Emeritus Professor David Williams
Emeritus Professor

David Williams

Email: 

Background

Professor David John Williams was the Initiator and Director of the Geotechnical Engineering Centre within the School of Civil Engineering at The University of Queensland, an industry-funded centre that has attracted AUD10 million in funding over the period from 2007 to 2022. He also manages the industry-sponsored Large Open Pit Project, involving 10 global mining company sponsors, with current funding of USD1 million per year. He has over 40 years of teaching, research and consulting experience, and is internationally recognised for his expertise and experience in mine waste management and mine closure, pertaining to tailings dams in particular. He was a member of Expert Panel investigating technical causes of Brumadinho tailings dam failure and is on a number of Tailings Independent Technical Review Boards, including for Escondida Copper Mine in Chile. He authored in 2009 and 2016 Tailings Management Handbook, as part of the Commonwealth Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry. He is on Working Party for the Australian National Committee for Large Dams Guidelines on Tailings Dams – Planning, Design, Construction, Operation and Closure, published in 2012, with an Addendum in 2019 and currently being updated. He initiated in 2020 and largely delivers the AusIMM Tailings Management Professional Certificate Course that has been taken by almost 1,500 Tailings Practitioners worldwide.

David received his BE (Hons I) in Civil Engineering from Monash University in 1975 and his PhD in Soil Mechanics from the University of Cambridge in 1979. His research and consulting interests include:

  • Physical characterisation of mine tailings deposition, including beaching, hydraulic sorting, sedimentation, consolidation, desiccation and loading
  • Store and release cover systems for potentially acid forming mine wastes
  • Co-disposal of mine tailings and coarse-grained mine wastes
  • Dewatering and densification of mine tailings
  • Dewatering of mineral products
  • Moisture movement within mine wastes
  • Settlement of coarse-grained mine wastes
  • Strength of coarse-grained mine wastes
  • Engineered rehabilitation of mine sites
  • Risk assessment and cost-effectiveness analysis of mine site rehabilitation and closure
  • Long-term seepage and runoff from mine tailings storages
  • Characterisation of potentially acid forming waste rock dumps
  • Application of high-resolution digital stereo-photography to monitoring erosion from mine waste slopes
  • Mined landform evolution and design

Availability

Emeritus Professor David Williams is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Civil engineering Resources engineering and extractive metallurgy

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Engineering, Monash University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge

Research impacts

Professor Williams' research on mine tailings continues to be applied to improve the dewatering and densification of tailings deposited as a slurry. He developed the store and release cover system for potentially acid forming mine wastes for application in semi-arid and seasonally dry climates, which has been applied worldwide. He characterised the deposit formed on the pumped co-disposal of coal mine washery wastes; a method that has been widely adopted in the coalfields of eastern Australia and Indonesia. The co-disposal of coarse-grained mine wastes and tailings is also being applied. His research on the wetting-up of mine waste rock dumps has contributed to understanding of rainfall infiltration into and seepage from waste rock dumps.

The shear strength and settlement of coarse-grained mine wastes have become important as the scale of waste rock dumps and spoil piles increases. Professor Williams has been a pioneer in the application of risk assessment and cost-effectiveness analysis to mine site rehabilitation and closure. In addition, he applied high-resolution digital stereo-photography to monitoring erosion from mine waste slopes. He has pioneered mined landform evolution and design.

