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Yahya Nazhat

Yahya Nazhat photo

BSc MSc MIEAust CPEng
Postgraduate Research Student
Centre for Geotechnical Research



School of Civil Engineering, Room 360
Phone: +61 2 9351 4393
Fax: +61 2 9351 3343
Email:



Research project - Dynamic effects in soil – Dynamic compaction

Supervisor: A/Prof David Airey

Soil-improvement by dynamic compaction technique has become a well-established method due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. The main goal of most soil improvement techniques used for reducing liquefaction hazards is to avoid large increases in pore water pressure during earthquake shaking. This can be achieved by densification of the soil. The success of dynamic compaction depends on soil type, moisture content, impact energy but the depth and extent of the soil improvement is often difficult to predict or yet not very well understood.

This project is to provide new experimental data of the mechanics of the compaction process using PIV photographic techniques and other instrumentation. Results of experiments will be compared with the predictions of dynamic, large displacement finite element analysis.

Dynamic Compaction

Selected publications

  • Yahya Nazhat & David Airey, The Effect of Different Tamper Geometries on the Dynamic Compaction of Sandy Soils, ISSMGE - TC 211, International Symposium on Ground Improvement IS-GI Brussels 31 May - 1 June 2012
  • Yahya Nazhat & David Airey, Applications of high speed photography and X-ray computerised tomography (Micro CT) in dynamic compaction tests, International Symposium on Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials, Seoul, Korea, September 1-3, 2011. booksonline.iospress.nl/Content/View.aspx?piid=26994
  • Yahya Nazhat & David Airey, Validation of High Speed Photography and PIV in Large Strain Measurements of Granular Materials, 9th International Symposium on Particle Image Velocimetry – PIV11, Kobe University, Japan, July 21-23, 2011
  • S.H. Chow, Y. Nazhat & D.W. Airey, Applications of High Speed Photography in Dynamic Tests, 7th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG 2010) 28 June - 1 July 2010, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • Slav Tchepak, Yahya Nazhat. Cast insitu piling for King's Wharf Project, Sydney, Australia. NYC2000 International Conference & Exposition. Deep Foundation Institute, N.Y. 2000, USA. dfi.org/pubdetail.asp?id=909
  • Al-Omari, R.R., Nazhat, Y.N. and Al-Dobaissi, H.H., Effect of Stiffness and Amount of Reinforcement on the Strength of Sand, The Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology. 28(1995), pp. 363 - 367. qjegh.geoscienceworld.org/content/28/4/363.abstract
  • Al-Omari, R.R., Al-Dobaissi, H.H., Nazhat, Y.N. and Wadood, B.A., Sheer Strength of Geomesh Reinforced Clay, International Journal of Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 8(1989), pp. 325-336.
  • Sirwan, K., Al-Omari, R.R., & Nazhat, Y.N., Sheer Behaviour of Gypsiferous Soils, Proceeding of the 2nd International Symposium on Environmental Geotechnology, Shanghai, China. Envo Publishing Co., Inc., Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA (1989), pp. 124-135.

Learning and Teaching

  • CIVL2410 Soil Mechanics
  • CIVL4903 Civil Engineering Design