Staff - School of Civil Engineering and the Environment

Academic Staff: Professor

Phone

023 8059 3214

Fax

023 8067 7519

E-mail

wp@soton.ac.uk

Room

5035

Building

Division

Infrastructure

Admin Duties

Module Coordinator, Director of University Knowledge Transfer Account

Biography

William Powrie is Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the School of Civil Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton. His main technical areas of interest are in geotechnical aspects of transport infrastructure, and sustainable waste and resource management.

William’s work on geotechnical aspects of transport infrastructure encompasses groundwater control, in-ground construction to reduce environmental impacts in urban and other sensitive areas, understanding and mitigating vegetation and climate change effects, and fundamental soil behaviour. Major projects on which he has worked include the A55 Conwy Crossing, the Jubilee Line extension stations at Canary Wharf and Canada Water and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. He is a co-author of Construction Industry Research and Information (CIRIA) reports C515 Groundwater control – design and practice (2000) and C580 Embedded retaining walls – guidance for economic design (2003). Both of these, together with Report C517 Temporary propping of deep excavations – guidance on design (1999), incorporate results of his research in these areas. He is Principal Investigator for Rail Research UK, a universities-based centre for Rail Systems Research that is looking to improve the sustainability, attractiveness and environmental performance of railways. He is an Associate Editor of the Canadian Geotechnical Journal, a former Honorary Editor of the Institution of Civil Engineers Proceedings journal Geotechnical Engineering, and has been Geotechnical Consultant to WJ Groundwater Ltd since 1987.

William’s work in waste and resource management focuses on landfill science and engineering, and on the development of a sound scientific basis for policy and practice. He leads a major EPSRC-funded programme of fundamental research, Science and Strategies for the Management of Residual Wastes, with the aim of enabling and encouraging landfill operation so as to accelerate biodegradation and stabilization of the waste (he was a co-author of the Institute of Wastes Management report on The role and operation of the flushing bioreactor). He has worked on the design and engineering risk assessment of the low level radioactive waste repositories at Drigg; is Honorary Editor of the ICE Proceedings journal Waste and Resource Management; a member of the Scientific Committee of the International Waste Working Group; and chair of the Technologies Advisory Committee for Defra’s £30M programme of research and demonstrator projects for new technologies for the treatment of biodegradable waste.

William is committed to the importance of encouraging sustainability in daily life, including in the key areas of transport and resource management. He cycles to work on a daily basis, and wherever possible will re-use and recycle goods and materials. He enjoys walking, cycling, reading and music.

Teaching

Modules taught by Prof. William Powrie

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Research Grants

Research Grants for Prof. William Powrie

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Publications

Journal Papers - Academic Journals

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Journal Papers - Professional Journals

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Powrie W., Bowness D, Others , (2003). "RRUK – a new start for track systems research." European Railway Review, 9 (3), 57-61

O'Reilly M.P., Bush D.I., Brady K.C., Powrie W., (1999). "The stability of drystone retaining walls on highways." Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (Municipal Engineering), 133 (2), 101-107

Powrie W., Chandler R J, Carder D, Watson G. V. R, (1999). "Back analysis of an embedded retaining wall with a stabilizing base slab." Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (Geotechnical Engineering), 137 (2), 75-86

Carder D, Watson G. V. R, Chandler R J, Powrie W., (1999). "Long term performance of an embedded retaining wall with a stabilizing base slab." Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (Geotechnical Engineering), 137 (2), 63-74

Powrie W., Boorman R, Leiper Q, (1999). "Use of vibrating wire strain gauges to measure loads in tubular steel propos supporting deep retaining walls." Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (Geotechnical Engineering), 137 (1), 3-13

Clayton C. R. I., Muller-Steinhagen H., Powrie W., (1995). "Terzaghi's theory of consolidation and the discovery of effective stress." Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (Geotechnical Engineering), 113 (4), 191-205

Powrie W., Preene M., (1994). "Performance of ejectors in construction dewatering systems." Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (geotechnical Engineering), 107 (3), 143-154

Preene M., Powrie W., (1994). "Construction dewatering in fine soils: some problems and solutions." Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (Geotechnical Engineering): awarded the ICE Robert Alfred Carr Premium 1995, 107 (1), 17-26

