AGS NSW RESEARCH AWARD 2018

www.australiangeomechanics.org

FOR RESEARCH IN 2018 11 JUL

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING NSW
OR ENGINEERING GEOLOGY WHEN
WEDNESDAY 11 JULY 2018
5.30pm Light Refreshments
As part of their ongoing support of academic institutions and students, the Sydney 6.00pm Presentations
and Newcastle Chapters of the Australian Geomechanics Society are offering the
WHERE
prestigious AGS NSW Research Award for research in Geotechnical Engineering or
KELLER
Engineering Geology. Suite G.01 & G.02, 2-4 Lyonpark
Road, Macquarie Park NSW
The award aims to provide a forum for research students from NSW universities to
showcase their research to the wider Geotechnical Community. Abstracts for the RSVP
below presentations can be viewed over page. To register, please use the
Eventbrite Registration Page:
https://www.eventbrite.com.
Finalists au/e/ags-nsw-research-
award-2018-geotechnical-
This year five (5) research award finalists have been chosen to provide their engineeringengineering-geology-
tickets-47149588689
presentations to the wider geotechnical community and they are:
RSVP
Dongli Zhu - University of Wollongong For more information or to RSVP,
please contact Stefano Pirrello
A study on pile-pvd interaction in soft clay via: stefano.pirrello@keller.com.au

Liet Dang - University of Technology Sydney CPD

Engineers Australia (EA) members
participating in AGS technical sessions
Engineering characteristics of expansive soil stabilised can record attendance on their personal
Continuing Professional Development

with bagasse ash, bagasse fibre and hydrated lime (CPD) logs. Members should refer to
EA’s CPD policy for details on CPD types,
requirements and auditing guidelines.

