Dr Kurt Douglas

Pells Sullivan Meynink Senior Lecturer of Rock Mechanics,

Associate Head (Engagement)

School of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Research interest

My research looks at how to better predict the properties of rock so that we can more efficiently design foundations, tunnels, slopes and dams..

I am attempting to improve our understanding and hence predictive capabilities of the behaviour of rock at the field scale using laboratory and field based studies. My research covers rockfill and rock mass strength and deformation as well as erosion prediction of spillways. I also investigate piping behaviour within embankment dams.

My research covers rock mass strength and deformation prediction, spillway erosion assessment and piping within embankment dams.

Lectures/Courses taught

I teach subjects in the Geotechnical Engineering field. As a third year undergraduate I will teach you the fundamentals of engineering geology (the 'geo' part of geotechnical) such that you will be able to predict the possible ground conditions you might encounter when assessing sites for future engineering projects. Students doing my fourth year elective will join me in learning about Geotechnical Engineering design. This includes the design of tunnels, slopes and foundations and the investigation and remediation of landslides. They will also join me on an action packed fieldtrip visiting mines, slopes, landslides, dams and other engineered structures. As a postgraduate student, I will give you specialised training in site investigation techniques, rock engineering for slope and underground design and foundation design.

Awards, Grants, Patents

Awards

2012 UNSW Staff Excellence Award for Excellence in Community Engagement – Group

2012 Professional Staff Excellence Award - Team

Grants

Robin Fell, Chongmin Song, William L. Peirson and Kurt J. Douglas, “Erosion of embankment dams and dam spillways”, Australian Research Council – Linkage Project LP110100389, $480,000 (2011-2013).

Education

PhD from UNSW Australia

BE with 1^st Class Honours in Civil Engineering from the University of Sydney, Australia

Phone

(+61 2) 9385 5046

E-mail

k.douglas@unsw.edu.au

Location

Civil Engineering Building (H20) Level 5, Room CE506 Kensington Campus

Books | 1998

Douglas KJ; Spannagle M; Fell R, 1998, Analysis of concrete and masonry dam incidents, 4, UNICIV Report R373, UNSW
Journal articles | 2024

Zhang P; Douglas K; Chen H; Song C; Russell AR, 2024, 'Non-dimensionalization and scaling of fracture processes in concrete and rock', Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 297, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2024.109854

Journal articles | 2023

Peirson WL; Prapakaran V; Fell R; Douglas K, 2023, 'On the hydraulics of flow in cracks in embankment dam cores', European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering, 27, pp. 1367 - 1382, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19648189.2022.2081993

Journal articles | 2019

Douglas KJ; Fell R; Peirson WL; Studholme H, 2019, 'Experimental investigation of global backward erosion and suffusion of soils in embankment dams', Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 56, pp. 789 - 807, http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2018-0088

Journal articles | 2019

Savage S; Douglas K; Fell R; Peirson W; Berndt R, 2019, 'Modeling the Erosion and Swelling of the Sides of Transverse Cracks in Embankment Dams', Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 145, http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002040

Journal articles | 2018

Douglas KJ; Pells S; Fell R; Peirson W, 2018, 'The influence of geological conditions on erosion of unlined spillways in rock', Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 51, pp. 219 - 228, http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/qjegh2017-087

Journal articles | 2017

Bertuzzi R; Douglas KJ; Mostyn G, 2017, 'Comparison of Intact Rock Strength Criteria for Pragmatic Design', Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 143, http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001644

Journal articles | 2016

Bertuzzi R; Douglas KJ; Mostyn G, 2016, 'An Approach to model the strength of coal pillars', International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 89, pp. 165 - 175, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2016.09.003

Journal articles | 2016

Bertuzzi R; Douglas KJ; Mostyn G, 2016, 'Comparison of quantified and chart GSI for four rock masses', Engineering Geology, 202, pp. 24 - 35, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.01.002

Journal articles | 2016

Bertuzzi R; Douglas KJ; Mostyn G, 2016, 'Improving the GSI Hoek-Brown criterion relationships', International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 89, pp. 185 - 199, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2016.09.008

Journal articles | 2016

Masoumi H; Douglas KJ; Russell AR, 2016, 'A Bounding Surface Plasticity Model for Intact Rock Exhibiting Size-Dependent Behaviour', Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 49, pp. 47 - 62, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00603-015-0744-8

Journal articles | 2016

Pells S; Douglas K; Pells PJN; Fell R; Peirson WL, 2016, 'Rock Mass Erodibility', Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 143, pp. 06016031 - 06016031, http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(asce)hy.1943-7900.0001243

Journal articles | 2015

Green DKE; Douglas KJ; Mostyn G, 2015, 'The simulation and discretisation of random fields for probabilistic finite element analysis of soils using meshes of arbitrary triangular elements', Computers and Geotechnics, 68, pp. 91 - 108, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2015.04.004

Journal articles | 2013

Wu L; Peirson B; Pells S; Douglas K; Miller B; Peirson W, 2013, 'On the significance of aeration in the assessment of erosion of unlined spillways', Houille Blanche, 2013, pp. 30 - 35, http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/lhb/2013022

Journal articles | 2013

Wu L; Peirson B; Pells S; Douglas K; Miller B, 2013, 'On the significance of aeration in the assessment of erosion of unlined spillways', HOUILLE BLANCHE-REVUE INTERNATIONALE DE L EAU, pp. 30 - 35, http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/lhb/2013022

Journal articles | 1999

Douglas KJ; Spannagle M; Fell R, 1999, 'Analysis of concrete and masonry dam incidents', International Journal on Hydropower and Dams, 6, pp. 108 - 115

Journal articles | 1997

Helgstedt MD; Douglas KJ; Mostyn G, 1997, 'A re-evaluation of in-situ direct shear tests, Aviemore Dam', Australian Geomechanics, pp. 56 - 65

Journal articles | 1997

Mostyn G; Helgstedt MD; Douglas KJ, 1997, 'Towards field bounds on rock mass failure criteria', Int. Jrnl. of Rock Mechanics and Mining Science
Conference Papers | 2023

Haider S; Clark P; Douglas K, 2023, 'Reliability Approach to Shotcrete Design in Sydney Tunnels', in Newns B (ed.), Conference Proceedings - Trends and Transitions in Tunnelling, New Zealand and Australian Tunnel Societies, Auckland, pp. 901 - 911, presented at 18th Australasian Tunnelling Conference, Auckland, 05 November 2023 - 08 November 2023, https://atc2023.com/

Conference Papers | 2019

2019, 'Guidelines for assessment of scour in unlined spillways'

Conference Papers | 2018

Glastonbury JP; Douglas KJ, 2018, 'Catastrophic rock slope failures - Observed characteristics and behaviour', in ISRM International Symposium 2000, IS 2000

Conference Papers | 2018

Mostyn G; Douglas K, 2018, 'Strength of intact rock and rock masses', in ISRM International Symposium 2000, IS 2000, CRC Press. Permission to Distribute - International Society for Rock Mechanics, Melbourne, Australia, presented at ISRM International Symposium 2000, Melbourne, Australia, 19 November 2018 - 24 November 2018, https://www.onepetro.org/conference-paper/ISRM-IS-2000-034?sort=&start=0&q=Strength+of+intact+rock+and+rock+masses&from_year=&peer_reviewed=&published_between=&fromSearchResults=true&to_year=&rows=10#

Reports | 2016

Douglas KJ; Fell R; Peirson W; Studholme H, 2016, Experimental Investigation of Global Backward Erosion and Suffusion, School Of Civil and Enviornmental Engineering, UNSW Australia, Sydney, R-465, https://www.engineering.unsw.edu.au/civil-engineering/research/uniciv-reports

Conference Papers | 2016

Pells S; Fell R; Douglas KJ; Peirson W, 2016, 'Erosion Of Unlined Spillways in Rock', in 20th Congress of the Asia and Pacific Division of IAHR, Colombo, Sri Lanka, presented at 20th Congress of the Asia Pacific Division of the International Association for Hydro Environment Engineering & Research, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 28 August 2016 - 31 August 2016