Bolton M D, Powrie W., Symons I.F., (1990). "The design of stiff in situ walls retaining overconsolidated clay part 2: long-term behaviour." Ground Engineering, 23 (2), 22-28

Bolton M D, Powrie W., Symons I.F., (1989). "The design of stiff in situ walls retaining overconsolidated clay part 1: short term behaviour." Ground Engineering, 22 (8 and 9), 44-47 and 34-40

Book - Short work

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Conference Contributions - Refereed

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Holscher P, Werweij A, Coelho B, Kremer A, Priest J. A., Powrie W., (2009). "Field test for reduction of maintenance of railway transition zones." 17th International Conference on Soil Mechanics & Geotechnical Engineering, Alexandria, Egypt 5-9 October 2009

Richards D. J., Powrie W., Beaven R. P., (2009). "Recent Research on the Hydrogeological and Settlement Characteristics of Landfilled Municipal Solid Waste." Proc. Int. Symp. On Geoenvironmental Eng., Advances in Environmental Geotechnics, ISGE2009, September 8-10, 2009, Hangzhou, China. Keynote Paper , 265-274

Siddiqui A, Richards D. J., Powrie W., (2009). "A Preliminary Analysis Of Mechanically Biologically Treated Waste: Biodegradation And Settlement Behaviour." Proc XII Int Waste Man and Landfill Symposium. Sardina, Italy, 5-9 October 2009 Paper B3 (CD Rom)

Velkushanova K, Caicedo D, Richards D. J., Powrie W., (2009). "A detailed characterisation of an MBT waste." Proc XII Int Waste Man and Landfill Symposium. Sardinia, Italy, 5-9 October 2009 Paper E10 (CD Rom) 5 - 9 October 2009 S. Margherita di Pula (Cagliari), Sardinia, Italy

Hudson A. P., Beaven R. P., Knox K., Powrie W., (2009). "Investigation of the clogging of landfill tyre drainage layers." Proceedings Sardinia 2009, Twelfth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium

Hudson A. P., Beaven R. P., Powrie W., (2009). "Assessment of vertical and horizontal hydraulic conductivities of household waste in a large scale compression cell." Proceedings Sardinia 2009, Twelfth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium

Priest J. A., Powrie W., Le Pen L, Mak P, Burstow M, (2008). "Performance of canted ballasted track during curving of high speed trains." 1st International Conference on Transportation Geotechnics, Nottingham, UK, 25th-27th August , 627-634

Powrie W., Beaven R. P., Hudson A. P., (2008). "The influence of landfill gas on the hydraulic conductivity of waste." Proceedings of Geocongress 2008. Annual Congress of the Geo-Institute of ASCE (ASCE, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 2008

Yunus A, Smallman D. J., Stringfellow A., Beaven R. P., Powrie W., (2008). "Characterisation of Landfill Leachate DOM Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy." Waste 2008, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK

Hudson A. P., Beaven R. P., Knox K., Powrie W., Guiness J, (2008). "Results of tests into the clogging of Landfill Drainage Layers formed of shredded and Baled Tyres." Waste 2008, Stratford-upon-Avon

Hudson A. P., Beaven R. P., Knox K., Powrie W., Smallman D. J., Guiness D. J., (2007). "Potential clogging of gravel and tyre drainage layers by methanogenic leachates." Sardinia 2007, Eleventh International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium. S Margherita di Pula, Sardinia, Italy. 1-5 October

Powrie W., Beaven R. P., Watson G. V. R, Richards D. J., Barker J. A., White J. K., Atkinson T, Munnich K., (2007). "Landfill Science Research Needs: After the EU Landfill Directive." XI International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, 1-5 October 2007, S.Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy

Hudson A. P., Beaven R. P., Powrie W., Connor D, (2006). "Investigation of biological and chemical clogging of landfill drainage layers formed of shredded tyres and tyre bale." Waste 2006, Sustainable Waste and Resource Management. Stratford upon Avon: The Waste Conference Limited.

