Emeritus Professor David Williams
Emeritus Professor

David Williams

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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)

41 - 60 of 416 works

2020

Journal Article

Experimental and numerical studies of a strip footing on geosynthetic-reinforced sand

Xu, Youwei, Yan, Guanxi, Williams, David J., Serati, Mehdi, Scheuermann, Alexander and Vangsness, Timothy (2020). Experimental and numerical studies of a strip footing on geosynthetic-reinforced sand. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 20 (5), 267-280. doi: 10.1680/jphmg.18.00021

Experimental and numerical studies of a strip footing on geosynthetic-reinforced sand

2020

Journal Article

Mineralogy and microstructural aspects of raw and calcined sewage sludge: considerations for its use in composite materials

Ingunza, Maria P.D., Yermán, Luis and Williams, David (2020). Mineralogy and microstructural aspects of raw and calcined sewage sludge: considerations for its use in composite materials. The Journal of Solid Waste Technology and Management, 46 (3), 384-393. doi: 10.5276/jswtm/2020.384

Mineralogy and microstructural aspects of raw and calcined sewage sludge: considerations for its use in composite materials

2020

Conference Publication

Failure Mode of Concrete Under Polyaxial Stresses

Serati, Mehdi , El-Amin, Mutaz , Williams, David J., Quintero Olaya, Sebastian , Karlovsek, Jurij and Hanzic, Lucija (2020). Failure Mode of Concrete Under Polyaxial Stresses. 54th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, Golden, CO United States, 28 June – 1 July 2020. Alexandria, VA United States: ARMA.

Failure Mode of Concrete Under Polyaxial Stresses

2020

Journal Article

Settling, consolidation and shear strength behaviour of coal tailings slurry

Islam, Shriful, Williams, David J., Llano-Serna, Marcelo and Zhang, Chenming (2020). Settling, consolidation and shear strength behaviour of coal tailings slurry. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, 30 (6), 849-857. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2020.03.013

Settling, consolidation and shear strength behaviour of coal tailings slurry

2020

Journal Article

Waste glass in civil engineering applications – a review

Kazmi, Danish, Williams, David J. and Serati, Mehdi (2020). Waste glass in civil engineering applications – a review. International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, 17 (2) ijac.13434, 529-554. doi: 10.1111/ijac.13434

Waste glass in civil engineering applications – a review

2020

Journal Article

Real-time monitoring of tailings dams

Clarkson, Luke, Williams, David and Seppälä, Jaakko (2020). Real-time monitoring of tailings dams. Georisk: Assessment and Management of Risk for Engineered Systems and Geohazards, 15 (2), 1-15. doi: 10.1080/17499518.2020.1740280

Real-time monitoring of tailings dams

2020

Other Outputs

Simulated weathering of coated sulfidic shales, report for Rio Tinto Iron Ore

Edraki, Mansour, Williams, David and Zhan, Chenming (2020). Simulated weathering of coated sulfidic shales, report for Rio Tinto Iron Ore. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.

Simulated weathering of coated sulfidic shales, report for Rio Tinto Iron Ore

2020

Conference Publication

Bayesian approach for the assessment of sufficiency of geotechnical data

Contreras, L. F., Serati, M. and Williams, D. J (2020). Bayesian approach for the assessment of sufficiency of geotechnical data. International Symposium on Slope Stability in Open Pit Mining and Civil Engineering, Perth, WA Australia, 12-14 May 2020. Perth, WA Australia: Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG).

Bayesian approach for the assessment of sufficiency of geotechnical data

2020

Book Chapter

Global research consortium on tailings

Franks, Daniel M., Littleboy, Anna and Williams, David (2020). Global research consortium on tailings. Towards Zero Harm: A Compendium of Papers Prepared for the Global Tailings Review. (pp. 231-237) edited by Bruno Oberle, David Brereton and Antonia Mihaylova. London, United Kingdom: Global Tailings Review.

Global research consortium on tailings

2019

Journal Article

Use of gravel loss prediction models in the design and management of unsealed road pavements

van Wijk, Ian, Williams, David J. and Serati, Mehdi (2019). Use of gravel loss prediction models in the design and management of unsealed road pavements. Transportation Research Record, 2673 (12), 036119811985408-746. doi: 10.1177/0361198119854081

Use of gravel loss prediction models in the design and management of unsealed road pavements

2019

Journal Article

Critical review of tailings dam monitoring best practice

Clarkson, Luke and Williams, David (2019). Critical review of tailings dam monitoring best practice. International Journal of Mining Reclamation and Environment, 34 (2), 1-30. doi: 10.1080/17480930.2019.1625172

