Academic Degree: PhD (Mining Eng.)

Affiliation: Professor on Rock Mechanics, Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Engineering, School of Mining & Energy Engineering, University of Vigo, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain.

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6540-2711

Scopus ID: 57216786820

ResearcherID: K-1664-2014

Education (institution, degree, year):

• 1992: Mining Engineer, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain;
• 1996: PhD (Mining Eng.), Polytechnic University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

Areas of expertise:

• Primary Research Fields: Rock Mechanics, Rock Slope Stability, Rock Mass Behaviour, Engineering Geology, Numerical Modelling.
• Specific Competencies: Rock Mechanics at large, Rock mechanics lab testing, Rock mass field characterization, Numerical models in mining rock mechanics, Rock slope stability.

Academic Career:

• 1996–1998: Lecturer, University of Vigo, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain;
• 1998–2020: Assistant Professor, University of Vigo, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain;
• 2020–present: Full Professor, University of Vigo, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain;
• 2020: Visiting Scholar, Colorado School of Mines, USA.

Editorial Experience:

• 2013–2019: Associate Editor, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences
• Member of the Editorial Board of the following journals:
  • Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering;
  • International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences;
  • Tunneling & Underground Space Technology;
  • Underground Space;
  • Archives of Mining Sciences;
  • Rock Mechanics Bulletin;
  • among others.

Research Projects:

• Principal investigator for multiple competitive research projects funded by the Spanish Research Council;
• Participant in European research projects;
• Regular host for PhD students funded by the China Scholarship Council (CSC).

Professional Memberships:

• International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM).

Major Awards and Honors:

• December 2017 – April 2026: President of the Spanish Society of Rock Mechanics (SEMR);
• September 2019 – October 2023: Vice President for Europe, International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM).

Selected publications

Monographs:

Ramírez Oyanguren P., Alejano Monge L. R. Mecánica de rocas: fundamentos e ingeniería de taludes. Madrid: Editorial Rueda, S.L.; 2007. (In Spanish).

Key Publications:

• Alejano L. R., Alonso E. Considerations of the dilatancy angle in rocks and rock masses. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2005;42(4):481-507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2005.01.010
• Alejano L. R., Bobet A. Drucker–Prager criterion. In: The ISRM Suggested Methods for Rock Characterization, Testing and Monitoring. Springer; 2014.
• Alonso E., Alejano L. R., Varas F., Fdez-Manin G., Carranza-Torres C. Ground response curves for rock masses exhibiting strain-softening behaviour. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics. 2003;27(13):1153-1185. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.315
• Alejano L. R., Rodriguez-Dono A., Alonso E., Fdez-Manin G. Ground reaction curves for tunnels excavated in different quality rock masses showing several types of post-failure behaviour. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology. 2009;24(6):689-705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2009.07.004
• Arzúa J., Alejano L. R. Dilation in granite during servo-controlled triaxial strength tests. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2013;61:43-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2013.01.007
• Alejano L. R., Gómez-Márquez I., Martínez-Alegría R. Analysis of a complex toppling-circular slope failure. Engineering Geology. 2010;114(1-2):93-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2010.03.005
• Alejano L. R., Ramírez-Oyanguren P., Taboada J. FDM predictive methodology for subsidence due to flat and inclined coal seam mining. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 1999;36(4):475-491. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0148-9062(99)00022-4

Recent Publications:

