2024 Sydney Symposium

Advances in Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

This document contains the accepted papers submitted and peer-reviewed for the 28th annual symposium organised by the Sydney Chapter of the Australian Geomechanics Society (AGS). The symposium presents state-of-the-art practices, new research findings, and case histories that demonstrate sustainable design, construction, and development. The papers cover a wide range of topics, including slope risk management using InSAR technology, collaborative engagement for better city outcomes, and innovative and sustainable considerations for embankment construction using contaminated materials. Other topics include the interpretation of CPT thermal and dilatory dissipation testing, the significance of anisotropy and structure in simulating natural clays, and the application of advanced in-situ testing equipment and methodologies to characterise low strength soil deposits in Sydney Harbour.

Additionally, the symposium addresses concrete injection column ground treatment design within brownfield sites with compressible soils, fully coupled numerical methods for consolidation analysis of viscous clayey soils, and the practical implementation of numerical analysis automation in geotechnical engineering with Generative AI assistance. Papers also evaluate impact loading from heavy vehicle collisions against traffic barriers integrated with retaining walls, advances in numerical modelling for quantifying the role of cohesion in clogging of granular materials, and effective block size scaling for advanced rock modelling in practical applications. Further discussions include retrofitting a pressure relief system to a tanked basement, observations on the behaviour of surface and underground excavations in the shales of the Sydney Region, and design challenges associated with deep retaining walls in weathered/faulted Silurian age siltstone.

The symposium aims to keep practicing geotechnical engineers, engineering geologists, and other engineering professionals informed of recent developments in this field. It also recognises the need to gather the experience of those practicing locally and internationally and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and sharing of their experiences. These symposia continue to be one of the successful platforms for bringing together key stakeholders of the Australian geological and geotechnical community. It also provides a premier platform for participants to present and discuss innovations, trends, and concerns, as well as practical challenges encountered, and solutions adopted in the field.

This symposium is the cooperative effort of many authors and qualified reviewers. The editors and organising committee wish to thank the authors, who have generously contributed their time to prepare the various papers, and the colleagues of the authors, who assisted with time, secretarial, drafting, and other facilities. Appreciation is also extended to our sponsors for supporting the Australian Geomechanics and Geological community.

Mehdi Tamadon, Alice Clark, Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn, Saman Zargarbashi, Hadi Khabbaz, Ali Parsa-Pajouh, Sam Mirlatifi, Mehnaz Alibeikloo, Mrigesh Tamang, AHMK Zaman, and Hamid Mortazavi Bak

On behalf of the AGS Symposium Organising Committee,
The Australian Geomechanics Society, Sydney Chapter