Fady B. Abdelaal PhD, P.Eng.

Associate Professor

Civil Engineering, Faculty
Phone: 613-533-3352
Fax: 613-533-2128
Ellis Hall, Room: 246


Expertise: Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Fady B Abdelaal
Biography Research Teaching Publications Awards & Grants

My research projects help to address the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:

     
Dr. Abdelaal obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and his Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering at Ain Shams University in Egypt. His Master’s research involved the investigation of sand bentonite mixtures as a low hydraulic conductivity barrier soil for municipal solid waste landfill liners as an alternative to traditional clayey soil liners only available on the banks of the river Nile and used for agricultural purposes.
Dr. Abdelaal travelled to Canada in 2008 to start his Doctoral research at Queen’s University under the supervision of Dr. R. Kerry Rowe and Dr. Richard Brachman. His Doctoral research involved investigating the chemical durability of plastic (polyethylene geomembrane) liners as part of the composite liner system for municipal solid waste landfills. This research focused on the key factors influencing the degradation of geomembrane liners. His research also included large scale testing of the composite liner under field exposure conditions to investigate the susceptibility of geomembranes to stress cracking.

After obtaining his Doctoral degree in 2013, Dr. Abdelaal worked as a post-doctoral fellow with Dr. R Kerry Rowe at Queen’s University, to investigate the durability of geomembrane liners for use in other emerging areas in the field of geoenvironmental engineering. These applications included low level radioactive waste containment facilities, potable water reservoirs and mining applications (including heap leach pads, tailings storage facilities, and the Bayer process for Aluminum extraction).

Dr. Abdelaal moved back to Egypt in 2015 after his appointment as an Assistant Professor at Ain Shams University. In January 2017, he joined the Civil Engineering Department at Queen’s University as an Assistant Professor.

 

Academic Experience

  • July 2024 - To date: Associate Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, Queen’s University, Canada
  • January 2017 - June 2024: Assistant Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, Queen’s University, Canada
  • October 2015 - December 2016: Assistant Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, Ain Shams University, Egypt
  • January 2015 - April 2015: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Queen’s University, Canada

Industrial Experience

  • November 2015 - November 2016: Project Manager, Ardaman-ACE, Egypt
  • January 2007 - January 2008: Landfill auditor, Engineering and Contracting Department - AMA Arab Environment Company (AAEC), Egypt
  • December 2004 - December 2006: Structural Design Engineer, International Arab Consulting Group, Egypt

Professional Societies:

  • 2024 - 2026: Council member and Educational Committee Chair of the International Geosynthetics Society, (IGS).
  • 2024 - To date: Academic support for the delivery of projects, International Geosynthetics Society, Technical Committee barriers (IGS-TC B).
  • 2023 - To date: Vice-President International Geosynthetics Society, North American Chapter (IGS-NA).
  • 2021 - 2023: Chair of the Geosynthetics Division at the Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS).
  • 2021 - 2023: CGS liaison at the International Geosynthetics Society, North American Chapter (IGS-NA).

Professional Membership

  • International Geosynthetic Society (IGS)
  • The Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS)
  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  • The North American Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society
  • Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO)


Chemical durability of Polymeric and Bituminous geomembranes; Large-scale testing of the physical behaviour of geosynthetic barrier systems; Interface shear properties of barrier systems; Contaminant transport through bituminous geomembranes.


Industry Collaboration:

  • Geosynthetic Manufacturers: Solmax, Layfield, Coletanche & Siplast.
  • Consulting and Private sector:  Arcadis Canada Inc., BGC Engineering Inc., Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Klohn Crippen Berger, and WSP Canada Inc.
  • Geosynthetic Installers: Titan Environmental Containment Ltd., Terrafix Geosynthetics.
  • Mining Companies: Vale.
  • Government: Government of Saskatchewan.


Undergraduate courses:

  • Materials for Civil Engineers (CIVL215): Winter 2017-Present
  • Geotechnical Engineering I (CIVL340): Fall 2019- Present. 50% responsibility
  • Geotechnical Engineering II (CIVL341): Winter 2019


Graduate courses:

  • Polymer Microstructure and Testing in Civil Engineering Applications (CIVL849): Fall 2021- Present
  • Geosynthetics in Geotechnical Engineering (CIVL847): Fall 2023


Journal Papers

[28] E Silva, R., Abdelaal, F.B., and Rowe, R.K. (2024). A 9-year study of the degradation of a HDPE geomembrane liner used in different high pH mining applications, Geotextiles and Geomembranes Journal, 53(2025) 230-246, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2024.09.012].

