Asheville 2009 43rd U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium 4th U.S.-Canada Rock Mechanics Symposium Sponsored by The American Rock Mechanics Association In conjunction with The Canadian Rock Mechanics Association June 28- July 1, 2009 Asheville Renaissance Hotel Asheville, North Carolina, USA Invitation to Asheville Known as an art colony, a healing resort and a home to notable luminaries, statesmen and bohemians, Asheville is one of the most welcoming, vibrant cities in America. Nearby is America’s most visited National Park, Great Smoky Mountains. Accommodations and Registration A block of hotel rooms has been reserved for symposium attendees at the Asheville Renaissance Hotel, One Thomas Wolfe Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801. The Renaissance is located in downtown Asheville, surrounded by the Smoky Mountains within walking distance of many craft and antique shops, over 20 restaurants and nightspots as well as the Asheville Civic Center. The hotel is just minutes away from the Asheville Regional Airport, Biltmore Estate and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Renaissance has made rooms available to symposium delegates at the rate of $179.   CLICK HERE to access the Marriott reservation page or call 800-359-7951 and ask to receive the “ARMA Asheville 2009” rate. Subject Areas This symposium encompasses all aspects of rock mechanics, rock engineering, and geomechanics. We invite scientific and engineering papers addressing geology and geophysics, civil, mining, petroleum, and underground construction applications. We especially aim to focus on fundamentals that are of common interest to all disciplines. Examples of such fundamentals are: • Lab and in situ testing, characterization, upscaling • Fractured rock, discontinuities, rock masses • In situ stress measurement, prediction, and modeling • Weak rocks, shales, granular materials • Numerical/analytic/constitutive modeling of rock processes • Salt and creeping materials • Rock excavation and breakage, dynamic loading • High- and low-temperature geomechanics • Rock physics and geophysics • Stability/support of underground openings (all sizes) • Slope and open pit stability, foundations, dams • Fracture mechanics and fracture propagation • Coupled processes, flow and transport • Remote sensing, monitoring, seismicity • Compaction, yielding, pore collapse, plasticity • Waste disposal, seal integrity, underground storage • Uncertainty/stochastics/probability Short Courses and Workshops Short courses and workshops will be held immediately prior to the symposium and will be listed as they are confirmed.   Photo courtesy of the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau