Author
G. Ward Wilson
Other affiliations: Golder Associates, Hastings Entertainment
Bio: G. Ward Wilson is an academic researcher from University of British Columbia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Tailings & Waste disposal. The author has an hindex of 13, co-authored 19 publications receiving 972 citations. Previous affiliations of G. Ward Wilson include Golder Associates & Hastings Entertainment.
Papers
More filters
TL;DR: In this paper, the maximum or potential rate of evaporation determined on the basis of climatic conditions is estimated using traditional methods, such as the maximum and potential rate for each day of the year.
Abstract: Traditional methods of evaluating evaporation provide an estimate of the maximum or potential rate of evaporation determined on the basis of climatic conditions. Methods such as these are appropria...
283 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the implementation of unsaturated soil mechanics into engineering practice is dependent, to a large extent, upon an ability to estimate unsaturated ground soil property functions, such as soil-water properties.
Abstract: The implementation of unsaturated soil mechanics into engineering practice is dependent, to a large extent, upon an ability to estimate unsaturated soil property functions. The soil-water character...
261 citations
TL;DR: The grain size distribution is commonly used for soil classification; however, there is also potential to use the grain-size distribution as a basis for estimating soil behaviour as mentioned in this paper. But, this method is not suitable for the use of soil classification.
Abstract: The grain-size distribution is commonly used for soil classification; however, there is also potential to use the grain-size distribution as a basis for estimating soil behaviour. For example, much...
191 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a rational basis for the design of mixtures based on particle packing theory and laboratory investigations is presented, and a method is presented to predict mixture compressibility from mixture ratio and the properties of the parent waste rock and tailings.
Abstract: The technique of mixing mine waste rock and tailings for disposal has the potential to avoid the problems of acid rock drainage and tailings liquefaction. This paper presents a rational basis for the design of mixtures based on particle packing theory and laboratory investigations. Mixtures were conceptualized using a particle model that allows mixture design and interpretation of behaviour. Laboratory investigations included examination of tailings rheology, mixture trials, and compressibility testing of waste rock, tailings, and mixtures of waste rock and tailings. Results indicate that mixture design governs mixture structure, and consequently also compressibility behaviour. A method is presented to predict mixture compressibility from mixture ratio and the properties of the parent waste rock and tailings. The study provides theory for the design and evaluation of mixtures as a mine waste disposal technique and demonstrates that the design of geotechnical properties is possible for homogeneous mixtures...
64 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a column study of self weight consolidation of waste rock and tailings is presented. But this study is limited to surface mine waste disposal and does not consider the use of underground mines.
Abstract: Mixtures of waste rock and tailings are compared with unmixed waste rock and tailings in a column study of self weight consolidation. Standard practice for surface mine waste disposal produces the ...
48 citations
Cited by
More filters
Book•
24 Jul 2012TL;DR: This paper explains the nature of each of the previous challenges to the implementation of unsaturated soil mechanics, and the determination of indirect techniques for the estimation of uns saturated soil property functions.
Abstract: Unsaturated soil mechanics has rapidly become a part of geotechnical engineering practice as a result of solutions that have emerged to a number of key problems (or challenges). The solutions have emerged from numerous research studies focusing on issues that have a hindrance to the usage of unsaturated soil mechanics. The primary challenges to the implementation of unsaturated soil mechanics can be stated as follows: (1) The need to understand the fundamental, theoretical behavior of an unsaturated soil; (2) the formulation of suitable constitutive equations and the testing for uniqueness of proposed constitutive relationships; (3) the ability to formulate and solve one or more nonlinear partial differential equations using numerical methods; (4) the determination of indirect techniques for the estimation of unsaturated soil property functions, and (5) in situ and laboratory devices for the measurement of a wide range of soil suctions. This paper explains the nature of each of the previous challenges and...
562 citations
TL;DR: A review of the history of microstructure investigation in unsaturated soils and the engineering significance of this research to date can be found in this article, where the authors focus on the evaluation of the current state of use and the development of two widely used techniques to study the micro-structure of partially saturated soils.
Abstract: With the advent of modern microstructural testing techniques and microstructure based constitutive models the microstructural characterisation of soils is gaining prominence. This paper reviews the history of microstructure investigation in unsaturated soils and discusses the engineering significance of this research to date. After a brief overview of the main microstructural techniques, the paper focuses on the evaluation of the current state of use and the development of two widely used techniques to study the microstructure of partially saturated soils, namely mercury intrusion porosimetry and the environmental scanning electron microscopy. The details of these techniques, their advantages and limitations, are first covered, followed by the presentation of selected test results. These results highlight the use of these techniques for understanding different hydro-mechanical behavioural features observed at macroscopic scale. Specifically, the paper shows the use of these techniques to explore the fundamental properties of water retention characteristics, water permeability, and micro and macrostructural interactions along different hydro-mechanical paths.
405 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the characterization of cementitiously stabilized layers and the properties that influence pavement performance are discussed, as well as performance-related procedures for characterizing these layers and performance-prediction models for incorporation into the mechanistic-empirical pavement analysis methods.
Abstract: This report presents information on the characterization of cementitiously stabilized layers and the properties that influence pavement performance. It also contains recommended performance-related procedures for characterizing these layers and performance-prediction models for incorporation into the mechanistic–empirical pavement analysis methods. Individual chapters highlight pavement distresses of hot-mix asphalt pavements and concrete pavements, laboratory tests and model development, and model calibration. The material contained in the report will be of immediate interest to state materials, pavement, and construction engineers and others involved in the different aspects of pavement design and construction.
270 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined and assessed predictive methods for the saturated hydraulic conductivity of soils and found that most predictive methods were calibrated using laboratory permeability tests performed on either disturbed or intact specimens for which the test conditions were either measured or supposed to be known.
Abstract: This paper examines and assesses predictive methods for the saturated hydraulic conductivity of soils. The soil definition is that of engineering. It is not that of soil science and agriculture, which corresponds to “top soil” in engineering. Most predictive methods were calibrated using laboratory permeability tests performed on either disturbed or intact specimens for which the test conditions were either measured or supposed to be known. The quality of predictive equations depends highly on the test quality. Without examining all the quality issues, the paper explains the 14 most important mistakes for tests in rigid-wall or flexible-wall permeameters. Then, it briefly presents 45 predictive methods, and in detail, those with some potential, such as the Kozeny-Carman equation. Afterwards, the data of hundreds of excellent quality tests, with none of the 14 mistakes, are used to assess the predictive methods with a potential. The relative performance of those methods is evaluated and presented in graphs. Three methods are found to work fairly well for non-plastic soils, two for plastic soils without fissures, and one for compacted plastic soils used for liners and covers. The paper discusses the effects of temperature and intrinsic anisotropy within the specimen, but not larger scale anisotropy within aquifers and aquitards.
270 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the implementation of unsaturated soil mechanics into engineering practice is dependent, to a large extent, upon an ability to estimate unsaturated ground soil property functions, such as soil-water properties.
Abstract: The implementation of unsaturated soil mechanics into engineering practice is dependent, to a large extent, upon an ability to estimate unsaturated soil property functions. The soil-water character...
261 citations