[27] Ali, M., Rowe, R.K., and Abdelaal, F.B, (2024). Using strain hardening to predict the stress crack resistance of unaged and aged HDPE geomembranes. Geotextiles and Geomembranes Journal, 52(4): 598-611, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2024.03.003].

[26] Abdelaal, F.B and Samea, A. (2024). The long-term performance of an elastomeric [28] bituminous geomembrane (BGM) under single-sided conditions. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 61(6): 1109-1126, [https://doi-org.proxy.queensu.ca/10.1139/cgj-2023-0180].

[25] Zafari, M., Rowe, R.K. and Abdelaal, F.B, (2024). Longevity of multi-layered textured HDPE geomembranes in low-level waste applications. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 61(4): 684-699, [https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2023-0039].

[24] Abdelaal, F.B, Zafari, M., Rowe, R.K. (2023). Assessment of Stress Crack Resistance of Multilayered Textured HDPE Geomembranes. Geosynthetics International Journal, [https://doi-org.proxy.queensu.ca/10.1139/cgj-2023-0180].

[23] Arif, A.M., and Abdelaal, F.B, (2023). Diffusion of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through elastomeric bituminous geomembranes (BGMs). Geotextiles and Geomembranes Journal, 51(6): 41–55, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2023.07.003]

[22] Abdelaal, F.B and Samea, A. (2023). Chemical durability of elastomeric bituminous geomembranes (BGMs) in heap leach pad applications. Geosynthetics International Journal, [https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.22.00333].

[21] Samea, A. and Abdelaal, F.B. (2023b). Durability of two bituminous geomembranes (BGMs) with different thicknesses in synthetic MSW leachate. Waste Management Journal, 165(15): 179–188, [https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.22.00333]. 

[20] Samea, A. and Abdelaal, F.B. (2023a). Effect of elevated temperatures on the degradation behaviour of elastomeric bituminous geomembranes. Geotextiles and Geomembranes Journal, 51 (1) 219–232, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2022.10.010].

[19] Abdelaal, F.B, Rowe, R.K., Morsy, M., and E Silva, R. (2023). Degradation of high, linear low, and blended polyethylene geomembranes in extremely low and high pH mining solutions at 85oC. Geotextiles and Geomembranes Journal, 51(5) 27–38, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2023.04.011].

[18] Abdelaal, F.B, and Rowe, R.K. (2023). Physical and mechanical performance of a HDPE geomembrane in ten mining solutions with different pHs. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 60(7): 978–993, [https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2022-0419].

[17] Zafari, M., Abdelaal, F.B, and Rowe, R.K. (2023b). Long-term performance of conductive-backed multi-layered HDPE geomembranes. Geotextiles and Geomembranes Journal, 51(4): 137–155, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2023.03.007].

[16] Zafari, M., Abdelaal, F.B, and Rowe, R.K. (2023a). Degradation behaviour of two multi-layered textured white HDPE geomembranes and their smooth edges. ASCE, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering (ASCE-JGGE), 149(5): 04023020, [https://doi.org/10.1061/JGGEFK.GTENG-11101].

[15] Abdelaal, F.B. and Solanki, R. (2023). Shear strength of geomembrane-subgrade interface in heap leaching applications, Environmental Geotechnics Journal, 10(8): 560–576, [https://doi.org/10.1680/jenge.21.00065].

[14] Abdelaal, F.B. and Solanki, R. (2022). Effect of geotextile ageing and geomembrane surface roughness on the geomembrane-geotextile interfaces for heap leaching applications, Geotextile and Geomembranes Journal, 50(1): 55–68, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2021.09.001].

[13] Morsy, M., and Rowe, R.K., Abdelaal, F.B. (2021). Longevity of twelve geomembranes in chlorinated water. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 58(4): 479–495, [https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2019-0520]. 

[12] Rowe, R.K., Abdelaal, F.B., Zafari, M., Morsy, M., and Priyanto, D. (2020). An approach to geomembrane selection to meet challenging design requirements. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 57(10): 1550–1565, [https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2019-0572].

[11] Abdelaal, F.B. Morsy, M., and Rowe, R.K. (2020). Long-term performance of a HDPE geomembrane stabilized with HALS in chlorinated water. Geotextile and Geomembranes Journal, 47(6): 815–830, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2019.103497].

[10] Abdelaal, F.B. and Rowe, R.K. (2019). Degradation of an HDPE geomembrane without HALS in chlorinated water. Geosynthetics International Journal, 26(4):354–370, [https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.19.00016].

[9] Abdelaal, F.B. and Rowe, R.K. (2017). Effect of high pH found in low-level radioactive waste leachates on the antioxidant depletion of a HDPE geomembrane. ASCE, Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste, 21(1): D4015001, [https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.000026].

[8] Rowe, R.K. and Abdelaal, F.B. (2016). Antioxidant depletion stage of a HDPE geomembrane with HALS in low pH heap leach pad environment. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 53(10): 1612–1627,[https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2016-0026].

[7] Abdelaal, F.B., Rowe, R.K, Hsuan, Y.G. and Awad, R. (2015). Effect of high temperatures on the physical and mechanical properties of HDPE geomembranes in air, Geosynthetics International Journal, 22(3):207–224, [https://doi.org/10.1680/gein.15.00006].

[6] Abdelaal, F.B. and Rowe, R.K. (2015). Durability of three HDPE geomembranes immersed in different fluids at 85oC, ASCE, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering (ASCE-JGGE), 141(2): 04014106-1, [https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001234].

[5] Abdelaal, F.B. and Rowe, R.K. (2014). Effect of high temperatures on antioxidant depletion from different HDPE geomembranes. Geotextiles and Geomembranes Journal, 42(4): 284–301, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2014.05.002].

[4] Abdelaal, F. B., Rowe, R. K., and Brachman, R. W. I. (2014). Brittle rupture of an aged HDPE geomembrane at local gravel indentations under simulated field conditions. Geosynthetics International Journal, 21(1): 1–23, [https://doi.org/10.1680/gein.13.00031].

[3] Abdelaal, F.B., Rowe, R.K. and Islam, M.Z. (2014). Effect of leachate composition on the long-term performance of a HDPE geomembrane. Geotextiles and Geomembranes Journal, 42(4): 384–362, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2014.06.001].

[2] Rowe, R.K., Abdelaal, F.B. and Islam, M.Z. (2014). Aging of HDPE geomembrane of three different thicknesses, ASCE, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, (ASCE-JGGE), 140(5): 04014005, [https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.000109].

[1] Rowe, R.K., Abdelaal, F.B. and Brachman, R.W.I. (2013). Antioxidant depletion of HDPE geomembrane with sand protection layer, Geosynthetics International, 20(2):73–89, [https://doi.org/10.1680/gein.13.00003].


Peer-Reviewed Conference Papers

[23] Ali, M., Blond, E., Abdelaal, F.B., and Rowe, R.K. (2024). A new method to predict the stress cracking resistance of HDPE Geomembranes, Proceedings of the Canadian Geotechnical Conference, GeoMontreal 2024, Montreal, Canada.

[22] Hojjati, F., Abdelaal, F.B., and Bhat, S. (2024). Short-term durability of elastomeric bituminous geomembranes at 70oC: A comparison of the effect of immersion methods, Proceedings of the GeoAmericas 2024 Conference, Toronto, ON, April 2024.

[22] Arif, A.M., Abdelaal, F.B., and Bhat, S. (2024). Evaluation of the performance of bituminous geomembranes (BGMs) as vapour barriers, Proceedings of the GeoAmericas 2024 Conference, Toronto, ON, April 2024.

[22] Asim, M., Solanki, R., Abdelaal, F.B., and Bhat, S. (2023). Investigating the shear behaviour of bituminous geomembrane (BGM)-overliner interface in heap leach applications, Proceedings of the Canadian Geotechnical Conference, GeoSaskatoon 2023, Saskatoon, Canada.

[22] E Silva, R., Morsy, M., Abdelaal, F.B., and Rowe, R.K.R. (2023). Comparison between the environmental stress-crack resistance of unaged and aged HDPE and LLDPE geomembranes. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Geosynthetics, Rome, Italy, 2023, pp. 753-759. LINK.

[22] E Silva, R., Abdelaal, F.B., and Rowe, R.K.R. (2022). Antioxidant depletion from a HDPE geomembrane immersed in unsaturated pore waters and heap leaching solutions. Canadian Geotechnical Conference, GeoCalgary 2022, Calgary, Canada.

[22] Rowe, R.K., Jefferis, S., (2022) Contributors: Abdelaal, F.B., Dominijanni, A., Legge, K., Palmeira, E.M., Scheirs, J., Shackelford, C.D., Scalia IV, J., Zhan, T.L.T., Benson, C.H., Bouazza, A., Di Emidio, G., Evans, J.C., Fratalocchi, E., Gardoni, M.G.,  Katsumi, T.,  and Manassero, M., Parra, D. Protecting the environment from contamination with barrier systems: advances and challenges. Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ICSMGE), Sydney 2022, 108p. [https://www.issmge.org/publications/publication/protecting-the-environment-from-contamination-with-barrier-systems-advances-and-challenges].