Shortlisted Media and Video Outputs

Search Professor David Williams’s works on UQ eSpace

416 works between 1981 and 2025
All (416) Journal Article (185) Book Chapter (9) Conference Publication (216) Book (3) Other Outputs (3)

1 - 20 of 416 works

2025

Journal Article

Backfill-geogrid interaction: insights from pullout tests and numerical simulation

Verma, Harshal, Mishra, Partha Narayan, Manna, Bappaditya and Williams, David (2025). Backfill-geogrid interaction: insights from pullout tests and numerical simulation. Acta Geotechnica 105182, 1-22. doi: 10.1007/s11440-025-02566-2

Backfill-geogrid interaction: insights from pullout tests and numerical simulation

2024

Journal Article

Statistical and Probabilistic Insights into the Internal Stability of an MSE Wall

Verma, Harshal, Mishra, Partha Narayan, Manna, Bappaditya and Williams, David (2024). Statistical and Probabilistic Insights into the Internal Stability of an MSE Wall. International Journal of Geomechanics, 24 (12) 04024289. doi: 10.1061/IJGNAI.GMENG-9955

Statistical and Probabilistic Insights into the Internal Stability of an MSE Wall

2024

Journal Article

Disclosure hesitancy and disaster risk: a survey of tailings professionals in the global mining industry

Kemp, Deanna, Sharma, Vigya, Harris, Jill, Blitz, Nellie and Williams, David (2024). Disclosure hesitancy and disaster risk: a survey of tailings professionals in the global mining industry. Minerals Engineering, 215 108821, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2024.108821

Disclosure hesitancy and disaster risk: a survey of tailings professionals in the global mining industry

2024

Journal Article

Tensile strength and dilative characteristics of compacted unsaturated clay-sized metalliferous tailings for bulk earthworks

Tian, Hua, Williams, David J. and Mandisodza, Keith (2024). Tensile strength and dilative characteristics of compacted unsaturated clay-sized metalliferous tailings for bulk earthworks. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 83 (9) 359. doi: 10.1007/s10064-024-03860-1

Tensile strength and dilative characteristics of compacted unsaturated clay-sized metalliferous tailings for bulk earthworks

2024

Journal Article

Mechanical behavior, petrography and microstructural analysis of mining waste recycled bricks

Ingunza, Maria P. D., Williams, David, Serati, Medhi and Olaya, Sebastian Q. (2024). Mechanical behavior, petrography and microstructural analysis of mining waste recycled bricks. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 26 (6), 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s10163-024-02051-0

Mechanical behavior, petrography and microstructural analysis of mining waste recycled bricks

2024

Conference Publication

Effects of polymer modified binder on asphalt mixes of flexible pavement used in Western Australia and its impacts on dynamic modulus

Nega, Ainalem, Gedafa, Daba and Williams, David (2024). Effects of polymer modified binder on asphalt mixes of flexible pavement used in Western Australia and its impacts on dynamic modulus. International Conference on Transportation and Development 2024, Atlanta, GA, United States, 15 - 18 June 2024. Reston, VA, United States: American Society of Civil Engineers. doi: 10.1061/9780784485538.020

Effects of polymer modified binder on asphalt mixes of flexible pavement used in Western Australia and its impacts on dynamic modulus

2024

Journal Article

Correction: Shear Strength and Consolidation Behaviour of Kaolin Clay Reinforced with a Granular Column Backfilled with Crushed Waste Glass

Kazmi, Danish, Serati, Mehdi, Williams, David J., Olaya, Sebastian Quintero, Qasim, Sadaf, Cheng, Yi Pik, Grizi, Athina and Javadi, Akbar A. (2024). Correction: Shear Strength and Consolidation Behaviour of Kaolin Clay Reinforced with a Granular Column Backfilled with Crushed Waste Glass. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 42 (5), 3633-3634. doi: 10.1007/s10706-024-02786-5

Correction: Shear Strength and Consolidation Behaviour of Kaolin Clay Reinforced with a Granular Column Backfilled with Crushed Waste Glass

2024

Journal Article

Shear Strength and Consolidation Behaviour of Kaolin Clay Reinforced with a Granular Column Backfilled with Crushed Waste Glass

Kazmi, Danish, Serati, Mehdi, Williams, David J., Quintero Olaya, Sebastian, Qasim, Sadaf, Cheng, Yi Pik, Grizi, Athina and Javadi, Akbar A. (2024). Shear Strength and Consolidation Behaviour of Kaolin Clay Reinforced with a Granular Column Backfilled with Crushed Waste Glass. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 42 (5), 1-18. doi: 10.1007/s10706-024-02748-x

