Number 25 – Editorial and society news

As usual the voluntary response to our call for contributions to this edition of Australian Geomechanics was very limited. However, the response from authors approached for articles has been very good. We have made a conscious decision to use Australian contributions wherever possible with relevant, selected articles from overseas sources. An example in this issue is an international overview on geosynthetics from Professor Kerry Rowe of the University of Western Ontario. As many of you will know Kerry as it turns out, is an Australian anyway.

Also, unfortunately as usual, this edition of Australian Geomechanics is a little late. However, the editorial committee are all volunteers with other full time jobs. We think this issue is worth the wait and hope you agree.

Again this issue has a theme and focuses on the use of Geosynthetics in Geomechanics. With the help of a range of contributors we have covered a varied range of topics in this field. We start with a guest editorial by Roger Parker of Golder Associates discussing a pro-active approach to landfill design. Any follow-up comments for the next issue? This is followed by an international overview from Professor Kerry Rowe and an Australian overview by Dr. Manfred Hausmann of University of Technology, Sydney.

Having set the scene we have a range of extremely interesting articles on geosynthetics covering topics including:

• a rational approach to specifications for geotextiles (or don’t just regurgitate the specification from the last job – think about it)
• capping oflake sediment deposits (or how to walk on water with a little help from geotextiles)
• a range of articles on stabilising road cuts and batters and erosion control
• field and laboratory testing of geotextiles including articles with useful results which back up the use of geotextiles in particular situations
• a floating cover on a large sewerage lagoon (another interesting articles detailing this use of geomembrane and demonstrating that (although the project was extremely successful) in the view of the authors Murphy of Murphy’s Law frame is alive and well

There is a balance of articles representing academia, consultants, authorities, manufacturers and installers. We thank all the authors involved for, their efforts.

As well as our theme articles, a range of submitted papers, regular spots including Geonews and Gravel Rash, and a range of other features, we also include in this issue the E.H. Davis Memorial Lecture. Those who attended the lecture by Dr. Philip Pells were rewarded by an enthralling presentation. For those who were not able to attend, the paper written by Dr. Pells makes extremely rewarding reading.

We should also offer apologies to some of the authors for errors made in the last issue. In particular, we inadvertently misspelt David Stapeldon’s name in our Rogue’s Gallery and we also managed to mix up two pages in Mark Randolph’s paper on the critical depth myth for piles in sand. Page 33 should be read after page 30 and before page 31. We will try and do better in this issue.

Well, back to the drawing board for our final issue before handing the reins over to another group of enterprising volunteers. Our next issue will be on the application of computer technology to Geomechanics. Let’s hear what innovative uses of computers are around. Again we would like to see a wide range of articles. Over to you.