June 25, 2026, Brisbane, QLD, Australia – Through a higher degree research partnership program with Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Knight Piésold Australia’s Brisbane office is advancing geotechnical research that addresses critical, industry-wide challenges with targeted, high-impact studies aligned with operational and design priorities.

The program currently supports three PhD research projects investigating the critical state behaviour of unsaturated filtered tailings, the transitional behaviour of silty gold tailings, and the optimisation of cyclone sand gradation. Two additional PhD studies commenced in early 2026 to examine the undrained and residual strength characteristics of residual soils, expanding the scope of collaborative research.

As part of this program, a student successfully completed PhD studies in 2024 with one journal and two international conference publications. The outcomes of this PhD study have been integrated into the designs of tailings storage facilities at an Australian copper-gold mine.   

International Conference Presentation

The program recently achieved another significant milestone with the presentation of “Unsaturated Shear Strength Characteristics of Filtered Tailings Using a Modified Direct Simple Shear Apparatus” at the 21st International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ICSMGE).  Udeshika Thenuwara, a PhD student under the supervision of Chaminda Gallage from QUT, presented the paper during Session TU-11 on 16 June 2026. The paper was co-authored by Dareeju Biyanvilage, Senior Geotechnical Engineer at Knight Piésold Australia and who served as the industry supervisor, alongside Les Dawes and Gallage from QUT.

Held every four years, ICSMGE is a global forum for geotechnical engineering that attracts researchers, practitioners, industry leaders, academics, and students from around the world. The 21st ICSMGE, held 14-19 June 2026 in Vienna, Austria, marked a landmark celebration of 100 years of modern soil mechanics—a century since Karl Terzaghi’s pioneering work laid the foundations of the discipline.

The paper showcases the development of an innovative modified direct simple shear apparatus capable of suction-controlled critical state testing and provides new insights into the influence of suction on the strength and critical state behaviour of filtered tailings.

Technical Excellence and Industry Advancement

Biyanvilage joined Knight Piésold’s Brisbane office in 2018, a year after completing his PhD in geotechnical engineering at QUT. After spending four years with the company, he returned in 2024 as a senior geotechnical engineer. He has published over 23 peer-reviewed technical papers related to geotechnical and civil engineering, laboratory testing, and geotechnical hazard management.

He leads the program through which Knight Piésold contributes access to project data, external industry supervision, and up to three months of industry-based design experience at the Brisbane office for participating researchers.

“This partnership with QUT allows us to bridge the gap between academic research and practical industry application,” said Biyanvilage. “We’re tackling real-world engineering challenges and investing in the next generation of geotechnical professionals who will shape the future of our industry.”

He added, “The insights we generate through this program directly enhance our ability to provide clients with innovative, evidence-based design solutions that optimise project performance, reduce risk, and support long-term operational success.”

This partnership exemplifies Knight Piésold’s commitment to advancing the geotechnical profession through rigorous research, practical innovation, and talent development that delivers safe, sustainable, and technically robust solutions for clients worldwide.

Photo Credit: Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus, Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons