Amin Soltani - Research

Higher degree by research opportunities

I am continuously seeking passionate researchers who strive for new challenges in the field of Civil Geotechnical Engineering. To discuss potential Higher Degree by Research opportunities, please contact me at A.Soltani@federation.edu.au.

Professional Certifications

  • Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) - Civil Eng, Geotechnical Eng - Engineers Australia
  • National Engineering Register (NER) - Civil Eng, Geotechnical Eng - Engineers Australia

Professional memberships

  • Institution of Engineers, Australia (IEAust)
  • Australian Geomechanics Society (AGS), Victoria Chapter
  • International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE)

Selected publications

  1. Soltani A*, Azimi M, O’Kelly BC and Horpibulsuk S (2023) Converting optimum compaction properties of fine-grained soils between rational energy levels. Transportation Geotechnics, 42: 101096, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2023.101096.
  2. Soltani A*, Azimi M and O’Kelly BC (2023) Reappraisal of linear shrinkage test for plasticity index determination and classification of fine-grained soils. Applied Clay Science 238: 106920, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2023.106920.
  3. Soltani A*, Nguyen DTD, O’Kelly BC and Taheri A (2023) Predicting the compactability of artificially cemented fine-grained soils blended with waste-tire-derived aggregates. Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology 10(3): 365–390, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515-021-00214-2.
  4. Soltani A*, Azimi, M and O’Kelly BC (2023) Discussion: A fuzzy classification process for swelling soils [Transp. Infrastruct. Geotechnol. 10 (3), 474–487]. Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology (In Press), https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515-023-00320-3.
  5. O’Kelly BC and Soltani A* (2023) Discussion of ‘Factors influencing undrained strength of fine-grained soils at high water contents’ [Geomechanics and Geoengineering 13(4), 276–287]. Geomechanics and Geoengineering 18(2): 170–174, https://doi.org/10.1080/17486025.2021.2015457.
  6. O’Kelly BC and Soltani A* (2023) Discussion: Development of a single‑point method to determine soil plastic limit using fall‑cone data [Geotech Geol Eng 41:4473–4485, 2023]. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering (In Press), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-023-02679-z.
  7. O’Kelly BC* and Soltani A (2023) Discussion: Effects of plastic waste materials on geotechnical properties of clayey soil [DOI: 10.1007/s40515-020-00145-4]. Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology 10(2): 359–362, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515-022-00224-8.
  8. Baghbani A*, Soltani A, Kiany K and Daghistani F (2023) Predicting the strength performance of hydrated-lime activated rice husk ash-treated soil using two grey-box machine learning models. Geotechnics 3(3): 894–920. https://doi.org/10.3390/geotechnics3030048.
  9. Baghbani A*, Costa S, O’Kelly BC, Soltani A and Barzegar M (2023) Experimental study on cyclic simple shear behavior of predominantly dilative silica sand. International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 17(1): 91–195, https://doi.org/10.1080/19386362.2022.2135226.
  10. Baghbani A*, Costa S, Faradonbeh RS*, Soltani A and Baghbani H (2023) Modelling the effects of particle shape on damping ratio of dry sand by simple shear testing and artificial intelligence. Applied Sciences 13(7): 4363, https://doi.org/10.3390/app13074363.
  11. Baghbani A*, Costa S, Lu Y, Soltani A, Abuel-Naga H and Samui P (2023) Effects of particle shape on shear modulus of sand using dynamic simple shear testing. Arabian Journal of Geosciences 16(7): 422, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11524-9.
  12. Soltani A*, Deng A, Taheri A and O’Kelly BC (2022) Intermittent swelling and shrinkage of a highly expansive soil treated with polyacrylamide. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 14(1): 252–261, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2021.04.009.
  13. Soltani A*, Raeesi R and Disfani MM (2022) Experiments and dimensional analysis of waste tire-based permeable pavements. Geosynthetics International 29(3): 186–204, https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.21.00029.
  14. Soltani A*, Taheri A, Deng A and O’Kelly BC (2022) Stabilization of a highly expansive soil using waste-tire-derived aggregates and lime treatment. Case Studies in Construction Materials 16: e01133, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01133.
