Arun Valsangkar

Honorary Research Professor

PhD

Civil Engineering

Head Hall HC-5

Fredericton

valsngkr@unb.ca
1 506 453 5123



Dr. Valsangkar has over 45 years of combined experience in teaching, research and consulting. His research and consulting has been mainly in the area of soil-structure interaction. He has more than 100 publications in refereed journals and conferences in the following areas:

  • Deep foundations
  • Performance of prototype structures
  • Centrifuge modelling
  • Buried flexible and rigid pipes
  • Lightweight aggregate geotechnics
  • Geotechnics of municipal solid waste
  • Limit States & reliability based design of retaining structures

His research activities have been funded by NSERC Discovery Grants, NSERC Strategic Grant, New Brunswick Department of Transportation, Solite Corporation, and Jacques, Whitford & Associates Ltd.

He is a Senior Geotechnical Consultant with Stantec (formerly Jacques Whitford) and has been with the firm for the last 37 years. He has served as a Senior Engineer on a number of major national and international mining, infrastructure and dam projects.

He served as Editor of the Canadian Geotechnical Journal from 2002 to 2007 and as an Associate Editor from 1992-2002. The Journal is published by NRC Press and is one of the three leading journals in the field of geotechnique.

Awards

  • 2015: RM Quigley Award (Honorable Mention) , Canadian Geotechnical Society (with S. Huntley)
  • 2014: Fellow, Canadian Academy of Engineering
  • 2012: Casimir Gzowski Medal, Honorable Mention, Canadian Society of Civil Engineering (with B. McGuigan)
  • 2009: RM Quigley Award (Honorable Mention) , Canadian Geotechnical Society (with R. MacAfee)
  • 2009: RM Hardy Keynote Address, Canadian Geotechnical Society
  • 2009: Fellow, Engineers Canada, Canadian Council of Professional Engineers.
  • 2008: John B. Sterling Medal, Engineering Institute of Canada
  • 2007: Stermac Award for outstanding service to the Society, Canadian Geotechnical Society,
  • 2007: By-Fellow, Churchill College, Cambridge University, U.K., Michalmas Term.
  • 2007: Merit Award University of New Brunswick
  • 2006: Eric Garland Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of New Brunswick, Dept. of Civil Engineering,
  • 2005: Fellow, Canadian Society for Civil Engineering
  • 2004: American Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE/COPRI OTC 2004 Best Paper Award for Outstanding Contribution to our Knowledge of Offshore Infrastructure Systems (with Doyle, Dean, Sharma, Bolton and Newlin)
  • 2003: Geoffrey Meyerhof Award for Outstanding and Exceptional Contributions to the Art and Science of Foundation Engineering, Canadian Geotechnical Society.
  • 1998: R.M. Quigley Award for the Best Paper in the Canadian Geotechnical Journal in 1997 (with Munro, MacQuarrie & Kan), Canadian Geotechnical Society.
  • 1998: Elected Fellow, Engineering Institute of Canada
  • 1998: Elected By-Fellow, Churchill College, Cambridge University, U.K. (May-Dec. 1998)
  • 1996: R.M. Quigley Award, Honorable Mention, Canadian Geotechnical Society (with Rowe, Gnanendran and Landva).
  • 1992: Merit Award, University of New Brunswick
  • 1987: Associate Member Fellowship, Darwin College, Cambridge University, U.K. (Fall Term)
  • 1985: Dr. A.P. Stuart Award of Excellence in Teaching (This is the most prestigious Teaching Award at U.N.B.), University of New Brunswick.

Refereed journals

  1. Bryson, S., El Naggar, H. and Valsangkar, A.J. (2015). "Optimizing Deep Mixed Soil Zones in Land Reclamation Projects," Ground Improvement, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, UK, vol.
  2. Bryden, P., El Naggar, H., and Valsangkar, A. J. (2015). "Soil-Structure Interaction of Very Flexible Pipes: Centrifuge and Numerical Investigations," International Journal of Geomechanics, ASCE, Vol.
  3. El Naggar, H., Tauran, A., and Valsangkar, A.J. (2015). "Earth Pressure Reduction System Using Geogrid Reinforced Platform Bridging for Buried Utilities," Journal of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 141, No. 6
  4. Huntley, S.A. and Valsangkar, A. J. (2014). "Behaviour of H-Piles Supporting and Integral Abutement Bridge", accepted for publication, Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 51, pp 713-734.
  5. Huntley, S.A. and Valsangkar, A. J. (2013). "Field Monitoring of Earth Pressures on Integral Bridge Abutments", Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 50., pp. 841-857.
  6. Oshati, O.S., Valsangkar,  A.J., and Schriver, A.B. (2012).  "Performance of Two Cast-in-Place Culverts Under High Embankments," Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 49, No. 12, pp. 1331-1346.
  7. Oshati, O.S., Valsangkar, A.J., and Schriver, A.B. (2012). "Earth Pressures Exerted on an Induced Trench Cast-in-Place Double-cell Rectangular Box Culvert," Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 49, No. 11, pp 1267-1284.
  8. McGuigan, B.L. and Valsangkar, A.J. (2011). "Field Monitoring and Analysis of Twin 366o mm Inside Diameter Induced Transfer Culverts Installed Under 21.7m of Fill." Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 48, No. 5, pp. 781-794.
  9. McGuigan, B.L. and Valsangkar, A.J. (2011). "Earth Pressures on Twin Positive Projecting and Induced Trench Box Culverts Under High Embankments." Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 48, No. 2, pp 173-185.
  10. McGuigan, B.L. and Valsangkar, A.J. (2010). "Centrifuge Testing and Numerical Modeling of Box Culverts Installed in Induced Trench,". Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 47, No. 2, pp 147-163.
  11. Barrett, J. and Valsangkar, A. J. (2009): "Effectiveness of Connections in Geofoam Block Construction", Geotextiles and Geomembranes, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 211 - 216.
  12. McAffee, R.P., and Valsangkar, A.J. (2008). Field Performance, CentrifugeTesting, and Numerical Modelling of an Induced Trench Installation. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 85 - 101.
  13. Parker, B.A., McAffee, R.P., and Valsangkar, A.J. (2008). Field Performance and Analysis of a 3-Om Diameter Induced Trench Culvert under 19.4m High Soil Cover, Journal of Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Record, No. 2045, pp. 68-76.
  14. Dunham, L., Valsangkar, A.J., and Schriver, A.B. (2005), "Centrifuge Modelling of Rigid Square Footings on Weak Jointed Rock", Geotechnical Testing Journal, ASTM, Vol. 28, No. 2, March, pp. 133-143.
  15. McAffee, R.P., and Valsangkar, A.J. (2005), "Performance of an Induced Trench Installation", Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Record, No. 1936, pp. 230-237.

