF / BMU / BMWE - Funding from federal ministries
- BfS - Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (Federal Office for Radiation Protection)
- EU - Funding from the EU
- K+S - K+S Minerals and Agriculture GmbH
- GTS - Grube Teutschenthal Sicherungs GmbH & Co. KG
- Golder - Golder Associates GmbH
- TUBAF - TU Bergakademie Freiberg
- BGE - Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH (Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal)
- SC - Subcontractor
- CP - Collaborative project