ABSTRACT
Abstract: This overview of Underground Research Laboratories (URLs) is based on studies by the International Society for RockMechanics (ISRM) Commission on URL Networking, which was formed after an URL workshop associated with the ISRM Congress in 2011.We also held another URLworkshop in 2015, and several meetings and sessions in between. Recent progress in heater tests in radioactive waste URLs, designs of large excavations in deep physics facilities, and other underground studies are reviewed in this article. Rock mechanics findings and multi-disciplinary studies are among topics of interest to the ISRM Commission. Heater tests for better understanding of the coupled thermal-hydro-mechanical-chemical processes are of interest to radioactive repository assessments and for other thermal storage and geothermal energy production projects. Large excavations in physics laboratories are driven by the needs associated with designing and housing next generation of experiments to detect rare events. Some existing physics laboratories are interested to use available spaces for geo-sciences studies, including microbiological search for deep life. Examples of energy/environmental and inter-disciplinary studies and networking activities are also discussed. We review the progress in these topics and welcome inputs on case histories and planned developments in URLs. Each URL could provide lessons learned and offer as an analog for other sites. The inputs from the geoengineering, rock mechanics, geoscience, and physics communities are essential for our continuing efforts of the ISRM URL Networking Commission.