Refereed conferences

  1.  McAfee, R. P., Take, A.W., and Valsangkar, A.J. (2011), "Observed Soil Displacements Above Rigid Culverts," Proceedings, 2011 Pan-Am CGS Geotechnical Conference, Toronto.
  2. Valsangkar, A.J. (2009), "Soil Structures Interaction Studies: Research and Practice," R.M. Hardy Address, Proceedings 62nd Canadian Geotechnical Conference, Halifax, September.
  3. McAffee, R.P. and Valsangkar, A.J. (2009), "Geotechnical Issues During Construction of Athletic Center at UNB in Fredericton, N.B.", Proceedings 62nd Canadian Geotechnical Conference, Halifax, September.
  4. Huntley, S.A. and Valsangkar, A.J. (2008) "Soil Deformation Behind an Integral Abutment Bridge". Proceedings of the 2nd BGA International Conference, Scotland, 2008.
  5. Hansen, P., Miller, L.L., Valsangkar, A.J., McLeod, T. and Bourque, S. (2007) Performance of Induced Trench Culverts in New Brunswick. Proceedings, TAC 2007. Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.
  6. McAffee, R.P., Take, W.A., and Valsangkar, A.J. (2006) "Soil Displacements observed above an Induced Trench Culvert", Proceedings of the Sixth International Physical Modeling in Geotechnic, Vol. 2, pp. 1279-1284.

Invited contributions

  1. Mills, B., El Naggar, H., and Valsangkar, A.J. (2015) "North American Overview and Canadian Perspective on the Use of Tire-Derived Aggregate in Highway Embankment Construction," Chapter 22, Ground Improvement Case Histories, Vol. 2, Elsevier Publishing, Editors: Indraratra and Chu.
  2. Baker. D., Graham, J., Mitchell, R., and Valsangkar, A.J. (2013) "Guest Editorial: 50th Anniversary", Canadian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 50, No. 11, pp iii- v.
  3. Gnanendran, C.T., Valsangkar, A.J., and Rowe, R.K. (2005), "Case Histories of Embankments on Soft Soils and Stabilization with Geosynthetics: Canadian Experience", Chapter in "Ground Improvements Case Histories" published by Elsevier Publishing, Editors: Indraratra and Chu.

Non-refereed technical reports

  1. Valsangkar, A.J. (2007), "Report on Laboratory Testing of Welds Used in Steel Culvert Rehabilitation". Report Submitted to N.B. Dept. of Transportation, pp. 12.

Full list of publications

Recent graduate students

  1. Bryson, S. (2014), "Optimization of Ground Improvements and Sandwich Construction for Land Reclamation Projects," MScE Thesis (Co-Supervisor: Dr. H. El Naggar).
  2. Alderman, A. (2012), "Field Testing of the Rehabilitated Kelly Creek No. 2 Corrugated Steel Culvert", M. Eng Report (Co-Supervisor Dr. Eldo Hildebrand)
  3. Oshati, S.O. (2011), "Soil-Structures Interaction of Rigid Cast-in-place Box Culverts Under High Embankments", MScE Thesis (Co-Supervisor: Dr. A.B. Schriver)
  4. Thompson, A. (2011), "Soil-Structure Interaction of Fibre Reinforced Concrete Beams-on-Grade: Post Cracking Analysis", MScE Thesis (Co-Supervisor: Dr. A.B. Schriver)
  5. *McGuigan, B.L. (2010). "Earth Pressures and Loads on Induced Trench Culverts", Ph.D. Thesis (Co-Supervisor: Dr. A.B. Schriver)
  6. *McLaggan, D. (2010). "Cyclic Loading of H-Piles Used for Construction of Integral Abutment Bridges", M.Sc.E Thesis (Co-Supervisor P.H. Bischoff).
  7. *Huntley, S. (2009), "Field Performance and Evaluation of an Integral Abutement Bridge", Ph.D. Thesis.
  8. Barrett, J. (2008), "Effectiveness of Connectors in Geofoam Block Construction," M.Sc.E. Thesis
  9. Parker, B. (2007), "Instrumentation and Monitoring of Peter Smith Brook Induced Trench Culvert," M. Eng. Report.
  10. McLaggan, S. (2006), "Physical and Numerical Modelling of Negative Projecting Box Culverts," M.Sc.E. Thesis.
  11. Briggs, M. (2006), "Soil Structure Interaction of Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete Beams on Grade", M.Sc.E. Thesis.
  12. *McAffee, R. (2005), "Soil Structure Interaction in Rigid Culverts Installed in Induced Trenches", Ph.D. Thesis.

*NSERC PGA Scholars