Winner announced of 2024 BGA Masters Prize
The British Geotechnical Association (BGA) is pleased to announce that Michael Dixon of Durham University is the winner of the 2024 BGA Masters Prize for his entry “Seepage in Unsaturated Soils Understanding Flow in Landfill Covers”.
The dissertation presents a compelling and well-articulated study of the effects of the reduction of suction on slope stability and the use of capillary barriers as a mitigation measure, exploring an important subject with both depth and clarity. The document demonstrates a significant amount of work, presented concisely yet thoroughly, effectively communicating complex concepts. Advanced numerical analyses were validated against experimental evidence, revealing that conventional models may underestimate the storage capacity of capillary barriers—a conclusion with significant design implications. The work is structured in an engaging and professional format, resembling a research paper, showcasing substantial effort in effectively distilling an extensive body of knowledge.
The Masters Prize is awarded annually by the BGA for the best MSc/MEng degree dissertation on a geotechnical topic. The other dissertation submitted for consideration was:
Yin Kam Wong, Imperial College London, “Secant pile wall-raft interaction for performance-based design”.
The judges found both dissertations to be of a very high standard, making the final decision extremely challenging.