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 (4) Other Outputs (2)

341 - 360 of 416 works

1999

Conference Publication

Undrained bearing capacity of unsaturated tailings

Rassam, D. and Williams, D. J. (1999). Undrained bearing capacity of unsaturated tailings. 8th Australia-New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics, Hobart, 14-19 February 1999. Canberra: Aust. Geomechanics Society.

Undrained bearing capacity of unsaturated tailings

1999

Journal Article

Segregation of co-disposed coal mine washery wastes

Morris, P. H. and Williams, D. J. (1999). Segregation of co-disposed coal mine washery wastes. Canadian Institute of Mining Bulletin, 92 (1035), 72-76.

Segregation of co-disposed coal mine washery wastes

1999

Journal Article

A numerical study of steady state evaporative conditions applied to mine tailings

Rassam, Daud W. and Williams, David J. (1999). A numerical study of steady state evaporative conditions applied to mine tailings. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 36 (4), 640-650. doi: 10.1139/t99-030

A numerical study of steady state evaporative conditions applied to mine tailings

1999

Journal Article

Engineering properties of gold tailings

Rassam, Daud W. and Williams, D. J. (1999). Engineering properties of gold tailings. International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 13 (3), 91-96. doi: 10.1080/09208119908944223

Engineering properties of gold tailings

1998

Journal Article

A comparison of two mine waste beach profile equations

Morris, Peter H. and Williams, David J. (1998). A comparison of two mine waste beach profile equations. International Journal of Surface Mining, 12 (3), 97-100. doi: 10.1080/09208118908944030

A comparison of two mine waste beach profile equations

1997

Journal Article

Properties and performance of lateritic soil in road pavements

Mahalinga-Iyer, Umarany and Williams, David J. (1997). Properties and performance of lateritic soil in road pavements. Engineering Geology, 46 (2), 71-80. doi: 10.1016/S0013-7952(96)00096-8

Properties and performance of lateritic soil in road pavements

1997

Journal Article

Exponential longitudinal profiles of streams

Morris, Peter. H. and Williams, David J. (1997). Exponential longitudinal profiles of streams. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 22 (2), 143-163. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9837(199702)22:23.0.CO;2-Z

Exponential longitudinal profiles of streams

1997

Journal Article

Hydraulic Sorting Of Co-Disposed Coarse And Fine Coal Wastes

Morris, P. H. and Williams, D. J. (1997). Hydraulic Sorting Of Co-Disposed Coarse And Fine Coal Wastes. Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Section C - Mineral Processing, 106 (JAN/APR), C21-C26.

Hydraulic Sorting Of Co-Disposed Coarse And Fine Coal Wastes

1997

Journal Article

Bearing Capacity Of Open-Cut Coal-Mine Backfill Materials

Naderian, A. R. and Williams, D. J. (1997). Bearing Capacity Of Open-Cut Coal-Mine Backfill Materials. Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Section A - Mining Industry, 106, A30-A33.

Bearing Capacity Of Open-Cut Coal-Mine Backfill Materials

1997

Journal Article

Results Of Field Trials Of Co-Disposal Of Coarse And Fine Coal Wastes

Morris, P. H. and Williams, D. J. (1997). Results Of Field Trials Of Co-Disposal Of Coarse And Fine Coal Wastes. Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Section A - Mining Industry, 106, A38-A41.

Results Of Field Trials Of Co-Disposal Of Coarse And Fine Coal Wastes

1997

Journal Article

Co-Disposal Of Washery Wastes At Jeebropilly Colliery, Queensland, Australia

Morris, P. H. and Williams, D. J. (1997). Co-Disposal Of Washery Wastes At Jeebropilly Colliery, Queensland, Australia. Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Section A - Mining Industry, 106, A25-A29.

Co-Disposal Of Washery Wastes At Jeebropilly Colliery, Queensland, Australia

1997

Journal Article

Hydraulic Conditions Leading To Exponential Mine Tailings Delta Profiles

Morris, P. H. and Williams, D. J. (1997). Hydraulic Conditions Leading To Exponential Mine Tailings Delta Profiles. Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Section A - Mining Industry, 106, A34-A37.

Hydraulic Conditions Leading To Exponential Mine Tailings Delta Profiles

1996

Journal Article

Simulation of groundwater rise and its effects on settlements of open-cut coal mine back-fills

Naderian, A. R. and Williams, D. J. (1996). Simulation of groundwater rise and its effects on settlements of open-cut coal mine back-fills. International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Environment, 10 (2), 83-89. doi: 10.1080/09208119608964805

Simulation of groundwater rise and its effects on settlements of open-cut coal mine back-fills

1996

Journal Article

Prediction of Mine Tailings Delta Profiles

Morris, P. H. and Williams, D. J. (1996). Prediction of Mine Tailings Delta Profiles. Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Section A - Mining Industry, 105, A63-A68.

Prediction of Mine Tailings Delta Profiles

1996

Book Chapter

Minimisation and Management of Solid Wastes

Williams, D. J. (1996). Minimisation and Management of Solid Wastes. Environmental Management in the Australian Minerals and Energy Industry. (pp. 157-188) edited by Mulligan, D. R.. Sydney: UNSW Press in association with Australian Minerals and Energy Environment Foundation.

Minimisation and Management of Solid Wastes

1996

Journal Article

Numerical modelling of settlements in back-filled open-cut coal mines

Naderian, A. R., Williams, D. J. and Clark, I. H. (1996). Numerical modelling of settlements in back-filled open-cut coal mines. International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 10 (1), 25-29. doi: 10.1080/09208119608964791

Numerical modelling of settlements in back-filled open-cut coal mines

1996

Journal Article

Comparison of gas and water pycnometry of coal mine wastes

Morris, P. H. and Williams, D. J. (1996). Comparison of gas and water pycnometry of coal mine wastes. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 19 (1), 95-97.

Comparison of gas and water pycnometry of coal mine wastes

1996

Journal Article

Relative celerities of mobile bed flows with finite solids concentrations

Morris, P. H. and Williams, D. J. (1996). Relative celerities of mobile bed flows with finite solids concentrations. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, HY122 (6), 311-315. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(1996)122:6(311)

Relative celerities of mobile bed flows with finite solids concentrations

1996

Journal Article

Pumped co-disposal of coal washery wastes: economic and environmental benefits

Williams, D. J. (1996). Pumped co-disposal of coal washery wastes: economic and environmental benefits. The Australian Coal Review (1), 54-57.

Pumped co-disposal of coal washery wastes: economic and environmental benefits

1995

Journal Article

Acid Mine Drainage and Minesite Stability (Technical Paper 9509)

Williams, David J. (1995). Acid Mine Drainage and Minesite Stability (Technical Paper 9509). Australian Geomechanics (28), 81-86.

Acid Mine Drainage and Minesite Stability (Technical Paper 9509)

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

    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

    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

    The tailings dam design process: Design parameters and assessment methodologies

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • 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

    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

    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

    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

    Tunnelling related topic - Water mitigation

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jurij Karlovsek

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Damage Behaviour of Rock Salt Under Coupled Thermomechanical Polyaxial Stresses

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Mehdi Serati

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Catastrophic rock and concrete brittle failures

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Mehdi Serati

  • 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