  15. Soltani A* and O’Kelly BC (2022) Reappraisal of fall-cone flow curve for soil plasticity determinations. Geotechnical Testing Journal 45(1): 225–243, https://doi.org/10.1520/gtj20200312.
  16. Soltani A*, Raeesi R and O’Kelly BC (2022) Cyclic swell–shrink behaviour of an expansive soil treated with a sulfonated oil. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Ground Improvement 175(3): 166–179, https://doi.org/10.1680/jgrim.19.00084.
  17. Soltani A*, Taheri A, Deng A and Nikraz H (2022) Tyre rubber and expansive soils: Two hazards, one solution. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Construction Materials 175(1): 14–30, https://doi.org/10.1680/jcoma.18.00075.
  18. Raeesi R, Soltani A and Disfani MM* (2022) Compressibility behavior of soft–rigid granular mixtures bound with polyurethane binder. International Journal of Geomechanics 22(1): 04021265, https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)gm.1943-5622.0002237.
  19. Soltani A*, Azimi M and O’Kelly BC (2022) Discussion: Predicting compaction properties of soils at different compaction efforts. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Geotechnical Engineering 175(5): 549–552, https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeen.22.00053.
  20. Soltani A*, Nguyen DTD and O’Kelly BC (2022) Discussion: The impact of variation of gypsum and water content on the engineering properties of expansive soil [DOI: 10.1007/s40515-021-00192-5]. Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology 9(1): 117–129, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515-021-00216-0.
  21. O’Kelly BC and Soltani A* (2022) Discussion: Machine learning techniques for relating liquid limit obtained by Casagrande cup and fall cone test in low-medium plasticity fine grained soils [Eng. Geol. (2021) 294, 106381]. Engineering Geology 306: 106746, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2022.106746.
  22. O’Kelly BC and Soltani A* (2022) Comments on “Possibility of using torvane shear testing device for soil conditioning optimization” by Avunduk et al. [Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology 107 (2021) 103665]. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology 130: 104459, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2022.104459.
  23. O’Kelly BC and Soltani A* (2022) Comments on ‘Strength and deformation behavior of fine-grained soils reinforced with hair fibers and its application in pavement design’ by Ayothiraman et al. [Journal of Natural Fibers, DOI: 10.1080/15440478.2022.2134260]. Journal of Natural Fibers 19(17): 15846–15850, https://doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2022.2134260.
  24. O’Kelly BC and Soltani A* (2022) Discussion of “Behaviour of a foam mixture as a lightweight construction material” [Int J of Geosynth and Ground Eng (2021) 7(3), 51]. International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering 8(2): 30, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-022-00369-z.
  25. Soltani A*, Raeesi R, Taheri A, Deng A and Mirzababaei M (2021) Improved shear strength performance of compacted rubberized clays treated with sodium alginate biopolymer. Polymers 13(5): 764, https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13050764.
  26. Soltani A*, Azimi M and O’Kelly BC (2021) Modeling the compaction characteristics of fine-grained soils blended with tire-derived aggregates. Sustainability 13(14): 7737, https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147737.
  27. Soltani A*, Azimi M, Boroomandnia A and O’Kelly BC (2021) An objective framework for determination of the air-entry value from the soil–water characteristic curve. Results in Engineering 12: 100298, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2021.100298.
  28. Soltani A* and O’Kelly BC (2021) Reappraisal of the ASTM/AASHTO standard rolling device method for plastic limit determination of fine-grained soils. Geosciences 11(6): 247, https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11060247.
  29. Taheri A, Saadat M, Soltani A and Dastoor N* (2021) Improving the behaviours of expansive soils using recycled tyres. Highway Engineering Australia 52(6): 34–37, https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/informit.052446146528151.
  30. Taheri A, Saadat M, Soltani A and Dastoor N* (2021) Improving the behaviours of expansive soils using recycled tyres. Waste + Water Management Australia 47(5): 26–29, https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.934536691615812.
