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)

121 - 140 of 416 works

2016

Conference Publication

Mine site rehabilitation - laying geotechnical foundations

Williams, D. J. (2016). Mine site rehabilitation - laying geotechnical foundations. Mine Closure 2014: Ninth International Conference on Mine Closure, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1-3 October 2014. Nedlands, WA, Australia: Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG).

Mine site rehabilitation - laying geotechnical foundations

2016

Book

Preventing acid and metalliferous drainage - Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry

Jones, David R., Taylor, Jeff, Pape, Sophie, McCullough, C. D., Brown Paul, Garvie, Andrew, Appleyard, Steve, Miller, Stuart, Unger, Corinne J., Laurencont, Tania, Slater, Stephen, Williams, David, Scott, Peter, Fawcett, Mike, Waggitt, Peter and Robertson, Alan (2016). Preventing acid and metalliferous drainage - Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.

Preventing acid and metalliferous drainage - Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry

2016

Conference Publication

Capping of a surface slurried coal tailings storage facility

Williams, D. J. and King, G. (2016). Capping of a surface slurried coal tailings storage facility. Mine Closure 2016, Perth, WA, Australia, 15-17 March 2016. Perth, WA, Australia: Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG).

Capping of a surface slurried coal tailings storage facility

2016

Journal Article

Simulations of fall cone test in soil mechanics using the material point method

Llano-Serna, M. A., Farias, M. M., Pedroso, D.M., Williams, D. J. and Sheng, D. (2016). Simulations of fall cone test in soil mechanics using the material point method. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 846, 336-341. doi: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.846.336

Simulations of fall cone test in soil mechanics using the material point method

2015

Journal Article

Development of a post-flood road maintenance strategy: case study Queensland, Australia

Khan, Misbah U., Mesbah, Mahmoud, Ferreira, Luis and Williams, David J. (2015). Development of a post-flood road maintenance strategy: case study Queensland, Australia. International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 18 (8), 1-12. doi: 10.1080/10298436.2015.1121781

Development of a post-flood road maintenance strategy: case study Queensland, Australia

2015

Journal Article

Weathering profiles of Bunya Phyllite in southwest Brisbane - a geotechnical approach

Marques, E. A. G. and Williams, D. J. (2015). Weathering profiles of Bunya Phyllite in southwest Brisbane - a geotechnical approach. Australian Geomechanics Journal, 50 (4), 97-104.

Weathering profiles of Bunya Phyllite in southwest Brisbane - a geotechnical approach

2015

Journal Article

Can hydrocarbon contamination influence clay soil grain size composition?

Trzcinski, Jerzy, Williams, David J. and Zbik, Marek S. (2015). Can hydrocarbon contamination influence clay soil grain size composition?. Applied Clay Science, 109-110, 49-54. doi: 10.1016/j.clay.2015.03.014

Can hydrocarbon contamination influence clay soil grain size composition?

2015

Journal Article

Estimating the tensile strength of super hard brittle materials using truncated spheroidal specimens

Serati, Mehdi, Alehossein, Habib and Williams, David J. (2015). Estimating the tensile strength of super hard brittle materials using truncated spheroidal specimens. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 78, 123-140. doi: 10.1016/j.jmps.2015.02.011

Estimating the tensile strength of super hard brittle materials using truncated spheroidal specimens

2015

Journal Article

How the hydro-gel flocculation microstructure changes

Zbik, M. S., Williams, D. J., Song, Y-F and Wang, C.C. (2015). How the hydro-gel flocculation microstructure changes. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 469, 11-19. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2014.12.062

How the hydro-gel flocculation microstructure changes

2015

Journal Article

Smectite clay microstructural behaviour on the Atterberg limits transition

Zbik, Marek S., Williams, David J., Song, Yen-Fang and Wang, Chun-Chieh (2015). Smectite clay microstructural behaviour on the Atterberg limits transition. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 467, 89-96. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2014.11.042

Smectite clay microstructural behaviour on the Atterberg limits transition

2015

Conference Publication

Micro-mechanical and micro-structural aspects of strength variation in rocks under various loading conditions

Erarslan, N., Ghamgoshar, M. and Williams, D. J. (2015). Micro-mechanical and micro-structural aspects of strength variation in rocks under various loading conditions. 24th International Mining Congress of Turkey, IMCET 2015, Antalya, Turkey, 14-17 April 2015. Ankara, Turkey: TMMOB Maden Muhendisleri Odasi.

