The series of Asia-Pacific conferences on unsaturated soils began in Singapore in 2000 with strong emphasis on both the theoretical aspect and practical significance of unsaturated soil mechanics in the region. With the continued support of the Technical Committee on Unsaturated Soils (TC6) of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), the 2nd , 3rd , and 4t
h conferences were held in 2003 in Japan, in 2007 in Nanjing, China and in 2009 in Newcastle, Australia respectively. The conferences have provided a forum for researchers and practitioners in the region and beyond to present their latest developments and exchange ideas in the subject, with strong relevance to problems in the region such as heave/desiccation shrinkage, collapse, rainfall-induced slope instability, contaminant transport etc. Latest developments in unsaturated soil mechanics will also lead to a much better understanding and solution of many emerging problems such as soil/atmosphere interaction, thermal & chemical influence, and climate change. Objectives
The organizers of the 5th Asia-Pacific conference on unsaturated soils in Pattaya, Thailand aim that the event will continue to help bridge the gap between the theory and practice of unsaturated soils. In particular, young researchers/academics as well as practising engineers dealing with unsaturated soils from Asia-Pacific region are warmly encouraged to attend the conference and present papers. Conference Topics
The conference covers a broad range of themes related to unsaturated soils, including but not limited to:
Unsaturated Soil Behaviour
Chemical effects
Dynamics
Microstructure
Soil-Water Characteristic
Strength
Stress-strain
Thermal effects
Volume change
Experimentation
Advances in suction/moisture content measurement
Centrifuge testing
In-Situ testing
Laboratory testing
Modelling
Numerical analysis
Fundamentals
Coupled analysis
Constitutive modelling
Case Histories
Engineering applications
Field monitoring
Well-winnowed experience/Empiricism
Geotechnical engineering problems
Embankments/dams
Flow/infiltration
Foundations
Isolation barriers
Natural hazards
Pavements
Problematic soils
Rainfall-induced landslide
Slope stability
Soil cover systems
Tunnelling in unsaturated soils/rocks
Multidisciplinary and new areas
Bio-engineering/ Vegetation effects
Climate change
Energy issues (CO2 sequestration, gas hydrates)
Geo-environmental Engineering
Geoinformatics
Rockfill mechanics
Soil Physics/Pedology/Genesis
Soil-Atmosphere interaction
Swelling rocks
Unsaturated zone hydrology
