Abstract

A/Professor Kodikara will begin his presentation with an overview of his research activities on the above topic. His current research work involves a number of geo-engineering applications that are placed in the vadose zone, influenced by climate/soil interactions. For instance, he currently runs a project on reticulation gas and water pipeline failures, which are highly seasonal and soil dependant. Some details of this project in relation to pipe failure statistics, laboratory and field testing will be presented. Some results obtained from field instrumentation of an in-service pipeline will be presented.

A/Professor Kodikara will also outline some of the challenges facing modelling of geo-structure/climate interactions. Since the pioneering work by Professor Bishop in 1950s, still there is debate about the foundations of unsaturated soil mechanics that underpin vadose zone modelling. In addition for soils that display substantial shrink/swell behaviour, large deformations can take place during moisture transfer. Fundamental aspects of stress states to be used for unsaturated geomaterials will be briefly examined. Finally, he will pose some thoughts into the likely impacts of impending climate change on these geo-structures.

A Brief Biography of A/Professor Kodikara

A/Professor Kodikara has extensive experience in geotechnical engineering and urban geo-infrastructure modelling. His current work includes modelling of cracking in geomaterials, modelling of climate effects on buried and surficial infrastructure, and unsaturated geomaterials behaviour. He has published over 100 technical publications in a diverse range of topics. He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and an Associate Editor of Canadian Geotechnical Journal.