18
Risk Assessment , Monitoring , and Improvement of Soil Deposits : Application in the Malaysian Oil Palm Industry
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr M E Raghunandan Senior Lecturer PhD , CEng
Research expertise : Soil Dynamics & Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering , Geoenvironmental , Ground Improvement
E : mavinakere . raghunandan @ monash . edu T : + 603 5514 5679
Oil palm industry , a major contributor to the Malaysian economy , has seen rapid development in recent years . Owing to the demand for oil palm products , an increase in milling processes has resulted in increasing wastes and byproducts . Though wastes raise caution over a safe and sustainable environment , byproducts offer alternative construction material . Our research focuses on evaluating and assessing the influence of palm oil and their byproducts on the physical-chemical properties , shear strength and flow behaviors through soil deposits or samples in the laboratory . One of our recent research aims is to utilize oil palm shells ( OPS ) for soil stabilization owing to their tensile strength and relatively slower decomposition rates . This work particularly features the application of OPS towards vibration isolation subsurface soils , in addition to its suitability for soil reinforcement . The strength and compressibility of the OPS-reinforced-soil samples are studied using laboratory tests , with emphasis on the triaxial and 1D oedometer tests . Meanwhile , the isolation and attenuation behavior of the vibrations are studied using 1-g laboratory experimental models equipped with vibration source ( MVE-type electric motovibrator ) and uniaxial sensors located within the model foundation-soil-system as a shown in the image .
Spatiotemporal Evaluation of Fines Migration and Internal Erosion in Soils
Dr Ahmad Mousa Senior Lecturer PhD , PE
Research expertise : Forensic Engineering , Experimental Soil Mechanics
Water seepage is responsible for changes in soil fabrics through detachment and subsequent transport of fine particles from their stable assemblages . Internal erosion is a complex hydro-mechanical driver for these alternations in soils fabric including structural and physical characteristics . It is demonstrated in four ( 4 ) main forms : suffusion , suffosion , backward erosion , and piping . Experimental setups are prepared to examine internal erosion patterns . Coupled with hydraulic configuration , the adverse impact of internal erosion is largely governed by the intrinsic soil properties . Different gradient flow is allowed through a basefilter soil column . The mass loss distribution is monitored with time . A numerical model quantifying the spatiotemporal variation of the fine particle migration is being developed . Formulating fragility curves to forecast the internal instabilities in soils will be produced .
Palm oil-contaminated kaolin clay & laboratory soil column setup
Experimental setup to model foundation-soil-system in laboratory
Flexiarch bridge system based on modern precast concrete methods
E : ahmad . mousa @ monash . edu T : + 603 5514 6337
Hydrocarbon fire test on reinforced concrete columns
R E S E A R C H E R P R O F I L E 2022 / 2023