Ruoshi Xu - University of Technology Sydney

Novel Application of Geosynthetics in Seismic
Protection of Buildings Considering Soil-Foundation-Structure Interaction
Subhani Samarakoon Jayasekara Mudiyanse - University of Wollongong
Coupled Bio-Geo-Chemical clogging in low-lying Permeable Reactive Barriers (PRBs)
Xinyu Ye - Newcastle University
Experimental study of a new developed grouted soil nail
Dongli Zhu - University
of Wollongong
A study on pile-pvd
interaction in soft clay
Abstract
Soft soils are often encountered in
Australia, particularly in the coastal areas.,
Their low strength and high compressibility
are considered by engineers to be
problematic as foundation material. To
construct structures on soft soil, piles and
prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) are
often used by geotechnical practitioners
as ground improvement techniques. It is
well known that pile installation effects can
adversely influence the pile performance
by inducing additional movements and
stresses into the piles. Especially for
displacement piles, undesirable soil-pile
interaction often leads to the development
of excess pore pressure, excessive soil
displacement during pile installation
and negative skin friction (NSF) caused
by the settlement of compressible soil
surrounding the piles. Additional drainage
by PVDs prior to the installation of pile
could reduce excess pore water pressure,
lateral soil movement, and negative
skin friction on the pile. In this paper, a
research on pile-PVD interaction in soft
clay is reported. The research has three
major components: full-scale field testing,
laboratory model testing and Numerical
simulation. The full-scale field testing
program includes the construction of
two embankments on soft soil. PVDs
were installed underneath one of the
embankments. The ground was allowed
to consolidate and then one pile was
driven into the soft soil at the centre
of each embankment. The pore water
pressure, lateral soil movement, surface
settlement and strain of pile shaft were
recorded. The laboratory model test was
design to investigate the influence of pre-
consolidation and PVDs on generation and
dissipation of excess pore water pressure
due to pile installation. The numerical
analyses is adopted to perform parametric
study. The outcome of this research
indicated that pre-consolidation with PVDs
before piling can effectively reduce the
excess pore water pressure, lateral soil
movement and downdrag on a pile.
Liet Dang - University
of Technology Sydney
Engineering characteristics
of expansive soil stabilised
with bagasse ash, bagasse
fibre and hydrated lime
Abstract
Bagasse fibre and ash are readily
available waste by-products of the sugar-
cane refining industry; their improper
disposal can cause adverse environmental
effects. Therefore, bagasse fibre and
ash are considered in this assessment to
investigate the possibility of utilising them
as additives for treatment of expansive
soil. The main objective of this study is to
experimentally investigate the influence of
hydrated lime, bagasse fibre and bagasse
additions on engineering properties
of expansive soil. Several series of
geotechnical experiments were conducted
on untreated and treated soil specimens
mixed with different additive contents and
curing for various times of 3, 7, 28 and
56 days. The geotechnical experiments
included swell potential, swelling pressure,
unconfined compressive strength (UCS),
California bearing capacity (CBR), and
consolidation tests. A comprehensive
study on the microstructure development
of untreated and treated expansive soils
was also carried out using scanning
electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier
transform infrared (FTIR) techniques.
The results of this experimental study
reveal that the additions of bagasse ash
(BA), hydrated lime (L), and combined
bagasse ash-hydrated lime (BAL)
effectively improved the compressive
strength, the stiffness, the swell potential
and the compressibility of stabilised soils.
Meanwhile, a combination of bagasse fibre
(BF) and lime resulted in the remarkable
improvement in the swelling pressure
and the bearing capacity characteristics
of reinforced soils. The findings indicate
that the application of bagasse ash
or bagasse fibre without or with lime
stabilisation of expansive soils can not
only enhance the geotechnical properties
of expansive soil but also address
the coming environmental impacts of
bagasse disposal, while providing cost-
effective construction materials for civil
sustainable infrastructure development.
Ruoshi Xu - University
of Technology Sydney
Novel application
of Geosynthetics in
Seismic Protection of
Buildings Considering
Soil-Foundation-
Structure Interaction
Abstract
Seismic design is moving from imposing
limits on forces and moments acting
on the structures and foundations, to
performance-based design allowing
more sensible evaluation of building
performance during and after earthquakes.
Foundation rocking which can function
as energy dissipaters to absorb seismic
energy and prevent it from being fully
transmitted to superstructures is a
common phenomenon observed during
earthquakes. However, the permeant
foundation rotation and settlement are
the issues produced by this foundation
movement. On the other hand, employing
end-bearing pile foundations may result
in enormous shear forces developed
in the structure and at the connection
between the foundation slab and pile
heads, as the foundation rocking
mechanism is prevented. In this study, a
geosynthetic reinforced composite soil
(GRCS) foundation system is proposed
to resolve the rocking induced issues
for shallow foundations. In addition,
a geotextile reinforced cushioned pile
foundation is recommended to extend the
use of foundation rocking as an energy
dissipater to pile foundations. To evaluate
the seismic performance of the proposed
foundation systems, a fully nonlinear
three dimensional numerical model is
developed to perform time history analysis
considering seismic soil-foundation-
structure interaction employing FLAC3D
software. The numerical predictions
indicate that a GRCS foundation system
can provide design engineers with an
alternative option to limit excessive
settlement, and maximum and residual
inter-storey drifts induced by seismic
loading. Moreover, for buildings requiring
pile foundations, a geotextile reinforced
cushioned pile foundation can offer
design engineers another solution to
control the shear forces that develop in
a superstructure, as well as reducing the
structural demand of the pile foundations.
Subhani Samarakoon Jayasekara
Mudiyanse - University of Wollongong
Coupled Bio-Geo-Chemical
clogging in low-lying Permeable
Reactive Barriers (PRBs)
Abstract
Acid Sulfate Soils (ASS) occur sporadically in the coastal
floodplains throughout the globe. They contain a shallow layer
of pyrite (FeS2) that oxidizes in the presence of oxygen. During
pyrite oxidation, sulphuric acid is generated and the soil pH is
lowered to levels below 3, while toxic Al3+ and total Fe cations
are leached into the groundwater. This acidic groundwater flow
dilates the acidified land area, deteriorating the quality of soil
terrains and waterways over large areas. These acidic effluents
have been shown to be detrimental not only to flora and fauna,
but also to buried infrastructure, because sulphuric acid is highly
corrosive and can cause severe damage to pipelines, culverts
and foundations. Thus, remedial measures are required to
neutralise the acidic groundwater, the conveyor of acidity. Several
engineering solutions have been implemented in Australian
low-lying areas, and after numerous trials, Permeable Reactive
Barriers (PRBs) have proven to be the most economical and
efficient method. Nevertheless, the main factor potentially
compromising the performance of PRBs is the chemical and
biological clogging of their pores and associated reduction
in permeability due to mineral precipitation and bacterial
activity, respectively. Chemical clogging has been extensively
investigated by past UOW researchers, whereas the bio-clogging
of PRBs in ASS terrains, which has not been critically analysed
in previous studies, is associated with acidophilic bacteria
which promote the biofilm growth while catalysing the chemical
reactions and mineral precipitation. Therefore, both chemical
and biological factors affect the hydraulic characteristics such
as porosity and permeability of the reactive granular assembly
of the PRB while reducing its longevity. These bio- chemical
clogging mechanisms should be critically analysed, as research
into these novel aspects are advantageous in developing an
advanced Bio-Geo-Chemical (BGC) computational model and
a proper PRB design criteria, which is vital in controlling soil
and water acidity, to mitigate negative environmental impacts
and diminish the extra maintenance and replacement costs
associated with infrastructure in low-lying acidic belts.
Xinyu Ye - Newcastle University
Experimental study of a new
developed grouted soil nail
Abstract
This report presents a new developed grouted soil nail.
Primary study for grouting was performed to investigate
the grout propagation during pressure grouting. A physical
model system were subsequently established to investigate
the pull-out performance of this soil nail at different GP (GP)
and degree of saturation. The comparison of the new soil nail
and the conventional soil nail was also conducted. Some of
the conclusions can be drawn: Firstly, the grout propagation,
including the fracture or compaction pattern and shape of formed
grout bulb, during pressure grouting are various at different water/
cement ratio and grouting pressure. Secondly, the pull-out force
of a compaction-grouted soil nail induces hardening behaviour
after a sharp increase with a relatively constant hardening rate. In
addition, the higher GP results in higher pull-out force significantly.
Thirdly, comparing to the conventional soil nail, the pull-out
force of compaction-grouted soil nail can be enhanced more
effectively by increasing GP. Fourthly, although the pull-out force
of a compaction-grouted soil nail is higher with a lower degree
of saturation, the initial pull-out forces are the same for the same
GP regardless of the degree of saturation and the subsequently
diameter of grout bulb. Because the soil pressure closely
propagates in the soil sample of lower degree of saturation, a
prediction that smaller spacings between grout bulbs along nail
rod are manufactured to increase the total pull-out force effectively
can be made in the soils of lower degree of saturation.