Proceedings of the 1st Indo-China Research Series in Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering

This book is a compilation of selected papers from the 1st Indo-China Research Series in Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering held in May 2020 online. The webinar series was held at a time of COVID-19 pandemic, when there is lack of physical connectivity. The cutting-edge research topics in Civil and Environmental Engineering ranging from bio-geotechnology, methane gas hydrates, frozen soils, rock testing, and related high-rise buildings response under wind loading will be covered. The contents make valuable contributions to academic researchers and engineers in the industry and provide a platform for demonstrating joint research between scientists from India and China. These are the first proceedings of its kind to demonstrate and motivate more joint research cooperation in Civil and Environmental Engineering between two countries. It was done mainly to motivate youth research scholars to understand each other and develop long-term cooperation.

Dr. Ankit Garg is Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Shantou University, China. Prior to it, he obtained his Ph.D. from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology under Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme and B.Tech. from IIT Guwahati (2006–2010). He was Former Assistant Professor at IIT, Guwahati (2015–2017), and also Part-time World Bank Consultant (2016–2017) for monitoring transport infrastructure projects in Assam, India. His research focuses on development and utilization of sustainable materials (biochar, fiber) including vegetation for soil remediation.  He has published more than 100 SCI publications, (including Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Geotechnical Testing Journal, ASTM, Geotechnique Letters, and Journal of Hydrology) and also published 3 ESI papers among which two papers are in top 0.1%. He is also currently Guest Editor for Special Issues related to Bio-engineering applications in soil and water remediationin “Journal of Hazardous Toxic and Radioactive Waste, ASCE,” International Journal of Damage Mechanics (SCI Journal), International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering, Springer (Web of Science), and Biomass Conversion and Bio-refinery (Springer, SCI) jointly with expertise from environmental science and soil science. Besides, he was awarded Talented Youth Scientist Program from MOST, China, Young Doctor Award from Ministry of Education Guangdong, and International Scientist Exchange Program. Further, he currently presides over National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Project on “Vegetation for soil remediation.” He has been invited to give lectures at Gifu University in Japan, Ruhr University in Germany, University of Leeds, UK, and National Ilan University in Taiwan.
 
Prof. C. H. Solanki is presently Professor (Geotechnical Engineering) in Civil Engineering Department, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (NIT Surat), Gujarat, and Faculty Member since August 1991. Prof. C H Solanki has guided 40 postgraduate dissertations and 16 Ph.D. thesis and is presently Research Supervisor of 11 ongoing Ph.D. scholars. He has published more than 150 research papers in reputed international/national journals and conferences. He has received the “Shri. M. S. Jain Biannual Award” for Best Paper in IGC-2013 and the “Distinguished Faculty Award” from The Venus International Faculty Awards-2016 and also received 2 best paper awards in conferences. Prof. C H Solanki has organized 16 national level events including STTP and seminars. He was Chairman for Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC) 2019, Surat. He has been elected as Member of the Executive Committee IGS for the three terms (2015–2020). He worked as Dean (Planning & Development) at SVNIT, Surat. He has published 03 books & edited proceedings. He has 29 years of teaching experience for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
 
Dr. Chandra Bogireddy is Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering Division at Vardhaman College of Engineering, Hyderabad. He obtained his B.Tech. in Civil Engineering from Sri Kalahasteeswara Institute of Technology, Srikalahasti, affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, in the year 2010. Later, he worked as Junior Engineer at Agri Gold Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, A.P., 2010. In 2012, he completed his M.Tech. in Geotechnical Engineering (Class Topper) from Sri Venkateswara University College of Engineering, S V University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. During his master’s dissertation, he worked on “Analysis of Engineering Behavior of Residual Tropical Soils-A Critical State Framework.” Later, he worked as Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering College (Autonomous), Tirupati, A.P., during 2013 to 2014. In the year 2019, his Ph.D. degree awarded on the thesis entitled “Rapid Assessment of Compressibility Behaviour of Clayey Soil from Experimental and Finite Element (FE) Simulations,” from Civil Engineering Department, SVNIT, Surat, Gujarat. During his research studies, he received two Best Paper Awards in the national conferences. In addition, he has been actively involved as Associate Student Warden for Gajjar Bhavan, SVNIT, Surat, and Student Coordinator for several workshops during his research. He delivered nine guest lectures in national seminars and is Chairman of technical session and Evaluator for poster session, in (GeoINDUS), Indian Geotechnical Conference 2019, organized by IGS Surat Chapter. He is also currently Reviewer for Advances in Science, Technology and Engineering Systems Journal (ASTESJ), USA, and Sustainable Civil Infrastructures (Springer Journal), and Hon. Editorial Board Member–Consulting Editor, Innovative Scientific Research Professional Malaysia, JETR Publisher, Malaysia. He is Associate Member of ASCE, SM Institution of Civil Engineers, Associate Member of Institute of Engineers (India), and Fellow of FSIESRP Life Member. His areas of interest are basic geomechanics, numerical modelling in geomechanics, image analysis, and site characterization.
 
Dr. Junwei Liu holds the position of Associate Dean in the School of Civil Engineering at Qingdao University of Technology (QUT), China. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Zhejiang University and served as a postdoctoral scholar before joining QUT. His research interests include offshore foundation dynamics, disaster prevention and mitigation engineering, and soil–structure interaction mechanism. In his tenure at QUT, he visited as a research scholar at Cambridge University, University College London, and University of Surrey, maintaining a strong collaboration and working on various intricate projects. Dr. Liu has published a textbook with 12 other articles on SCI indexed journals and 31 articles on EI indexed journals. He also authorized 17 invention patents and owns copyrights for 25 practical new-type patents and software. Dr. Liu presided 2 projects for Natural Science Foundation of China and 11 other projects in provincial and ministerial levels. The project includes metro construction for the city of Qingdao and Hangzhou and airport construction at Jiaodong. Dr. Liu has been awarded 8 academic level awards and 7 other major awards, securing first prizes at Qingdao S&T Progress, China Business Federation Science and Technology Progress and Heilongjiang Provincial Science & Technology Progress. As a member, he serves as an academic leader for “Shandong Provincial College Youth Innovation Team” and in other institutions including “Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Committee of China,” “China Association for Engineering Construction Standardization,” “The Institution of Civil Engineering (ICE),” and “Shandong Province Civil Engineering Society.”