Bowness D, Lock A. C., Richards D. J., Powrie W., (2005). "Innovative Remote Video Monitoring of Railway Track Displacements." Advances in Experimental Mechanics IV (Applied Mechanics and Materials), Vo 3-4, 417-422

Stringfellow A., Simoes A., Smallman D. J., Beaven R. P., Powrie W., Potter H, (2005). "Attenuation of toluene by mineral landfill liners." Proceedings of the 10th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, Sardinia 2005 , CD only

Rees-White T.C., Beaven R. P., Powrie W., Ellard H, (2005). "Designs to prevent sediment ingress to vertical wells in landfills containing CKD." Proc 10th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, Sardinia 2005 , CD only

Powrie W., Bevan M, Roberts T O L, (2005). "Transport of cement kiln dust leachate from an unlined landfill during construction dewatering." Proc 10th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, Sardinia 2005 , CD only

Rees-White T.C., Beaven R. P., Powrie W., Cole D.J., (2004). "The examination of 3 leachate wells exhumed from a landfill." Waste 2004, Stratford-upon-Avon , 333-342

Clark M, Richards D. J., Powrie W., (2004). "Wall installation effects - preliminary findings from a field study at the CTRL, Ashford." Advances in geotechnical engineering. The Skempton Conference, 2004, Thomas Telford, London., 2, 691-699

Simoes A., Powrie W., Smallman D. J., (2004). "Natural attenuation of chlorinated benzenes in landfill leachate by clay." Proceedings of the 4th BGA Geoenvironmental Engineering Conference, Stratford-on-Avon, UK, June 2004 , 151-159

Simoes A., Powrie W., Smallman D. J., (2003). "Natural attenuation of chlorinated benzenes in landfill leachate by natural clays." Proc 7th Int Symp on in situ and on-site bioremediation (eds V S Margarand & M E Kelly). Columbus: BattellePress

Simoes A., Powrie W., Smallman D. J., (2003). "Natural attenuation of organic contaminants in landfill leachate." Book of Abstracts of the Eur Conf on Natural Attenuation, Heidelberg, Germany, October 2002

Powrie W., Beaven R. P., (2003). "Bulk compressibility and hydraulic conductivity of used tyres in landfill drainage applications." Proc 9th Int Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, Sardinia 2003 , CD only

Harkness J., Powrie W., Harkness R. M., (2002). "Modelling of two-phase flow in landfill waste." Integrated waste management and pollution control: research policy and practice (Proceedings of the Waste 2002 Conference, Startford-upon-Avon, UK) , 82-91

Hudson A. P., Beaven R. P., Powrie W., (2002). "Interaction of water and gas in saturated household waste." Integrated waste management and pollution control: research policy and practice (Proceedings of the Waste 2002 Conference, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK) , 702-712

Simpson B., Powrie W., (2001). "Embedded retaining walls: theory, practice and design.." Proc XV International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Istanbul, 4, 2505-2524,

Hudson A. P., Beaven R. P., Powrie W., (2001). "Interaction of water and gas in saturated household waste in large scale compression cell.." In Sardinia 1999- Proceedings of the Eighth International Waste Management and landfill symposium,S.Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy; October 4-8, III, 585-594

Board M.J., Painter A., Cox S.E., Cole D.J., Powrie W., (2001). "The description and logging of samples arising from boreholes drilled in landfilled Wastes.." Proc. Sardinia 2001, Eighth Int. Waste Management and Landfill Symp., S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliera, Italy., IV, 447-456

Nikolova R., Powrie W., Humphreys P.N., Smallman D. J., (2001). "Performance of leachate drainage systems." Proceedings 8th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliera, Italy., III, 103-13

Powrie W., Al-Thani A.A., Beaven R. P., White J.K., (2001). "Modelling flow to leachate wells in landfills." Proceedings Sardinia, 2001, 8th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliera, Italy , 615-22

Hudson A. P., Beaven R. P., Powrie W., (2000). "Current research into the hydrogeological properties of household waste using a large scale compression cell.." Proc. Waste 2000 Conf., Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire , 227-237

Hudson A. P., Beaven R. P., Powrie W., (1999). "Current Research into hydrological properties of household waste using a large scale compression cell.." Sardinia 99-Proceedings of the seventh International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium,S.Margherita di Pula,Cagliari, Italy.Oct4-8 1999. , 227237