Shear Strength and Consolidation Behaviour of Kaolin Clay Reinforced with a Granular Column Backfilled with Crushed Waste Glass

2023

Journal Article

Instrumented column testing on long-term consolidation and desiccation behaviour of coal tailings under natural weather conditions

Zhang, Wenqiang, Zhang, Chenming, Lei, Ximing, Quintero Olaya, Sebastian, Zhu, Yuyang, Zhao, Zicheng, Jensen, Steve and Williams, David John (2023). Instrumented column testing on long-term consolidation and desiccation behaviour of coal tailings under natural weather conditions. Acta Geotechnica, 19 (4), 1891-1909. doi: 10.1007/s11440-023-01984-4

Instrumented column testing on long-term consolidation and desiccation behaviour of coal tailings under natural weather conditions

2023

Journal Article

Crack mode-changing stress level in porous rocks under polyaxial stress conditions

Mutaz, E., Serati, M. and Williams, D. J. (2023). Crack mode-changing stress level in porous rocks under polyaxial stress conditions. Acta Geotechnica, 19 (2), 1-21. doi: 10.1007/s11440-023-01994-2

Crack mode-changing stress level in porous rocks under polyaxial stress conditions

2023

Conference Publication

On the use of crushed waste glass in green asphalt mixes

Kumar, Aayush, Serati, Mehdi, Vangla, Prashanth, van Wijk, Ian, Williams, David and Ramana, G. V. (2023). On the use of crushed waste glass in green asphalt mixes. International Conference on Airfield and Highway Pavements, Austin, TX, United States, 14-17 June 2023. Reston, VA, United States: American Society of Civil Engineers. doi: 10.1061/9780784484906.004

On the use of crushed waste glass in green asphalt mixes

2023

Journal Article

Consolidation testing of tailings in a slurry consolidometer using constant rate and accelerated loading

Islam, Shriful, Williams, David J. and Bhuyan, Md Habibullah (2023). Consolidation testing of tailings in a slurry consolidometer using constant rate and accelerated loading. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Geotechnical Engineering, 176 (3), 295-305. doi: 10.1680/jgeen.21.00065

Consolidation testing of tailings in a slurry consolidometer using constant rate and accelerated loading

2023

Journal Article

Engineering properties of fine-grained red mud

Tian, Hua, Williams, David J., Mandisodza, Keith, Zhang, Chenming, Olaya, Sebastian Quintero, Zhang, Wenqiang and Tang, Chongyi (2023). Engineering properties of fine-grained red mud. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 37 (6), 399-418. doi: 10.1080/17480930.2023.2212575

Engineering properties of fine-grained red mud

2023

Journal Article

Cost-effectiveness of tailings dewatering and stacking

Flottmann, Sophie, Williams, David and Kazmi, Danish (2023). Cost-effectiveness of tailings dewatering and stacking. Australian Geomechanics Journal, 58 (1), 81-88. doi: 10.56295/agj5814

Cost-effectiveness of tailings dewatering and stacking

2023

Conference Publication

Coupled thermo-mechanical study of crack initiation stress threshold in porous sandstone

Moravej, S., Mutaz, E., Serati, M. and Williams, D.J. (2023). Coupled thermo-mechanical study of crack initiation stress threshold in porous sandstone. Eurock 2022 - Rock and Fracture Mechanics in Rock Engineering and Mining, Helsinki, Finland, 11 - 15 September 2022. Bristol, United Kingdom: Institute of Physics Publishing. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1124/1/012022

Coupled thermo-mechanical study of crack initiation stress threshold in porous sandstone

2023

Conference Publication

Biaxial Loading of Brazilian Disc Samples

Serati, M., Mottaghi, R., Williams, D. J. and Chen, Z. (2023). Biaxial Loading of Brazilian Disc Samples. Rock and Fracture Mechanics in Rock Engineering and Mining, Helsinki, Finland, 11-15 September 2022. Bristol, United Kingdom: Institute of Physics. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1124/1/012017