Conference Papers | 2015

Pells SE; Pells PJN; Peirson WL; Douglas KJ; Fell R, 2015, 'Erosion Of Unlined Spillways In Rock - does a "scour threshold" exist?', in CContemporary challenges for dams : conference proceedings : 2015 / ANCOLD, Australian National Committee on Large Dams, Brisbane, presented at ANCOLD Conference 2015, Brisbane, 04 November 2015 - 08 November 2015

Conference Papers | 2015

Allan R; Peirson W; Douglas KJ, 2015, 'Laboratory experiments and numerical modelling of backward erosion piping'

Conference Papers | 2014

Allan RJ; Douglas KJ; Peirson WL, 2014, 'Development of an experimental research program into backward erosion piping', in Cheng L; Draper S; An H (eds.), Scour and Erosion. Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Scour and Erosion, CRC Press/Balkema, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, pp. 249 - 255, presented at 7th International Conference on Scour and Erosion, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, 02 December 2014 - 04 December 2014, http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/b17703-30

Conference Papers | 2012

Martel B; Graham IT; Douglas KJ; Och D, 2012, 'Relationship between in-situ stress magnitudes and mineralogy of the Hawkesbury Sandstone, Sydney', in Proceedings of ANZ 2012, Melbourne, Victoria, pp. 1129 - 1134, presented at 11th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics (ANZ 2012), Melbourne, Victoria, 15 July 2012 - 18 July 2012

Conference Papers | 2012

Masoumi H; Douglas KJ; Russell AR, 2012, 'Experimental investigation of the size effect of Gosford Sandstone', in Proceedings of ANZ 2012, 11th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics (ANZ 2012), Melbourne, Victoria, pp. 644 - 649, presented at 11th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics (ANZ 2012), Melbourne, Victoria, 15 July 2012 - 18 July 2012

Conference Papers | 2012

Masoumi H; Douglas KJ; Saydam S; Hagan P, 2012, 'Experimental study of size effects of rock on UCS and point load tests (CD Paper No. 215)', in Proceedings 46th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, Curran Associates, Inc./ARMA, Chicago, USA, pp. 2561 - 2568, presented at 46th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, Chicago, USA, 24 June 2012 - 27 June 2012, https://www.onepetro.org/conference-paper/ARMA-2012-215

Conference Papers | 2012

Wu L; Peirson WL; Pells S; Douglas KJ; Miller BM, 2012, 'Aeration Drag Effects On Unlined Spillways - Paper 24/ICSE2012/000024', in Sixth International Conference on Scour and Erosion, Sixth International Conference on Scour and Erosion, Paris, France, presented at Sixth International Conference on Scour and Erosion, Paris, France, 27 August 2012 - 31 August 2012, http://scour-and-erosion.baw.de/conferences/icse6/index.php.html?id=98902a22d3159c0f17fb513fd8e1d698

Conference Papers | 2012

2012, 'Scour of Rock in Spillways – A Review'

Conference Papers | 2010

Masoumi H; Douglas KJ; Seyed A, 2010, 'Yielding in intact rock at different scales', in Xie F (ed.), Rock Stress and Earthquakes, CRC Press, Beijing, China, presented at The 5th International Symposium on In-situ Rock Stress, Beijing, China, 25 August 2010 - 27 August 2010, https://www.onepetro.org/conference-paper/ISRM-ISRS-2010-125

Conference Papers | 2010

Masoumi H; Douglas KJ, 2010, 'Review of rock slope displacement-time curves and failure prediction models', in Extracting the Science: A Century of Mining Research, Society of Mining Engineers (SME), Littleton, Colorado, USA, pp. 247 - 259, presented at Extracting the Science: A Century of Mining Research, SME Annual Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, 28 February 2010 - 03 March 2010

Conference Papers | 2007

Douglas KJ; Mostyn G, 2007, 'SPT-CTP Correlations from Botany Sands', in 10th ANZ Conference on Geomechanics, 10th ANZ Conference on Geomechanics, Brisbane, Qld, presented at 10th ANZ Conference on Geomechanics, Brisbane, Qld, 21 October 2007 - 24 October 2007

