"Insights into the behaviour of geotechnical structures through field observation"

By: William Powrie, FREng, Professor of Geotechnical Engineering and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom

Summary

The talk will present insights gained into the behaviour of a variety of geotechnical structures with reference to a number of case studies, including: measurement and analysis of temporary prop loads during the construction of the Canary Wharf and Canada Water underground stations on London's Jubilee Line Extension; installation effects and post construction behaviour of embedded bored pile retaining walls in the Weald and Atherfield Clays on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link at Ashford, Kent; impacts of vegetation and climate on pore pressures in a cut slope in the London Clay at Newbury, Berkshire; pile-stabilised railway
embankments in London and Kent; and the performance of ballasted track and transition zones on a high speed railway.

Speaker

William Powrie FREng is Professor of Geotechnical Engineering and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton.  His main technical areas of interest are in geotechnical aspects of transport infrastructure, and sustainable waste and resource management.  

William’s work on geotechnical aspects of transport infrastructure encompasses groundwater control, in-ground construction to reduce environmental impacts in urban and other sensitive areas, understanding and mitigating vegetation and climate change effects, and fundamental soil behaviour.  Major projects on which he has worked include the A55 Conwy Crossing, the Jubilee Line extension stations at Canary Wharf and Canada Water and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.  He is a co-author of Construction Industry Research and Information (CIRIA) reports C515 Groundwater control – design and practice (2000) and C580 Embedded retaining walls – guidance for economic design (2003). Both of these, together with Report C517 Temporary propping of deep excavations – guidance on design (1999), incorporate results of his research in these areas.  He was Principal Investigator for Rail Research UK (2003-2010), a universities-based centre for Rail Systems Research, and subsequently for Track21, a prestigious EPSRC Programme Grant that aims to provide the science needed to underpin a radical overhaul in techniques for railway track design, construction and maintenance.  He is an Associate Editor of the Canadian Geotechnical Journal, a former Honorary Editor of the Institution of Civil Engineers Proceedings journal Geotechnical Engineering, and has been Geotechnical Consultant to WJ Groundwater Ltd since 1987.

William’s work in waste and resource management focuses on landfill science and engineering, and on the development of a sound scientific basis for policy and practice.  He leads a major EPSRC-funded programme of fundamental research, Science and Strategies for the Management of Residual Wastes, with the aim of enabling and encouraging landfill operation so as to accelerate biodegradation and stabilization of the waste (he was a co-author of the Institute of Wastes Management report on The role and operation of the flushing bioreactor).  He has worked on the design and engineering risk assessment of the low level radioactive waste repositories at Drigg; is Honorary Editor of the ICE Proceedings journal Waste and Resource Management; a member of the Scientific Committee of the International Waste Working Group; and chair of the Technologies Advisory Committee for Defra’s £30M programme of research and demonstrator projects for new technologies for the treatment of biodegradable waste.

William is committed to the importance of encouraging sustainability in daily life, including in the key areas of transport and resource management. He cycles to work on a daily basis, and wherever possible will re-use and recycle goods and materials. He enjoys walking, cycling, reading and music.