JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Peter To

About

Dr To has research expertise in numerical simulation, geotechnical and dam engineering. His focused topics are soil (surface and internal) erosion, slope stability, consolidation, ground improvement, and soil contamination. He is the author of a new suffusion assessment method, which is also applicable for contact erosion. This research received the first prize of a global research competition, the Golder Foundation Awards.

Dr To also has professional experience as a dam designer and design inspector in Vietnam. He is an author of a book for site engineers employing the Vacuum Consolidation Method.

Dr To received his BSc and MSc at St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University, Russia, and his PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Queensland. He was a postdoctoral researcher in Mathematical Sciences at Queensland University of Technology before joining JCU in 2016.

Teaching

CS3002: Soil Mechanics and Geology (Level 3; TSV)
CS4001: Foundation Engineering and Rock Mechanics (Level 4; TSV)
CS4010: Finite Element Analysis and Structural Dynamics (Level 4; TSV)
EG1000: Engineering 1 (Level 1; TSV)

Interests

Professional

Any topics related to geotechnical engineering and hydraulic engineering.

Research

Numerical methods in Geotechnical Engineering
Ground Improvement methods
Slope Stability. Slope scanning device. Geospatial engineering.
Geotechnical sensors. Wireless interface for sensors. GPR, TDR technologies.
Soil erosion and contamination.

Experience

2017 - Calibration Academic, Innovative Research Universities

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2015 - Winner - Golder Foundation Award.
2014 - UQ Future Leader
2013 - 3 Minute Thesis - Winner and People Choice Award, School of Civil Engineering
2014 to 2015 - Best Journal Paper, School of Civil Engineering

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Pallanza A, To P and Matheson M (2023) Lime stabilised road batters: A laboratory simulation of site flood conditions using a customised erosion apparatus and sample digitisation. Transportation Geotechnics, 40.
To P, Malekzadeh M, Sivakugan N, Nguyen P and Buskens R (in press) Influence of salinity on sedimentation during electro-kinetic consolidation of dredged mud. Environmental Geotechnics,
Kamash W, Naggar H, To P and Sivakugan N (2022) The effect of long-term consolidation on foundations underpinned by micropiles in soft clay. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 13 (1).
Nguyen Q, Jung K, Lee G, Park H, To P, Suh S and Lee J (2021) Bubble formation in globe valve and flow characteristics of partially filled pipe water flow. International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, 13. pp. 554-565
Nguyen Q, Jung K, Lee G, Suh S and To P (2020) Experimental study on pressure distribution and flow coefficient of globe valve. Processes, 8 (7).
To P, Agius D and Cussen L (2020) Influence of relative density of the granular base soil on filter performance. Acta Geotechnica, 15. pp. 3621-3627
To P, Malekzadeh M, Sivakugan N, Pham N and Yuan W (2020) 3D numerical model of electro-kinetic sedimentation-consolidation of dredged mud with variable parameters. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 38. pp. 4333-4348
To P (2019) A prototype of a self-assembly slope-stability scanner for small slopes. Australian Geomechanics, 54 (4). pp. 99-105

Conference Papers

To P and Christie D (2022) Adaptation of learning and teaching a general engineering subject in epidemic. Australasian Association for Engineering Education conference proceedings. In: AAEE 2022: 33rd Australasian Association for Engineering Education conference, 4-7 December 2022, Sydney, NSW, Australia
To P and Le Van T (2022) Segregation Index—A New Soil Parameter for Internal Erosion Assessment. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering. In: CIGOS 2021: Emerging Technologies and Applications for Green Infrastructure, 28-29 October 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam
To P and Scheuermann A (2021) Suffusion assessment methods: a critical review. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Scour and Erosion. 18-21 October 2021, Online
To P and Price P (2021) Influence of rate of hydraulic gradient on washed-out soil mass due to perpendicular contact erosion or poor filter design. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Scour and Erosion. 18-21 October 2021, Online

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 24+ research outputs authored by Dr Peter To from 2012 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Queensland Pacific Metals - Contract Research

Sustainable assessment of nickel production residue as engineered landfill.

Indicative Funding: $39,415 over 1 year
Summary: The residue left after leaching is a silica-rich sand material, which will be a washed, filtered and neutralised with magnesia, before being stockpiled on site for over 36 months. Numerous options for the end use of this leach residue have been investigated and were previously reported by JCU. These included re-use as a building product in bricks and as an engineered fill. The results favoured the material as a potential fill material and since these results were published numerous potential sites requiring fill in and around the Townville region have been identified. For this to be viable the mechanical and chemical properties of the material must be further investigated. If successful, the results of this test program should indicate eligibility for an End of Waste Code (EOWC).
Investigators: Peter To, Rabin Tuladhar and Siva Sivakugan (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Mining residue; Nickel; sustainable use

Queensland Pacific Metals - Contract Research

Sustainable use of tailings as land-fill and non-structural construction material - Phase 1

Indicative Funding: $30,000 over 1 year
Summary: The central aim of the project is the assessment of blended residue from Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub (TECH) for sustainable use. Tailings can be processed to remove the acidic content or mixed with binder to become safe backfill or non-structural materials. TECH proposed to process annually 600,000 tons of high grenade Nickel and Cobalt ore. Phase 1 of the project will undertake physical, chemical, geotechnical and engineering strength tests on tailings from TECH to estimate the limits and to assess characteristics, including the acid-insoluble content of the tailings. The understanding will help to develop research in phase 2 and 3.
Investigators: Peter To, Siva Sivakugan, Yinghe He, Mohan Jacob and Rabin Tuladhar (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Tailings; Environmental Impact; Recycled Material; Backfill; Electro-Kinetic; Pyrolysis

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Stresses within hydraulic fills consolidating in underground mine stopes (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Stresses within backfilled underground mine stopes and lateral loadings on the drive barricade (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Completed

Method of fragments (MoF) solutions for double-walled, circular and rectangular cofferdam seepage problems (2019, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Cemented paste backfill modification using different types of binders and insight into its mechanical, micro-structure, and flow properties (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Sedimentation and consolidation behaviour of fly ash-based geopolymer stabilised dredged mud (2019, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.