  31. Soltani A* and O’Kelly BC (2021) Discussion of “The flow index of clays and its relationship with some basic geotechnical properties” by G. Spagnoli, M. Feinendegen, L. Di Matteo, and D. A. Rubinos, published in Geotechnical Testing Journal 42, no. 6 (2019): 1685–1700. Geotechnical Testing Journal 44(1): 216–219, https://doi.org/10.1520/gtj20190423.
  32. O’Kelly BC and Soltani A* (2021) Discussion: Determining the plasticity properties of high plastic clays: A new empirical approach [Arab J Geosci (2020) 13(11), 394]. Arabian Journal of Geosciences 14(8): 715, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-06757-5.
  33. O’Kelly BC and Soltani A* (2021) Discussion: A comparative study on the application of artificial intelligence networks versus regression analysis for the prediction of clay plasticity [Arab J Geosci (2021) 14(7), 534]. Arabian Journal of Geosciences 14(20): 2150, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08566-2.
  34. Soltani A*, Taheri A, Deng A and O’Kelly BC (2020) Improved geotechnical behavior of an expansive soil amended with tire-derived aggregates having different gradations. Minerals 10(10): 923, https://doi.org/10.3390/min10100923.
  35. Soltani A*, Deng A, Taheri A, Mirzababaei M and Jaksa MB (2020) A dimensional description of the unconfined compressive strength of artificially cemented fine-grained soils. Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology 34(15): 1679–1703, https://doi.org/10.1080/01694243.2020.1717804.
  36. Raeesi R, Soltani A, King R and Disfani MM* (2020) Field performance monitoring of waste tire-based permeable pavements. Transportation Geotechnics 24: 100384, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2020.100384.
  37. Estabragh AR, Soltani A and Javadi AA (2020) Effect of pore water chemistry on the behaviour of a kaolin–bentonite mixture during drying and wetting cycles. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering 24(7): 895–914, https://doi.org/10.1080/19648189.2018.1428691.
  38. Soltani A* and O’Kelly BC (2020) Discussion: A novel formula for the prediction of swelling pressure of compacted expansive soils. Géotechnique Letters 10(4): 589–592, https://doi.org/10.1680/jgele.20.00010.
  39. Soltani A* (2020) Discussion: Influence of external stress and initial density on the volumetric behavior of an expansive clay during wetting [Environ Earth Sci (2020) 79(10), 211]. Environmental Earth Sciences 79(22): 506, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-020-09249-z.
  40. Soltani A*, Deng A, Taheri A and O’Kelly BC (2019) Engineering reactive clay systems by ground rubber replacement and polyacrylamide treatment. Polymers 11(10): 1675, https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11101675.
  41. Soltani A*, Deng A, Taheri A and Mirzababaei M (2019) A sulphonated oil for stabilisation of expansive soils. International Journal of Pavement Engineering 20(11): 1285–1298, https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2017.1408270.
  42. Soltani A*, Deng A, Taheri A, Mirzababaei M and Nikraz H (2019) Interfacial shear strength of rubber-reinforced clays: A dimensional analysis perspective. Geosynthetics International 26(2): 164–183, https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.18.00045.
  43. Soltani A*, Deng A, Taheri A and Sridharan A (2019) Swell–shrink–consolidation behavior of rubber-reinforced expansive soils. Geotechnical Testing Journal 42(3): 761–788, https://doi.org/10.1520/gtj20170313.
  44. Soltani A*, Deng A, Taheri A*, Mirzababaei M and Vanapalli SK (2019) Swell–shrink behavior of rubberized expansive soils during alternate wetting and drying. Minerals 9(4): 224, https://doi.org/10.3390/min9040224.
  45. Soltani A*, Estabragh AR, Taheri A, Deng A and Meegoda JN (2019) Experiments and dimensional analysis of contaminated clay soils. Environmental Geotechnics 6(7): 434–449, https://doi.org/10.1680/jenge.18.00018.
  46. Soltani A*, Deng A, Taheri A and Sridharan A (2019) Consistency limits and compaction characteristics of clay soils containing rubber waste. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Geotechnical Engineering 172(2): 174–188, https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeen.18.00042.
  47. Soltani A*, Azimi M, Deng A and Taheri A (2019) A simplified method for determination of the soil–water characteristic curve variables. International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 13(4): 316–325, https://doi.org/10.1080/19386362.2017.1344450.
  48. Soltani A*, Taheri A, Deng A and Azimi M (2019) A note on determination of the preconsolidation pressure. Journal of Testing and Evaluation 47(6): 4535–4550, https://doi.org/10.1520/jte20170689.
