Invited Speakers
Assoc. Prof. Chian Siau Chen, Darren
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Biography: Dr. Chian Siau Chen, Darren is an Associate Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Dr. Chian is also the Director of the Centre for Soft Ground Engineering in the university. Dr. Chian obtained his Ph.D. and B.Eng. from Cambridge University and Nanyang Technological University respectively. Dr. Chian actively involves in collaborative research projects with local government agencies to recycle unwanted soils from underground construction projects as land reclamation fill materials. Dr. Chian has also expanded recycling waste material into useful pozzolans in supplementary cementitious material technology. Dr. Chian was named as Asia’s Top 10 Innovators under 35 (TR35) by the MIT Technology Review in 2016, GeoSS Promising Young Geotechnical Engineer Award in 2018, Enterprise Singapore SAC Distinguished Award in 2018, Ministry of Transport Distinguished Minister Innovation (Distinguished) Award in 2021, Award Finalist of the Land Transport Excellence Award (Most Innovative Solution) and Prominent Geotechnical Engineer Award in 2022. Dr. Chian is the current President of the Geotechnical Society of Singapore (GeoSS).
Speech title "Climate Effect on Cementitious Ground Improvement Technology"
Abstract-Cement stabilisation of soft ground is a popular ground improvement methodology used worldwide. In tropical regions, the stabilisation of soil at elevated temperature and humidity is little studied. This is further aggravated by limited international standards for cement-soil stabilisation. In classic concrete technology, higher ambient temperature would result in a higher early stage, but lower later age strength as compared to one cured at reference temperature of 23 degree Celsius. This is commonly termed as a cross-over effect. In contrast, strength development of cement-soil stabilisation does not show cross-over effect in this study. Higher unconfined strength with denser microstructure were persistent at both early and later stage of curing owning to clay pozzolanic reaction on top of cement hydration, which infers the benefit of elevated temperature in cement stabilisation in cases of increased climatic temperature.
Assoc. Prof. Kwun Nam HUI
University of Macau, China
Biography: Dr. Kwun Nam HUI, is an Associate professor at the Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau. He obtained Ph.D. degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Hong Kong in 2009. He has been working as Assistant professor (2009-2013) and Associate professor (2013-2015) in School of Materials Science and Engineering at Pusan National University. As Principle Investigator, he has managed 36 research projects including 4 projects from National Research Foundation of Korea with a total research grant of USD 2 million. His research has led to 1 US patent, 7 granted CN patents, 17 CN patent-pending, 10 granted KR patents, and 250 SCI journal papers. Dr. KN Hui has h-index (Google): 57; Citations: 9924. His current research interests include Li/Na/K/Al-ion batteries, hybrid Na-air battery, fuel cell, as well as metal/heteroatom-doped carbon electrocatalysis for oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and hydrogen evolution reaction.
Speech title "Materials Design and Solid Electrolyte Interface Analysis"
Abstract-Energy storage plays a pivotal role across a wide range of applications, including portable electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy integration. Presently, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are extensively used for various applications due to their unique features. However, concerns have arisen regarding their feasibility and long-term sustainability, owing to the scarcity and uneven geographical distribution of lithium resources. Amidst these considerations, potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) have attracted substantial interest due to their cost-effectiveness and widespread availability. Nonetheless, the significant ionic radius of potassium ions (1.38 Å) presents challenges within graphite electrodes, resulting in electrode materials that demonstrate diminished capacity and limited cyclic stability in PIBs. Among the various reported anode materials for PIBs, phosphorus-based electrodes stand out with the most remarkable theoretical specific capacity (2596 mA h g−1). Unfortunately, these electrodes experience notable volume expansion during operation, leading to reduced capacity and insufficient cycling stability. In this presentation, I will demonstrate that phosphorus-based electrodes in PIBs hold the potential to emerge as competitive alternatives to LIBs for large-scale, sustainable, eco-friendly, and secure energy storage systems. Strategies to enhance the capacity of phosphorus-based electrodes, improve cycling stability, and enhance the electrolyte safety of PIBs will be explored. Of paramount University of Macau, China significance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been utilized to reveal essential insights into the dynamic evolution of solid electrolyte interphases on phosphorus-based anodes in organic phosphate-based electrolytes. This approach provides an explanation for the extended cycling stability observed in these systems. Lastly, approaches to enhance the cathode electrode for PIBs will also be discussed.
Dr. Kim Yongmin
University of Glasgow, Singapore
Biography: Dr. Kim Yongmin is an Assistant Professor at the James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, specifically in Singapore campus. He completed his PhD in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, in 2015. His research lab, Digital Geotechnical Engineering Lab (DGEL), is focused on Urban Disasters & Sustainable Urban Development. The lab uses deep-layered neural networks, machine learning, extensive laboratory experiments, field testing, and coupled multidisciplinary analyses to conduct their studies. Dr Kim Yongmin's research focuses on unsaturated soil mechanics to solve geotechnical problems associated with tropical residual soils. His research emphasis has been on rainfall-induced landslides, one of the major natural disasters occurring in many parts of the world. He has utilized unsaturated soil mechanics principles to better understand the mechanisms of rainfall-induced slope failures, particularly in tropical residual soils. Dr Kim Yongmin and his team have developed several systems, including the Capillary Barrier System (CBS), GeoBarrier System (GBS) for cover systems and retaining structures, as well as a Slope Management and Susceptibility Geographical Information System. They have also applied unsaturated soil mechanics to soil improvement for tree stability, understanding the effects of rainfall on tree stability, and developed instruments for tree inclinometer with the associated analytics.
Speech
Title "Role of Unsaturated Soil Mechanics in
Rainfall-induced Slope Failure"
Abstract-The principles of unsaturated soil
mechanics are essential for understanding
various geotechnical problems related to
soils above the water table. Though there
has been growing interest in using
unsaturated soil mechanics to evaluate the
behavior of unsaturated soil slopes, we are
not paying as much attention as it was meant
to be deserved. Hence, this talk will focus
on rainfall-induced slope failure and the
application of unsaturated soil mechanics to
forensic analysis of slope instability.