The focus of my research is to study the damages and deformations around the underground excavated openings through physical model testing, numerical modeling, and in-situ monitoring. My work dedicates to advancing the knowledge of the engineering behavior of rocks and their applications in underground structures. I have experience in conducting conventional laboratory tests as well as designing a novel test method for rock engineering applications. Prior to joining IIT Kharagpur, I worked as a Tunnel Engineer at a consultancy firm Aldea Services Inc. in the United States, where I not only learned the engineering design process in the tunneling industry but also identified the major areas that require further study in the tunneling and underground space technology. I have also worked as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the University Transportation Center for Underground Transportation Infrastructure (UTC-UTI) for one year. My post-doctoral research involved the development of visco-elastic and visco-plastic fractional damage models to study the time-dependent deformation of underground excavated openings. This experience helped improve my understanding of the physical process associated with the deformations around the underground openings. One of my major research contributions has been the development of a novel laboratory-scale physical model test setup during my Ph.D. at the Colorado School of Mines, USA. This physical model test setup had the capability to simulate the underground excavation process at a stress level similar to the field. The problem of squeezing ground conditions was extensively studied using this physical model test setup. From my master’s research and professional experience at IIT Delhi, I also have expertise in conducting dynamic loading tests on rocks. My research work has been well received by the scientific community and I have produced high-quality publications in international journals. I have been nominated for and received several national and international awards for my research contributions.
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Experimental study on stiffness degradation of rock under uniaxial cyclic sinusoidal compression loading Arora K., Chakraborty T. , Rao K. S. By Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering 52 4785-4797 (2019)
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Tunnels in Squeezing Clay-Rich Rocks Arora K., Gutierrez M. , Hedayat A. , Xia C. By Underground Space 6 432-445 (2021)
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New physical model to study tunnels in squeezing clay-rich rocks Arora K., Gutierrez M. , Hedayat A. By Geotechnical Testing Journal 44 1-21 (2021)
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Time-dependent Behavior of the Tunnels in Squeezing Ground: An Experimental Study Arora K., Gutierrez M. , Hedayat A. , Cruz E. C. By Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering 54 1755-1777 (2021)
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Physical model simulation of rock-support interaction for the tunnel in squeezing ground Arora K., Gutierrez M. By Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 14 82-92 (2022)
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Visco-plastic solution for deep tunnels based on a fractional damage creep constitutive model Xu G., Gutierrez M. , Arora K. , Wang X. By Acta Geotechnica 17 613-633 (2022)
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Viscous-Elastic-Plastic Response of Tunnels in Squeezing Ground Conditions: Analytical Modeling and Experimental Validation Arora K., Gutierrez M. By International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 146 104888- (2021)
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High strain rate characterization of concrete using split Hopkinson pressure bar Ganorkar K., Arora K. , Gaur L. , Goel M. D., Chakraborty T. By Indian Concrete Journal - (2021)
Principal Investigator
- Characterization of the damages and deformations in rock around the underground excavated openings SPONSORED RESEARCH and INDUSTRIAL CONSULTANCY (SRIC)
- Conducting Scientific Study to investigate the impact of mining in Deucha Pachami Coal Block of WBPDCL THE WEST BENGAL POWER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED
Co-Principal Investigator
- Annual crtification of ash pond dyke for five thermal power plants of WBPDCL THE WEST BENGAL POWER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED
- Ash compliance audit in Tata power project limited THE TATA POWER CO LTD
Ph. D. Students
Iylaboina Jayanth
Area of Research: Rock Mechanics and Numerical Modelling
Venilla Manikanta
Area of Research: Stability of Underground Excavation
