Mr Matthew Wightwick

Contact Information:

Qualifications:

• PhD, Civil Engineering, Monash University, 2005-2009
• Cert 3 Frontline Management, Scouts Australia Institute of Training, 2007
• Cert 3 Info Tech, Victoria University, 2004
• BEng(Chem Eng)(Hon)/BSc(Mathematics)(Hon), University of Melbourne, 2003

Research:

PhD Research Topic

Improvement of the performance of water-sensitive geomaterials using hydrophobic additives
Date commenced: 10th March, 2005.
Supervisors: Dr Jayantha Kodikara and Dr Pathegama Gamage Ranjith.

The entry of water into geo-structures such as road, airport and railway pavement bases and waste containment covers can, over time, lead to significant reduction in strength and stiffness, resulting in the eventual failure of the structure unless expensive repair work is undertaken. In order to reduce the amount of moisture entering such structures, Australian scientists have recently begun developing a range of hydrophobic dry powdered polymers (or DPPs) such as Polyroad and H2Off. As the names suggest, these are primarily designed for use in road pavements, but can be put to other uses. The DPP acts to increase the hydrophobicity of the soil, thereby reducing its affinity for water.

Research Interests

• Dry Powdered Polymers
• Unsaturated behaviour of soils
• Hydrophobicity and water repellency
• Contact angles
• Surface coating and mixing
• Capillarity

Publications:

Journal Articles

• Kodikara, J.K., Wightwick, M.J., and Ranjith, P.G. (2006). "Assessment of capillary ingress of water in stabilised pavement materials.", Australian Geomechanics., Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 115-132.

Conference Publications

• Wightwick, M.J., Kodikara, J.K., and Ranjith, P.G. (2006). "Capillary rise in road pavement material stabilised using hydrophobic additives", Proceedings of the 22nd ARRB Conference, Canberra, Australia.
• Wightwick, M.J., Kodikara, J.K., and Ranjith, P.G. (2007). "The water retention characteristics of road pavement material stabilised with hydrophobic additives", Common Ground: 10th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics, Brisbane, Australia.