Hudson A. P., Beaven R. P., Powrie W., (1999). "Measurement of the hydraulic conductivity of household waste in a large scale compression cell." Sardinia 99-proceedings of the seventh international waste management and landfill symposium,S.Margherita di Pula,Cagliari,Italy:Oct 4-8 1999, III, 461-468

Richards D. J., Powrie W., Beaven R. P., (1997). "Factors Relevant to the Determination of Final Fill Levels in Landfills.." Sixth International Landfill Symposium, Sardinia, III, 413-420

Richards D. J., Powrie W., Kantartzi C, (1994). "Modelling diaphragm wall installation and excavation processes.." Centrifuge 94 (ed C F Leung, F H Lee and T S Tan), Rotterdam: A A Balkema, , 655-661

Conference Contributions - Other

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Coelho B, Priest J. A., Holscher P, Powrie W., (2009). "Monitoring of transition zones in railways." Railway Engineering conference 2009

Powrie W., Priest J. A., (2008). "High speed railways: some aspects of ballasted track system performance." International Seminar on Interaction soil-rail track for high speed railways-Geotechnical aspects, LNEC, Lisbon, Portugal, 23rd - 24th September

Powrie W., Priest J. A., Clayton C. R. I., (2008). "Recent research on railway track sub-base behaviour." Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Transportation Geotechnics, Nottingham, UK, 25th -27th August , 37-46

Dixon N, Dijkstra T A, Glendinning S, Hughes P N, Hughes DAB, Clarke D., Smethurst J., Powrie W., Toll D, Mendes A.C., (2008). "Climate change and slope stability - improving our forecasting capabilities." 61st Canadian Geotechnical Conference, Edmonton

Hughes P N, Glendinning S, Dixon N, Dijkstra T A, Clarke D., Smethurst J., Powrie W., Toll D, Mendes J, Hughes DAB, (2008). "Field testing and modelling the effects of climate on geotechnical infrastructure - a collaborative approach." 1st ISSMGE International Conference on Transportation Geotechnics, Nottingham, UK. August 2008.

Glendinning S, Hughes P N, Hughes DAB, Clarke D., Smethurst J., Powrie W., Dixon N, Dijkstra T A, Toll D G, Mendes J, (2008). "Biological and engineering impacts of climate on slopes - learning from full scale." 10th International Symposium on Landslides and Engineered Slopes, Xi'an, China , 1553-1558

White J. K., Beaven R. P., Powrie W., Knox K., (2007). "Leachate recirculation in a landfill: a simple 1-D model." Proc 2nd Int Workshop on Hydro-Physico-Mechanics of Wastes, Southampton, 18-19 April 2007

Powrie W., Beaven R. P., Hudson A. P., (2005). "Factors affecting the hydraulic conductivity of waste." Proc Int Workshop on Hydro-Physico-Mechanics of Landills, Grenoble, 21-22 March 2005

Yang L. A., Clayton C. R. I., Powrie W., Bowness D, (2005). "Preliminary studies into the effects of principal stress rotation on railway subgrade behaviour." Railway Engineering 2005 - 8th International Conference and Exhibition, 29-30 June, London

Hudson A. P., Beaven R. P., Powrie W., (2004). "Testing of Whole and Shredded Scrap Tyres for Use as Landfill Engineering Drainage Material." Sustainable waste management and recycling: used/ post-consumer tyres. Eds. M. C. Limbachiya, and J. J. Roberts, London:, pp 187-194.

Powrie W., Cox S.E., Beaven R. P., Cole D.J., (2003). "Horizontal wells for leachate control in landfills." Ninth International Waste Management Symposium, Sardinia 2003

Simoes A., Powrie W., Smallman D. J., (2003). "Natural attenuation of organic contaminants in landfill leachate." Proc 2nd Eur Bioremediation Conference, Crete, 3-6 June 2003

Smethurst J., Powrie W., (2000). "Discrete pile stabilisation of slopes." Proceedings of the 1st International Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference, Southampton

Official Reports

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Book - Authored

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Editorship - Journal

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Journal Letter

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Public Appearances - Keynote lectures etc.

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Prof. William Powrie MA MSc PhD CEng FICE