• Alejano L. R. Rock Mass Classification Systems: A Useful Rock Mechanics Tool, Often Misused. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2025;58(10):11147-11167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-024-04087-y
• Ding B., Pérez–Rey I., González-Fernández M. A., Yuan S., Tang H., Alejano L. R. Optimizing shape design in drystone retaining walls: A multi-scope approach focusing on failure mechanisms. Construction and Building Materials. 2025;489:142116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.142116
• Guan K., Zhou J., Zhan S., Zhu W., Alejano L. R. Creep Instability of Bolt-Reinforced Specimen with Imperfections: An Experimental Study. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2025;58(8):8575-8593. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-025-04575-9
• Aghajanzadeh M., Masoumi H., Heidarpour A., Alejano L. R. Estimating Time-to-Failure and Long-Term Strength of Rocks Based on Creep Strain Rate Model. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2025;58(4):4207-4223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-024-04088-x
• Pérez–Rey I., Muñiz-Menéndez M., Frühwirt T., Konietzky H., Jacobsson L., Perras M. A., Atefi-Monfared K., Mas Ivars D., Sánchez-Juncal A., Alejano L. R. ISRM Suggested Method for Determining the Tensile Strength and Elastic Constants of Rocks by the Direct Tension Test. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-025-05038-x
• Li Y., Herbón-Penabad M., Muñoz-Ibáñez A., Alejano L. R., Alvarellos J., Canal J., Segura Serra J. M., Delgado-Martín J. Effects of Confining Pressure on Mode I Fracture Toughness Considering Jacketed and Unjacketed Conditions. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-025-04878-x
• Gui J., Ding B., Pérez–Rey I., García-Bastante F., González-Fernández M. A., Alejano L. R. Stability against toppling of a single rock block resting on an irregular rough base. Environmental Earth Sciences. 2024;83(23):660. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-024-11931-5
• Song F., Wang H., Shang C., Rodriguez-Dono A., Wang E., Gui J., Alejano L. R. Considering creep in rock tunnelling with a combined support system: Theoretical solutions and machine-learning solver. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology. 2024;153:106019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2024.106019
• Zeng G. S., Wang H., Song F., Rodriguez-Dono A., Alejano L. R. Analytical solutions of noncircular tunnels in transversely isotropic rheological rock masses. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2024;182:105880. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2024.105880
• West I., Walton G., González-Fernández M. A., Alejano L. R. Mechanical Behavior of Intact and Increasingly Jointed Marble Laboratory Specimens. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. 2024;42(6):4823-4849. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-024-02815-3
• Pérez–Rey I., Muñiz-Menéndez M., Frühwirt T., Konietzky H., Jacobsson L., Perras M. A., Atefi-Monfared K., Mas Ivars D., Sánchez-Juncal A., Alejano L. R. Assessment of Direct Tensile Strength Tests in Rock Through a Multi-laboratory Benchmark Experiment. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2024;57(5):3617-3634. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03751-z
• Gui J., Alejano L. R., Cano M., Arzúa J., Pérez–Rey I. Analytical and experimental studies on toppling behavior of blocks misaligned with the slope face. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment. 2024;83(4):153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-024-03643-8
• González-Fernández M. A., Estévez-Ventosa X., Pérez–Rey I., Alejano L. R., Masoumi H. Size effects on strength and deformability of artificially jointed hard rock. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2024;176:105696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2024.105696
• Muñoz-Ibáñez A., Herbón-Penabad M., Delgado-Martin J., Alejano L. R., Alvarellos J., Canal J. Hydrostatic, strike-slip and normal stress true triaxial hydrofracturing testing of Blanco Mera Granite: breakdown pressure and tensile strength assessment. Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources. 2023;9(1):31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-023-00564-w
• Chang L., Alejano L. R., Cui L., Sheng Q., Xie M. Limitation of convergence-confinement method on three-dimensional tunnelling effect. Scientific Reports. 2023;13(1):1988. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29062-5
• Pérez–Rey I., Muñoz-Ibáñez A., González-Fernández M. A., Muñiz-Menéndez M., Herbón-Penabad M., Estévez-Ventosa X., Delgado-Martin J., Alejano L. R. Size effects on the tensile strength and fracture toughness of granitic rock in different tests. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 2023;15(9):2179-2192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2022.11.005
• González-Fernández M. A., Estévez-Ventosa X., Alejano L. R., Masoumi H. Size-Dependent Behaviour of Hard Rock Under Triaxial Loading. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2023;56(8):6009-6025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03367-3
• Gui J., González-Fernández M. A., Estévez-Ventosa X., Song F., Alejano L. R. Toppling susceptibility of a single rock block resting on a regularly rough base. Engineering Geology. 2023;313:106982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2022.106982
• Song F., González-Fernández M. A., Rodriguez-Dono A., Alejano L. R. Numerical analysis of anisotropic stiffness and strength for geomaterials. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 2023;15(2):323-338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2022.04.016