Micro-mechanical and micro-structural aspects of strength variation in rocks under various loading conditions

2015

Conference Publication

A new tool for optimisation of mine waste management in potential acid forming conditions

Fu, Z., Li, Y., Topal, E. and Williams, D. J. (2015). A new tool for optimisation of mine waste management in potential acid forming conditions. Tailings and Mine Waste Management for the 21st Century, Sydney, Australia, 27-28 July 2015. Jolimont, WA, Australia: Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

A new tool for optimisation of mine waste management in potential acid forming conditions

2015

Conference Publication

An attempt to estimate waste rock and soil shear strengths based upon strengths of intact rock cores

Williams, David J., Taylor, G. and Herbert, D. (2015). An attempt to estimate waste rock and soil shear strengths based upon strengths of intact rock cores. Tailings and mine Waste 2015, Vancover, BC, Canada, 26-28 October 2015.

An attempt to estimate waste rock and soil shear strengths based upon strengths of intact rock cores

2015

Conference Publication

Effects of installation parameters of drilled displacement piles on in situ stress conditions in stiff clays

Larisch, M.D., Williams, D.J. and Scheuermann, A. (2015). Effects of installation parameters of drilled displacement piles on in situ stress conditions in stiff clays. 16th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, ECSMGE 2015, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 13-17 September 2015. London, United Kingdom: ICE Publishing.

Effects of installation parameters of drilled displacement piles on in situ stress conditions in stiff clays

2015

Book Chapter

Placing soil covers on soft mine tailings

Williams, David John (2015). Placing soil covers on soft mine tailings. Ground Improvement Case Histories: Compaction, Grouting and Geosynthetics. (pp. 51-81) edited by Buddhima Indraratna, Jian Chu and Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn . Kidlington, Oxford United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-08-100698-6.00002-7

Placing soil covers on soft mine tailings

2015

Conference Publication

Towards the elimination of conventional surface slurried tailings storage facilities

Williams, D. J. (2015). Towards the elimination of conventional surface slurried tailings storage facilities. Tailings and Mine Waste Management for the 21st Century, Sydney, Australia, 27-28 July 2015. Jolimont, WA, Australia: Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Towards the elimination of conventional surface slurried tailings storage facilities

2015

Conference Publication

Multiple factorial anaylsis of rock fragmentation under various cyclic loading conditions

Ghamgosar, M., Williams, D. J. and Erarslan, N. (2015). Multiple factorial anaylsis of rock fragmentation under various cyclic loading conditions. 13th ISRM International Congress of Rock Mechanics 2015, Montreal, QC, Canada, 10-13 May 2015. Lisbon, Portugal: International Society for Rock Mechanics.

Multiple factorial anaylsis of rock fragmentation under various cyclic loading conditions

2015

Conference Publication

Damage mechanism of drawbell in underground mines under repeated impact loading

Zhu, Libao, Erarslan, Nazife and Williams, David J. (2015). Damage mechanism of drawbell in underground mines under repeated impact loading. 13th ISRM International Congress of Rock Mechanics 2015, Montreal, QC, Canada, 10 - 13 May, 2015. Salzburg, Austria: International Society for Rock Mechanics.

Damage mechanism of drawbell in underground mines under repeated impact loading

2015

Conference Publication

Michell–Fourier analytical treatment of stresses in the ring test under parabolic compression

Serati, Mehdi and Williams, David J. (2015). Michell–Fourier analytical treatment of stresses in the ring test under parabolic compression. US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, San Francisco, CA, United States, 29 June - 1 July 2015. Alexandria, VA, United States: The American Rock Mechanics Association.

Michell–Fourier analytical treatment of stresses in the ring test under parabolic compression

2015

Conference Publication

Selection of shear strength profile for desiccated tailings to support an upstream raise

Williams, David J. (2015). Selection of shear strength profile for desiccated tailings to support an upstream raise. Tailings and Mine Waste 2015, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 26-28 October 2015.

Selection of shear strength profile for desiccated tailings to support an upstream raise

Availability

Emeritus Professor David Williams is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • 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

    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

    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

  • 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

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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