Experienced Principal Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the mining & metals industry. Skilled in Rock Mechanics, Geology, Geotechnics and Engineering. Strong engineering professional with a research background in rock mechanics, and novel technologies for underground mining applications.

A rock mechanics specialist with expertise in block and sublevel caving, narrow vein open stoping and open pits. With over 15+ years of experience in mining from operations to feasibility studies, with a track-record of implementing science-based decisions within high stress, seismically active mining environments.

Vlad is a Principal Engineer in Research & Development at Beck Engineering and has been a core member of the Applied Mechanics team since its early formation. With a PhD in continuum mechanics from the University of Dortmund, he brings deep expertise in advanced material modelling and non-linear computational methods.

Vlad is the principal architect behind BE’s constitutive modelling framework, which forms the foundation of the company’s advanced geomechanical simulations. His work on developing robust, non-linear constitutive models for rock mass behaviour underpins virtually all major BE projects. These models enable realistic representation of strain softening, damage, and complex stress-path dependent behaviour, and are central to BE’s capability in large-scale, fully three-dimensional finite element analyses.

At BE, Vlad continues to drive innovation in constitutive modelling and numerical simulation, ensuring that the company’s methodologies remain at the forefront of computational geomechanics.

Dr Sevda Dehkhoda is a principal mining engineer and technology specialist with over 20 years of experience in R&D and technical consulting for the mining and civil industries worldwide. Her expertise lies in rock engineering and rock fracture mechanics, where she has developed complex assessment programs to identify key mechanisms, parameters, and processes impacting the safety and economic viability of mining operations. Her current work focuses on managing complex geotechnical hazards and risks associated with high stress, high deformation, and deep mining conditions.

Mohsen holds a PhD in Geomechanics from the University of Sydney (Australia), a Master of Petroleum Engineering from Curtin University (Australia), and a Bachelor of Mining Engineering and Rock Mechanics from Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman (Iran). Mohsen is currently a Principal Rock Mechanics/Mining Engineer at Beck Engineering, where he uses his expertise to help design, optimise, and maintain some of the world’s largest mining and energy projects. The core of his work Beck Engineering is in simulation-aided engineering through which Mohsen applies his knowledge in Rock Mechanics, Mining Engineering, and Data Science expertise to help base metal mines in optimising underground mine design and production plan, analysis of underground stability, and processing of underground laser scan.

Prior to his current industrial role, Mohsen spent several years in academic environment, working as a Research Fellow at the University of Queensland (Australia) and as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom). Having worked on a wide range of experimental, theoretical and field studies concerned with geomechanical aspects associated with extractive industries, he has acquired significant expertise in coupled processes in geomechanics, including but not limited to oil and gas geomechanics, coal seam gas, mining geomechanics, rock mechanics, and hydrogeology.

I am interested in the research and development of innovative solutions to mining challenges. Some of the tasks I have been involved while working and investigating are:

– Development of progressive deterioration models in 4-D and 3-D to account for induced seismicity in mines using block modeling techniques to quantify energy releases from seismic events.
– Conceptualization of mine models and geometries in three-dimensions for different areas of interest in the mine (undercut level, undercut geometries, production layouts, drawbell geometries, crown pillar, drawbell connections, cave shapes).
– Finite element analyses in 3-D using different FEM applications to analyze the effect of different mining sequences and geometrical configurations (Abaqus).
– Different tasks required to develop a numerical model, from pre-processing (unification of entities, steps, meshing, properties), solving and post-processing of the data.
-Interactive visualization, correlation, and analyses of spatial data in 3-D environments.
– Modeling and interaction of solids and surfaces in mine designs.
– Creation and conceptualization of geological and structural models for mining.
– Mineral Resource and reserve estimation and reporting.
– Geo-statistics, block models, and interpolation techniques applied to estimation of data
– Use of risk analyses tools to account for variability in the input data and its effect in the result being studied.
– Mine models in 3-D to show and understand the mine designs and its placement in surface and underground environments.
– The development of applications and generation of new technology to improve mining techniques.
– Virtual Reality and complex data display.
– Conceptual and Advanced Mine Modeling.
– Core Scratching Solutions.

Ayako is a highly skilled rock mechanics specialist with extensive experience in underground mining, particularly in hard rock and deep mining environments.

Her expertise spans a broad range of critical areas, including:

• Operational experience in high-stress mining conditions
• Stability assessments for underground mines
• Rock mass failure analysis and management
• Mining-induced seismic assessment
• Operational management of seismicity and ground control systems
• Ground support design, implementation, and assessment
• Block cave monitoring and advanced data analysis
• Optimising mine plan strategies to enhance safety and efficiency.

Andrew Shiels is an experienced Geotechnical Engineer with over 15 years of mining industry experience across both underground and open pit operations. Andrew has worked in both operational and corporate roles in Australia and internationally.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Business. Andrew specialises in geotechnical design, data collection, instrumentation, QAQC and numerical and geological modelling.

Andrew is passionate about applying sound rock mechanics principles to support safe and productive mine design, from early-stage studies through to operational support.

Arnd is a Principal Engineer in Applied Mechanics at Beck Engineering, where he has been a key contributor since 2011. With a PhD in computational mechanics from the Technical University of Dortmund and international experience including UC Berkeley, he combines strong theoretical expertise with practical engineering insight. At BE, Arnd has been instrumental in establishing the foundation of the company’s capabilities in fully three-dimensional, hydro-mechanically coupled finite element modelling. His work has enabled advanced, physics-based simulations that integrate fluid flow and rock mass deformation, supporting more realistic analysis of complex mining systems.  Currently, Arnd leads BE’s team of hydro specialists, overseeing the continued development and application of coupled modelling approaches across the company’s global projects.