  49. Zhang J*, Soltani A, Deng A and Jaksa MB (2019) Mechanical behavior of micaceous clays. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 11(5): 1044–1054, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2019.04.001.
  50. Zhang J, Soltani A*, Deng A* and Jaksa MB (2019) Mechanical performance of jute fiber-reinforced micaceous clay composites treated with ground-granulated blast-furnace slag. Materials 12(4): 576, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12040576.
  51. Zhao Y, Taheri A*, Soltani A*, Karakus M and Deng A (2019) Strength development and strain localization behavior of cemented paste backfills using Portland cement and fly ash. Materials 12(20): 3282, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12203282.
  52. Zhao Y, Soltani A*, Taheri A*, Karakus M and Deng A (2019) Application of slag–cement and fly ash for strength development in cemented paste backfills. Minerals 9(1): 22, https://doi.org/10.3390/min9010022.
  53. Asgari HR, Haddad OB*, Soltani A and Loáiciga HA (2019) Optimization model for integrated river basin management with the hybrid WOAPSO algorithm. Journal of Hydro-Environment Research 25: 61–74, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jher.2019.07.002.
  54. Soltani A* (2019) Discussion of “Optimization of carpet waste fibers and steel slag particles to reinforce expansive soil using response surface methodology” by M. Shahbazi, M. Rowshanzamir, S.M. Abtahi, S.M. Hejazi [Appl. Clay Sci., doi:10.1016/j.clay.2016.11.027]. Applied Clay Science 175: 193–196, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2017.07.020.
  55. Soltani A* and Mirzababaei M (2019) Discussion on “Effects of lime addition on geotechnical properties of sedimentary soil in Curitiba, Brazil” [J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 10 (2018) 188–194]. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 11(1): 214–218, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2018.08.008.
  56. Soltani A* and Mirzababaei M (2019) Discussion of “Compaction and strength behavior of tire crumbles–fly ash mixed with clay” by Akash Priyadarshee, Arvind Kumar, Deepak Gupta, and Pankaj Pushkarna. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering 31(6): 07019004, https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)mt.1943-5533.0002701.
  57. Soltani A* (2019) Comments on “Effect of wetting–drying–freezing–thawing cycles on the swelling behaviour of the Yanji Mudstone” [Environ Earth Sci (2019) 78: 435]. Environmental Earth Sciences 78(16): 512, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8522-7.
  58. Soltani A*, Deng A and Taheri A (2018) Swell–compression characteristics of a fiber-reinforced expansive soil. Geotextiles and Geomembranes 46(2): 183–189, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2017.11.009.
  59. Soltani A*, Deng A, Taheri A and Mirzababaei M (2018) Rubber powder–polymer combined stabilization of South Australian expansive soils. Geosynthetics International 25(3): 304–321, https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.18.00009.
  60. Soltani A*, Deng A, Taheri A, Sridharan A and Estabragh AR (2018) A framework for interpretation of the compressibility behavior of soils. Geotechnical Testing Journal 41(1): 1–16, https://doi.org/10.1520/gtj20170088.
  61. Mirzababaei M*, Arulrajah A, Horpibulsuk S, Soltani A and Khayat N (2018) Stabilization of soft clay using short fibers and poly vinyl alcohol. Geotextiles and Geomembranes 46(5): 646–655, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2018.05.001.
  62. Soltani A*, Taheri A, Khatibi M and Estabragh AR (2017) Swelling potential of a stabilized expansive soil: A comparative experimental study. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 35(4): 1717–1744, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0204-1.
  63. Estabragh AR*, Soltani A and Javadi AA (2016) Models for predicting the seepage velocity and seepage force in a fiber reinforced silty soil. Computers and Geotechnics 75: 174–181, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2016.02.002.
  64. Soltani A* (2016) Discussion of “Compressibility behavior of soils: A statistical approach” by Syed Iftekhar Ahmed and Sumi Siddiqua [Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, doi: 10.1007/s10706-016-9996-7]. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 34(5): 1687–1692, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-016-0062-2.
  65. Soltani A* and Estabragh AR (2015) Treatment of expansive soils with quality saline pore water by cyclic drying and wetting. Desert 20(1): 73–82, https://doi.org/10.22059/jdesert.2015.54085.

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