Manuel Rocha
Highlights of Professional Experience
At the age of 28, he established the Civil Engineering Research Centre at the Lisbon College of
Engineering, overseeing its operations until its integration into the Civil Engineering National Laboratory
(LNEC) in 1947. He continued to serve as the director of LNEC for seven years and later assumed the role
of President of the National Council of Civil Engineering Laboratories in 1974.
In his capacity as LNEC director, he managed both the scientific and administrative aspects of the
research conducted. Throughout different periods, he specifically directed investigations in various areas
such as building materials, experimental structural design, structural observation, soil mechanics,
construction of earth and concrete dams, and rock mechanics.
Through his 83 publications, his active participation in 70 congresses and symposia, often as session
chairman, theme reporter or panel member, his collaboration as a consultant to several organisations,
his activity as a member of many Portuguese, foreign, and international organisations, as well as
member of the editorial board of a number of technical journals, and also through his visits to 163
research institutes and universities of 43 countries, where he delivered about 200 lectures and discussed
research and higher education organization, policies, and activities, he made himself and LNEC well
known to the scientific and technical community worldwide.
He was Professor at the Technical University of Lisbon and at the New University of Lisbon, with
responsibility for Rock Mechanics at both Universities and also for Seepage in Rock Masses and for
Underground Structures at the latter.
Involvement in the ISRM
Along his term of office as President (1966-1970), the ISRM membership increased from 400 to some
4,400 members. After leaving the ISRM Presidency he was appointed Chairman of the Commission on
Classification of Rocks and Rock Masses and along 8 years was particularly active to draft a Basic
Geotechnical Description of Rock Masses with the purpose to establish a language common to rock
mechanics specialists and experts from related fields. His acceptance to steer the ISRM Commission on
Tunnel Failures could unfortunately not be materialized due to his premature decease.
Josef Stini
Josef Stini (1905-1992) was an Austrian engineer and geologist who made significant contributions to the
fields of engineering geology and rock mechanics. He is renowned for his work in understanding the
behavior of rock masses and their implications for engineering projects. Stini's research and publications
have had a lasting impact on the field. Stini served as a professor at the Vienna University of Technology,
where he taught "Technical Geology." He emphasized the importance of a quantitative approach to
geologic observations and introduced the concept of "rock mass" to consider the behavior of rocks as a
whole. Stini recognized the significance of structural discontinuities, such as joints and faults, in the
engineering behavior of rock masses. Stini's contributions also include the development of rock mass
classification systems, such as the Rock Mass Rating (RMR) system. He emphasized the need for proper
support design in rock engineering projects and provided guidelines for designing support systems in
tunnels, slopes, and underground excavations. Stini's work on stability analysis methods for rock slopes
and underground excavations has been widely influential. Furthermore, Stini founded the journal
"Geologie und Bauwesen," which later became a precursor to the current journal "Rock Mechanics." He
published numerous papers and books on rock mechanics, totaling 333 publications during the 1930s to
1950s.Josef Stini's contributions have played a pivotal role in advancing the understanding and practice
of rock mechanics and engineering geology. Sources: ScienceDirectJournal of Applied Engineering
Science Practical Rock Engineering - Developments of Rock Engineering Rock Mechanics - Achievements
and Current Problems Advances in Rock Mechanics and Future Trends
Jaeger and Cook
Jaeger and Cook are well-known figures in the field of rock engineering. Their contributions have
significantly influenced the understanding and practice of rock mechanics.
Dr. John C. Jaeger and Dr. Neville G.W. Cook co-authored the book "Fundamentals of Rock Mechanics,"
which was first published in 1969. This book has become a fundamental reference in the field and has
been widely used by students, researchers, and practitioners in rock engineering.
Their work focused on the mechanical behavior of rocks, including the study of rock strength,
deformation, and failure mechanisms. They developed important concepts and theories, such as the
concept of rock mass classification and the understanding of the behavior of jointed rock masses.
Jaeger and Cook's contributions have helped advance the field of rock engineering by providing a solid
foundation of knowledge and principles. Their work continues to be influential in the design and analysis
of rock structures, such as tunnels, slopes, and underground excavations.
Overall, Jaeger and Cook have made significant contributions to the field of rock engineering through
their research, publications, and the development of fundamental concepts that are still widely used
today.
Evert Hoek
Evert Hoek is a prominent figure in the field of rock engineering. He is a renowned
geotechnical engineer and has made significant contributions to the understanding of
rock mechanics and rock engineering.
One of Hoek's most notable contributions is the development of the Hoek-Brown failure
criterion, which is widely used in rock engineering for estimating rock mass strength and
predicting rock stability. This criterion takes into account the rock's intact strength, the
effect of discontinuities such as joints and faults, and the level of stress. It has become
an essential tool for rock slope stability analysis, tunnel design, and underground
excavation planning.
Hoek has also conducted extensive research on the behavior of rock masses under
various conditions, including the effects of stress, water, and temperature. His work has
helped improve the understanding of rock behavior and has led to more accurate and
reliable methods for assessing rock stability and designing rock structures.
In addition to his research contributions, Hoek has authored numerous publications and
co-authored the widely used book "Practical Rock Engineering." He has also been
involved in consulting projects and has provided expert advice on various rock
engineering projects worldwide.
Overall, Evert Hoek's contributions to rock engineering, particularly the development of
the Hoek-Brown failure criterion, have had a significant impact on the field. His work has
helped engineers and geologists better understand and analyze rock behavior, leading
to safer and more efficient rock engineering practices.