Ground Engineering and Applications

This volume presents the select proceedings of the 8th Indian Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference (8IYGEC 2021) on the following conference themes: Ground Improvement and Transportation Geotechnics. The papers in this volume cover a wide range of topics on ground improvement which include the modification using different synthetic and natural materials and inclusions in the form of fibers, geotextiles, geogrids, prefabricated vertical drains and soil nails in different ground improvement applications, and chemical modification of problematic soils using both natural additives and industrial by-products such as lime, cement, calcium chloride, calcium carbide, lignosulphonate, fly ash, blast furnace slag and bioenzymes, treatment of expansive soils with granular piles, vibro-compaction, etc. Further, this volume covers the various aspects of transportation geotechnics related to the static and dynamic performance of pavements reinforced with geosynthetic materials, drainage characteristics, and the use of marginal materials in pavements, etc. The book can be a valuable reference for researchers and professionals.

Dr. T. Thyagaraj is a Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras. He obtained his B.E. (Civil) from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and M.Sc. (Engg.) and Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He worked as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, NIT Warangal, during 2006–2007. He had a brief stint at King Saud University as a Research Fellow and Assistant Professor during 2008, before moving to IIT Madras as an Assistant Professor in August 2008. His research interests include unsaturated soil behaviour, ground improvement, geoenvironmental engineering and use of waste materials. He has supervised 10 Doctoral, 2 MS and 25 M.Tech. theses and published 49 papers in reputed international journals. He received the prestigious Indian Geotechnical Society’s Prof. Dinesh Mohan Award in 2016 for excellence in geotechnical practices. He has served as an editorial board member of the International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. Currently, he is serving as an editorial board member of the Indian Geotechnical Journal. He is a qualified NABL assessor for ISO/IEC 17025:2017. He is a Fellow of Indian Geotechnical Society (FIGS).

Dr. P. T. Ravichandran is a Professor and Head of the Department in Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur. He graduated B.E. (Civil) from Madurai Kamaraj University and M.Tech. (Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering) and Ph.D. CEG from Anna University, Chennai, India. He has been selected for best paper awards more than 10 times. His field of research includes Geoenvironmental engineering, Ground improvement techniques and Bio-Geo engineering. He held responsibilities for more than 60 programmes conducted as coordinator and convener. He has supervised 10 doctoral and 20 M.Tech. theses and published 100+ papers in reputed international/national journals. He is a Fellow in the Institution of Engineers (India) and Indian Geotechnical Society (FIGS).

Dr.G. Janardhanan is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Head
of the Centre for Academic Studies and Research at the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research Chennai. He published around 45 research articles in international and national journals and conferences. He has been granted patent by GoI towards manufacturing artificial aggregate from waste. He has coordinated more than 23 international training programmes and trained around 400 international delegates from 68 different countries. He has coordinated more than 200 training programmes and trained more than 15000 participants. He has developed and offered six MOOCS with a registration of more than 30000. He is serving as a reviewer for various journals and international conferences. He has received fellowship and awards.

Dr. S. Bhuvaneshwari is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University. She has obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Alagappa Chettiar College of Engineering and Technology, Karaikudi, India, in 2003, M.E., in Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering from the College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University in 2005, and Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering from IIT Madras in 2011. Her field of research includes ground improvement techniques and geoenvironmental engineering. She has worked on bio-reactor landfills during her brief stint at NJIT, USA. She has received the Early Career Research Award from the Science and Engineering Research Board in 2018. She has over 20 peer-reviewed journal papers, conference publications and book chapters. She is also a member of the Indian Geotechnical Society and Indian Society for Technical Education.

Dr. M. Muttharam is a Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, CEG at Anna University, and now heading the Division of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. She obtained her bachelor’s in civil engineering from Madras University in 1992 by securing university’s seventh rank and her master’s degree from Anna University in 1995 with a specialization of hydrology and water resources engineering by securing university’s first rank. She started her academic career as a lecturer at CEG, Anna University, in 2003 and was promoted to an Assistant Professor in 2006, Associate Professor in 2009 and then Professor in 2012. Presently, she is also an additional controller of Examinations (UDs), Anna University. She has published more than 40 technical papers in national and international journals and at conferences.

Dr. V. B. Maji presently working as a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, joined the department in the year 2008. He has received his Ph.D. degree from the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, a master of technology degree, from the Institute ofTechnology (nowIIT), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), India, and a bachelor of science engineering degree from BIT Sindri, Dhanbad, India. Prior to joining IIT Madras, he has also worked as an associate consultant in Advanced Technologies and Engineering Services (ATES), a consultancy division of AIMIL Ltd. New Delhi. His teaching and research interest include rock mechanics, tunnelling, strength and deformation behaviour of rocks and rock masses.