Short Course Title: Geosynthetic Clay Liners: from Insights to Outsights
Date and time: Sunday, 17th September 2023 – 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
This short course is designed to provide the most recent findings from research and the state-of-practice to experts and novices on geosynthetic clay liners in waste containment barrier systems. Following an overall introduction, the course then focuses on providing insight into bentonite properties, GCL unsaturated properties, hydration processes, and heat effects. Emphasis is also given to the need to consider the interaction of both geosynthetic and soil components of the overall barrier system to ensure adequate performance. Finally, geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) interaction with fluids typically encountered in landfills, mining and brine ponds will be discussed, including interactions with emerging contaminants such as Per and Poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).
BIO
Dr A (Malek) Bouazza is a Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree at the Ecole Polytechnique of Algiers, Algeria and his PhD at the University of Glasgow, U.K. His research has been recognised by several awards, including the IGS Award (twice) for outstanding contribution to advances in the scientific and engineering developments of geosynthetics, the Telford Premium Prize (twice) from the Institution of Civil Engineers, U.K., the R.M. Quigley Award (twice) from the Canadian Geotechnical Society, the E.H. Davis Memorial Lecture Award from the Australian Geomechanics Society, and the IGS Plaque for significant contributions to the International Geosynthetics Society and outstanding technical contributions to the geosynthetics discipline. He has recently delivered the 3rd ISSMGE honour lecture on Environmental Geotechnics (the 3rd Kerry Rowe Lecture). He was named in 2021 as an Honorary Life Member of the Australasian Chapter of IGS in recognition of the significant contribution he has made in supporting the geosynthetics profession, and in 2022 he was presented with the IGS chapter service award in recognition of his exceptional service and achievement at the chapter level as well as internationally. In addition to his academic commitments, Professor Bouazza engages extensively with industry and regularly conducts peer reviews, third-party reviews and expert consultation for containment-system engineering projects such as landfills, mining waste containment facilities, heap leach pads, shale/coal gas recovery ponds, industry process liquid ponds and similar.