Biaxial Loading of Brazilian Disc Samples

2023

Conference Publication

Validation of the crack mode-changing stress in circular tunnels under generalized triaxial tensile stress states

Mutaz, E., Serati, M., Williams, D.J. and Quintero, O.S. (2023). Validation of the crack mode-changing stress in circular tunnels under generalized triaxial tensile stress states. Eurock 2022 - Rock and Fracture Mechanics in Rock Engineering and Mining, Helsinki, Finland, 11 - 15 September 2022. Bristol, United Kingdom: Institute of Physics Publishing. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1124/1/012068

Validation of the crack mode-changing stress in circular tunnels under generalized triaxial tensile stress states

2023

Book Chapter

Management of coal tailings

Williams, David J. (2023). Management of coal tailings. The coal handbook: towards cleaner coal supply chains. (pp. 561-589) edited by Dave Osborne. Cambridge, MA, United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-824328-2.00008-x

Management of coal tailings

2022

Journal Article

Kaolin clay reinforced with a granular column containing crushed waste glass or traditional construction sands

Kazmi, Danish, Serati, Mehdi, Williams, David J., Quintero Olaya, Sebastian, Qasim, Sadaf, Cheng, Yi Pik and Carraro, J. Antonio H. (2022). Kaolin clay reinforced with a granular column containing crushed waste glass or traditional construction sands. International Journal of Geomechanics, 22 (4) 04022030. doi: 10.1061/(asce)gm.1943-5622.0002322

Kaolin clay reinforced with a granular column containing crushed waste glass or traditional construction sands

2022

Conference Publication

The effect of minor principal stress on the crack damage stress threshold

Mutaz, E., Serati, M., Bahaaddini, M. and Williams, D.J. (2022). The effect of minor principal stress on the crack damage stress threshold. 10th International Symposium on Rockbursts and Seismicity in Mines, Tucson, AZ, United States, 26-28 April 2022. Englewood, CO, United States: Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME).

The effect of minor principal stress on the crack damage stress threshold

Availability

Emeritus Professor David Williams is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Utilisation of Mining Wastes as Backfill Material for Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Walls

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Partha Narayan Mishra

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Behaviour of railway expansive soil subgrade under wetting and drying cycles

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Settling, consolidation and desiccation of mine tailings slurry

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Analytical model for the setup of driven piles

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The tailings dam design process: Design parameters and assessment methodologies

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Measuring the deformation of mine waste facilities

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Engineering Behaviour of Clay-sized Tailings Relevant to Their Disposal and Utilisation

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Continuous analysis of the timeseries data to predict early TARP for a closed Tailings storage facility using data driven methods.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Catastrophic rock and concrete brittle failures

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Mehdi Serati

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Tunnelling related topic - Water mitigation

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jurij Karlovsek

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Farming method and assessment of its application in bauxite residue using scaled laboratory model

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Master Philosophy

    Preventing fatalities tailings facilities failures: Pathways to action

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jill Harris, Professor Deanna Kemp

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Biocementation for Dispersive Soil Stabilization: Optimization and Up-scaling

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Mehdi Serati

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Assessment of hydrological and geotechnical behaviour of bauxite residue after filter pressing and repulping

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Thierry Bore, Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Value of Geotechnical Information as a Public or Private Asset

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jurij Karlovsek

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Emeritus Professor David Williams directly for media enquiries about:

  • Dumps - mine waste
  • Earthquakes - engineering
  • Engineering - earthquake
  • Engineering - geotechnical
  • Foundations - engineering
  • Geomechanics - mines
  • Geotechnical engineering
  • Landform design - mining
  • Mine rehabilitation
  • Mine waste disposal
  • Rehabilitation - mine sites
  • Slope stability - mining

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au