Conference Papers | 2007

Douglas KJ; Mostyn G, 2007, 'The strength of rock defects - numerical analysis of scale effects', in 11th Congress of the International Society for Rock Mechanics, 11th Congress of the International Society for Rock Mechanics, Lisbon, Portugal, presented at 11th Congress of the International Society for Rock Mechanics, Lisbon, Portugal, 09 July 2007 - 13 July 2007

Conference Papers | 2004

Douglas KJ; Mostyn G, 2004, 'The shear strength of rock masses', in 9th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics, 9th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics, Auckland, New Zealand, presented at 9th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics, Auckland, New Zealand, 08 February 2004 - 11 February 2004

Conference Papers | 2000

Duran A; Douglas KJ, 2000, 'Experience with empirical rock slope design', in Ervin MC (ed.), GeoEng2000 An International Conference on Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, Melbourne, pp. 41, presented at GeoEng2000 An International Conference on Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, Melbourne, 19 November 2000 - 24 November 2000

Conference Papers | 2000

Glastonbury JP; Douglas KJ, 2000, 'Catastrophic Rock Slope Failures', in Ervin MC (ed.), GeoEng2000 An International Conference on Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, GeoEng2000 An International Conference on Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, Melbourne, pp. 21, presented at GeoEng2000 An International Conference on Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, Melbourne, 19 November 2000 - 24 November 2000

Conference Papers | 2000

Mostyn G; Douglas KJ, 2000, 'Issues Lecture: The shear strength of intact rock and rock masses', in GeoEng2000 An International Conference on Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, GeoEng2000 An International Conference on Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, Melbourne, presented at GeoEng2000 An International Conference on Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, Melbourne, 19 November 2000 - 24 November 2000

Conference Papers | 1999

Douglas KJ; Mostyn G, 1999, 'Strength of large rock masses - Field verification', in Vail Rocks 1999 - 37th U.S. Symposium on Rock Mechanics (USRMS), pp. 271 - 276

Conference Papers | 1999

Douglas KJ; Mostyn G, 1999, 'Strength of large rock masses - field verification, rock mechanics for industry', in 37th US Rock Mechanics Symposium, 37th US rock mechanics symposium, Vail, Colorado, USA, presented at 37th US rock mechanics symposium, Vail, Colorado, USA, 06 June 1999 - 09 June 1999

Conference Papers | 1999

Douglas KJ; Spannagle M; Fell R, 1999, 'Estimating the probability of failure of concrete and masonry gravity dams', in Heinrichs P; Fell R (ed.), Proceedings of NZSOLD and ANCOLD Sympsoiums, ANCOLD Conference on Large Dams 1999, Australia, pp. 53 - 64, presented at ANCOLD Conference on Large Dams 1999, Australia

Conference Papers | 1999

Duran A; Douglas K, 1999, 'Do slopes designed with empirical rock mass strength criteria stand up?', in 20th Century Lessons, 21st Century Challenges., pp. 87 - 90

Conference Papers | 1999

Duran A; Douglas KJ, 1999, 'Do slopes designed with empirical rock mass strength criteria stand up', in 9th ISRM International Congress on Rock Mechanics, 9th ISRM International Congress on Rock Mechanics, Paris, France, pp. 87 - 90, presented at 9th ISRM International Congress on Rock Mechanics, Paris, France, 25 August 1999 - 28 August 1999

Conference Papers | 1998

Douglas KJ; Spannagle M; Fell R, 1998, 'Estimating the probability of failure of concrete and masonry gravity dams', in Heinrichs P; Fell R (ed.), Proceedings of NZSOLD and ANCOLD Sympsoiums, NZSOLD and ANCOLD Simposium 1998, Sydney, presented at NZSOLD and ANCOLD Simposium 1998, Sydney

Conference Papers | 1998

Douglas KJ, 1998, 'Case studies in the assessment of rock mass strength', in 3rd Australia-NewZealand Young Geotechnical Professionals Conference, 3rd Australia-NewZealand Young Geotechnical Professionals Conference, Melbourne, presented at 3rd Australia-NewZealand Young Geotechnical Professionals Conference, Melbourne

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