Compacted Clay Liners Professors and Supervisors

Timothy D StarkView profile

Professor

University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUnited States

Timothy D Stark is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he maintains an active research program focused on geotechnical engineering challenges related to infrastructure safety and environmental protection. His work bridges theoretical soil mechanics with practical applications in dam engineering, landfill design, and slope stability analysis. Stark's research centers on shear strength characterization of soils and geosynthetic materials, particularly examining geomembrane interfaces, landfill liner systems, and failure mechanisms in earth structures. His fingerprint analysis reveals dominant expertise in Shear Strength (100%), Geomembranes (98%), and Stability Analysis (63%), with significant contributions to Landslide Analysis (43%) and Landfill Engineering (35%). Current investigations address liquid effects on interface behavior, flow failure assessment in embankments, and advanced soil parameter determination through cone penetration testing. Recent publications demonstrate consistent innovation in predictive modeling for geotechnical failures, with 2024-2025 works focusing on landfill stability under liquid exposure, dam safety assessment methodologies, and three-dimensional strength characterization of compacted fills. These studies advance practical engineering solutions while contributing to fundamental understanding of soil-geosynthetic interaction mechanisms. Honors recognizing his scholarly impact include: ASCE Distinguished Member (2024) Norman Medal (2019) for seminal technical contributions to civil engineering Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize (1999) While specific details about student advising and grant funding are not provided in the source material, his extensive publication record (268 research outputs) and fingerprint analysis indicate sustained leadership in advancing geotechnical engineering practice through rigorous experimental and analytical research.

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Rajesh SathiyamoorthyView profile

Associate Professor

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK)India

Dr. Rajesh Sathiyamoorthy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), specialising in Geotechnical Engineering. Since joining IIT Kanpur in 2011, he has built a strong research portfolio, secured competitive funding, and received numerous accolades for his contributions to environmental geotechnology and unsaturated soil mechanics. Education PhD, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India (2010) M.E., College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University, India (2002) B.E., Vellore Engineering College, University of Madras, India (2000) Research Interests Dr. Sathiyamoorthy’s research is centred on the behaviour of unsaturated soils, environmental geotechnics, and innovative ground-improvement techniques. His work employs advanced numerical and physical modelling to address challenges in landfill barrier design, soil–structure interaction, and performance of geosynthetically reinforced systems. A distinctive feature of his investigations is the integration of field-scale problems with controlled laboratory and centrifuge testing, coupled with state-of-the-art computational tools. Scientific Awards & Fellowships IEI Young Engineers Award 2013-2014 (Civil Engineering) – The Institution of Engineers (India) Talented Young Scientist Fellowship 2019 – Ministry of Science and Technology, China Distinguished Alumni Award 2019 (Academic & Research) – VIT University Best Paper Awards (Environmental Geotechnology) – Indian Geotechnical Society, 2019 & 2015 Best Paper Award – International Geotechnical Engineering Conference on Sustainability 2016 IGS Prof. A.V. Shroff Biannual Award 2013 – Indian Geotechnical Society International Geosynthetics Society Student Award 2012 – IGS, USA Best Paper Award 2010 – Geotextiles and Geomembranes Research Funding & Collaborations Dr. Sathiyamoorthy has successfully led multiple sponsored projects worth several crores of rupees from agencies such as SERB-DST, BRNS-DAE, Shanghai Council of Science & Technology, RDSO Lucknow, and PAAB-MHRD. These projects span centrifuge modelling of embankments on encased stone columns, hydro-mechanical behaviour of compacted soils, reliability-based assessment of landfill slopes, and field validation of stabilised subgrade materials for pavements. His international collaboration includes joint research at Tongji University, Shanghai, under the Talented Young Scientist Fellowship. Laboratories & Teams He heads experimental activities in the Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory at IIT Kanpur, where his group maintains specialised equipment for unsaturated soil testing, geosynthetic evaluation, and centrifuge modelling. The research team comprises doctoral scholars, master’s students, and project staff working on inter-related themes of environmental geotechnology and ground improvement.

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Timothy D. StarkView profile

Professor

University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUnited States

Dr. Timothy D. Stark is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and CEE Excellence Faculty Scholar. With expertise in geotechnical engineering, he focuses on static and seismic stability of slopes, dams, levees, waste containment facilities, railroad geotechnics, and geosynthetics. His interdisciplinary research bridges theoretical and applied engineering, with significant contributions to geomembrane technology and slope failure mechanisms. Education: B.S. (University of Delaware, 1981), M.Eng. (UC Berkeley, 1984), Ph.D. (Virginia Tech, 1987) Research interests include geotechnical stability analysis, geosynthetics, waste containment systems, three-dimensional slope modeling, and geothermal energy applications. Recent work explores liquefaction in earthquakes, landfill fires, and advanced monitoring techniques like LiDAR and seismic surface wave testing. His publications span 15 recent articles on topics such as geosynthetic interface strength, wildfire-affected soil properties, and levee remediation methods. Awards highlight his impact across teaching, research, and service, including the prestigious George H. Norman Medal and Walter Huber Prize. Key Consulting Roles: Fundão Tailings Dam failure (Brazil), Bridgeton Landfill fire (MO), Yeager Airport landslide (WV) Leadership: Vice President, International Geosynthetics Society (2017–2021); Editor, ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering (1997–2023)

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Samson NgambiView profile

Assistant Professor

Coventry UniversityUnited Kingdom

Samson Ngambi is an Assistant Professor (Academic) at the CEES School of The Environment. He holds a Doctorate from Gifu University (1996-1999), focusing on hydraulic fracturing mechanisms in cohesive dam cores. His research interests include soil stabilization via soil-cement mixing technology, collapsibility of partially saturated soils, and hydraulic fracture mechanics in dam cores. He has published extensively in geotechnical engineering and environmental science, with notable contributions on soil-water interactions, cement-based stabilization techniques, and nanotechnology applications in construction materials. Ngambi's work emphasizes sustainable solutions for soil-related challenges, such as mitigating heaving in stabilized soils and enhancing dam core integrity against hydraulic pressure. His recent studies explore by-product cementitious materials and nanotechnology additives for improved soil performance. He has supervised 4 academic works, contributing to both theoretical and applied geotechnical research. Collaborations span international institutions, with a focus on soil mechanics and environmental engineering applications. His research trends highlight interdisciplinary approaches, combining material science with geotechnical engineering to address infrastructure stability and environmental sustainability challenges.

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Joseph Scalia IVView profile

Associate Professor

Colorado State UniversityUnited States

Joseph Scalia IV is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University (CSU), affiliated with the College of Engineering. Prior to joining CSU, he worked as a senior associate at Exponent (formerly Failure Analysis Associates) in their Environmental and Earth Sciences Practice. His research focuses on geoenvironmental and geotechnical engineering, particularly the intersection of soil mechanics with contaminant hydrology, environmental engineering, and mine waste management. Scalia holds a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Bucknell University and M.S. and Ph.D. in Geological Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He leads the Geoenvironmental Lab, which addresses challenges in tailings management, unsaturated terramechanics, and barrier systems for environmental protection. Education: Ph.D., Geological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2012) M.S., Geological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2009) B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bucknell University (2007) Research interests include geotechnical stability of tailings storage facilities, hydraulic conductivity of waste materials, and innovative containment systems. His work integrates field experimentation, laboratory testing, and numerical modeling to solve environmental and geotechnical challenges. Recent studies emphasize soil moisture dynamics in mine tailings, chemico-osmotic effects in clay barriers, and polymer-enhanced geosynthetic clay liners for waste containment. Labs/Teams: Geoenvironmental Lab : Focuses on tailings engineering, landfill covers, and geoenvironmental barrier systems. Advancing barrier systems for contaminated sites and optimizing landfill cover designs are central themes. While no specific grants or awards are listed, his extensive publication record reflects sustained contributions to environmental geotechnics and mine waste management.

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Vivi AnggrainiView profile

Senior Lecturer

Monash UniversityAustralia

Dr. Vivi Anggraini is a Senior Lecturer in Geomechanics at Monash University Malaysia's Civil Engineering Discipline within the Malaysia School of Engineering. She holds a B.Eng (Civil Engineering), M.Eng (Geotechnical Engineering), and PhD (Geotechnical and Geological Engineering). Her research focuses on ground improvement, environmental geotechnics, geomaterials, geosynthetics, and CO2 sequestration in liners. She leads projects on heat mitigation in landfill liners and smart monitoring of urban soils. Dr. Anggraini has published over 36 papers and serves as President of the International Geosynthetics Society Malaysian Chapter (MyIGS), alongside editorial roles in *Scientific Reports* and *International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering*. Her teaching commitments include courses like Geomechanics 1 (CIV2242), Geomechanics 2 (CIV3247), and Foundation Engineering (CIV4249). She has received grants from Monash, industry, and Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education. Notable awards include the 2022 PVC's Excellence in Research Award and a best paper award at a young researchers colloquium. She actively collaborates internationally, contributing to UN SDGs related to sustainable cities and climate action. Research highlights include developing sustainable soil liners, optimizing geosynthetic reinforcement, and investigating landfill thermal dynamics. Her work bridges geotechnical innovation with environmental sustainability, emphasizing practical applications in Malaysia and beyond.

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Hakkı ÖzhanView profile

Professor

Yeditepe UniversityTurkey

Prof. Hakkı Özhan is a faculty member at Yeditepe University's Faculty of Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering. He previously held academic positions at Altınbaş University (2012-2020) and Boğaziçi University (2005-2012). His research focuses on geosynthetic clay liners, soil stabilization, microplastic contamination, and waste containment systems. PhD in Civil Engineering (2004-2011), Boğaziçi University MS in Civil Engineering (2001-2004), Boğaziçi University BS in Civil Engineering (1996-2000), Istanbul Technical University His work investigates polymer-soil interactions, internal erosion mechanisms, and environmental impacts on geotechnical systems. Recent studies analyze microplastic effects on soil compaction and thermal-chemical stress on geosynthetic barriers. 2024: Microplastic contamination in sandy soils 2023: Biopolymer-modified GCLs and saline permeability 2021: Polymer-treated bentonite-sand mixtures 2018: Thermal impacts on GCL performance 2017: Bond length optimization for ground anchors He has supervised 6 graduate theses and led TUBITAK-funded projects on microplastic mitigation and polymer-enhanced barriers. Currently teaches Soil Mechanics, Foundation Engineering, and Geosynthetics in Civil Engineering.

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