Critical review of tailings dam monitoring best practice

2019

Journal Article

The effect of grain size on the hydrodynamics of mudflow surge from a tailings dam-break

Jing, Xiaofei, Chen, Yulong, Xie, Dan, Williams, David J., Wu, Shangwei, Wang, Wensong and Yin, Tianwei (2019). The effect of grain size on the hydrodynamics of mudflow surge from a tailings dam-break. Applied Sciences, 9 (12) 474, 2474. doi: 10.3390/app9122474

The effect of grain size on the hydrodynamics of mudflow surge from a tailings dam-break

2019

Journal Article

Overtopping failure of a reinforced tailings dam: laboratory investigation and forecasting model of dam failure

Jing, Xiaofei, Chen, Yulong, Williams, David J., Serna, Marcelo L. and Zheng, Hengwei (2019). Overtopping failure of a reinforced tailings dam: laboratory investigation and forecasting model of dam failure. Water, 11 (2) 315, 315. doi: 10.3390/w11020315

Overtopping failure of a reinforced tailings dam: laboratory investigation and forecasting model of dam failure

2019

Conference Publication

Assessing salt migration from compacted bauxite residual into overlying cover using an instrumented column

Zhang, Wenqiang, Zhang, Chenming, Lei, Ximing, Zhu, Yuyang, Quintero, Sebastian, Williams, David J. and O'Neill, Mike (2019). Assessing salt migration from compacted bauxite residual into overlying cover using an instrumented column. Tailings and Mine Waste 2019, Vancouver, Canada, 17-20 November 2019. Vancouver, Canada: University of British Columbia.

Assessing salt migration from compacted bauxite residual into overlying cover using an instrumented column

2019

Conference Publication

Analysis of groundwater advection and ground-heat exchanger spacing on intermittent ground-source heat pump operation

Lines, Scott Harold, Llano-Serna, Marcelo A. and Williams, David J. (2019). Analysis of groundwater advection and ground-heat exchanger spacing on intermittent ground-source heat pump operation. International Symposium on Energy Geotechnics, SEG 2018, Lausanne, France, 25-28 September 2018. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Verlag. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-99670-7_3

Analysis of groundwater advection and ground-heat exchanger spacing on intermittent ground-source heat pump operation

2019

Conference Publication

Comparison of basic geotechnical parameters of crushed waste glass with natural and manufactured sands

Kazmi, Danish, Williams, David J. and Serati, Mehdi (2019). Comparison of basic geotechnical parameters of crushed waste glass with natural and manufactured sands. 53rd US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, New York, NY, United States, 23-26 June 2019. Alexandria, VA, United States: American Rock Mechanics Association.

Comparison of basic geotechnical parameters of crushed waste glass with natural and manufactured sands

2019

Conference Publication

Experimental and numerical analysis of a slurry consolidation test on tailings

Islam, Shriful, Williams, David J. and Llano-Serna, Marcelo A. (2019). Experimental and numerical analysis of a slurry consolidation test on tailings. Tailings and Mine Waste 2019, Vancouver, Canada, 17-20 November 2019. Vancouver, Canada: University of British Columbia.

Experimental and numerical analysis of a slurry consolidation test on tailings

2019

Conference Publication

Applying a regional land use approach to mine closure: opportunities for restoring and regenerating mine-disturbed regional landscapes

Hattingh, R., Williams, D. J. and Corder, G. (2019). Applying a regional land use approach to mine closure: opportunities for restoring and regenerating mine-disturbed regional landscapes. International Conference on Mine Closure, Perth, Australia, 3-5 September 2019. Perth, Australia: Australian Centre for Geomechanics. doi: 10.36487/ACG_rep/1915_75_Hattingh

Applying a regional land use approach to mine closure: opportunities for restoring and regenerating mine-disturbed regional landscapes

2019

Conference Publication

Effects of testing conditions on measurement of material’s elastic properties

Mutaz Mahmoud, Serati, M., Nguyen, V.T. and Williams, D.J. (2019). Effects of testing conditions on measurement of material’s elastic properties. YSRM2019 & REIF2019, Okinawa, Japan, 1-4 December 2019. Okinawa, Japan: ISRM.

Effects of testing conditions on measurement of material’s elastic properties

2019

Conference Publication

Puzzles in tensile strength determination of hard rocks

Serati, Mehdi and Williams, David J. (2019). Puzzles in tensile strength determination of hard rocks. 53rd US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, New York, NY, United States, 23-26 June 2019. Alexandria, VA, United States: American Rock Mechanics Association.

Puzzles in tensile strength determination of hard rocks

Availability

Emeritus Professor David Williams is:
Available for supervision

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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

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