Current Students David (Dawie) Marx, PhD student Research topic: A particle-level study of soil-geogrid interaction Previous degree(s): The University of Pretoria, South Africa Fun fact: I dread writing fun facts. There is nothing fun about them. Description of research My research focuses on soil-geogrid interaction in stabilization applications. In a stabilization application (e.g., a road base), the geogrid provides lateral restraint to the soil, resulting in less deformation under applied loads. By combining transparent sand, laser illumination, image processing and machine learning, I study the interaction of individual soil grains with the geogrid structure. Consequently, the effect of the particle size distribution of the soil on the load transfer from soil to geogrid can be investigated. By quantifying the load transfer mechanisms, it is possible to optimize the geogrid geometry for the soil at hand, leading to more economical, and thus more sustainable, designs. Other experience I have two years of consulting experience as a geotechnical engineer. I worked on slope stability analyses of lined waste storage facilities (ash, coal, solid waste), construction supervision of a hazardous landfill cell and cut-off drain including payment and dispute management, and design of ancillary infrastructure at a hazardous landfill. Contact dawie.marx@utexas.edu | www.linkedin.com/in/dawie-marx/ Publications David Hercules Marx – Google Scholar