[22] E Silva, R., Abdelaal, F.B., and Rowe, R.K.R. (2021). Antioxidant depletion of a HDPE geomembrane in arsenic-bearing tailings. Canadian Geotechnical Conference, GeoNiagara 2021, Niagra, Canada

[22] Zafari, M. and Abdelaal, F.B. (2020). Antioxidant depletion from textured conductive and non-conductive HDPE geomembranes in chlorinated water. GeoAmericas 2020, Virtual conference.

[22] Morsy, M.S., Abdelaal, F.B., and Rowe, R.K. (2019). Performance of blended polyolefin and LLDPE geomembranes in heap leach pads based on OIT. Geosynthetics 2019 Conference, Houston, TX, USA.

[22] Samea, A. and Abdelaal, F.B. (2019). Chemical durability of bituminous geomembranes in heap leaching applications at 55oC. Geosynthetics 2019 Conference, Houston, TX, USA.

[22] Zafari, M. and Abdelaal, F.B. (2019). Antioxidant depletion from single-sided and double-sided textured geomembranes in two different immersion solutions. Geosynthetics 2019 Conference, Houston, TX, USA.

[22] Priyanto, D., Whitelaw, B., Rowe, R.K., Barone, F., Abdelaal, F., Zafari, M., Buckley, J. (2019) Implementation of R&D results in the design of liner system for the Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF). WM2019 Conference, March 3 – 7, 2019, Phoenix, Arizona, US.

[10] Abdelaal, F.B., Rowe, R.K., and Brachman, R.W.I. (2018). Effect of liner temperature on the long-term stress cracking of HDPE geomembranes under simulated field conditions. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference of Geosynthetics, Seoul, Korea.

[9] Morsy, M.S., Rowe, R.K. and Abdelaal, F.B. (2016). Antioxidant depletion from HDPE and LLDPE geomembranes in chlorinated water. 3rd Pan-American Conference on Geosynthetics, Geo-Americas 2016, 10-13 April 2016-Miami Beach, USA

[8] Abdelaal, F.B. and Rowe, R.K. (2014). Effect of chlorinated water on the antioxidant depletion of HDPE geomembrane without HALS. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Geosynthetics, Berlin, September 2014 CD-ROM Paper #83, 7p.

[7] Abdelaal, F.B., and Rowe, R.K. (2014). Application of a four-parameter exponential decay model for modelling antioxidant depletion in HDPE geomembranes. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Geosynthetics, Berlin, September 2014 CD-ROM Paper #274, 8p.

[6] Abdelaal, F.B. and Rowe, R.K. (2014). Antioxidant depletion from a LLDPE geomembrane in an extremely high pH solution. Proceedings of Geosynthetics Mining Solutions 2014. 8-11 September 2014, Vancouver, BC, Canada, CD-ROM, pp. 225-235.

[5] Abdelaal, F.B. and Rowe, R.K. (2013). Antioxidant depletion of HDPE geomembrane without HALS in an extreme environment. Proceedings of Geosynthetics 2013 Conference, Long Beach, CA, USA. CD-ROM, pp. 127-133.

[4] Abdelaal, F.B., Rowe, R.K., Smith, M., Brachman, R.W.I. and Thiel, R. (2012). Antioxidant depletion from HDPE and LLDPE geomembranes without HALS in an extremely low pH solution. The 2nd Pan American Geosynthetic Conference and Exhibition, GeoAmericas 2012, Lima, Peru, CD-ROM, 9p.

[3] Abdelaal, F.B., Rowe, R.K., Smith, M. and Thiel, R. (2011). OIT depletion in HDPE geomembranes used in contact with solutions having very high and low pH. Proceedings of the 14th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Toronto, Canada, CD-ROM, 7p.

[2] Rowe, R.K., Abdelaal, F.B., Islam, M.Z., and Hsuan Y.G. (2010). The strange effect of increasing temperature in accelerated ageing of HDPE GMBs immersed in liquids. Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics, Guaruja, Brazil, pp. 793-798.

[1] Eid, M.M., Abdelrahman, M.T., and Abdelaal, F.M.B. (2009). Sand bentonite mixture as secondary liners in landfills. Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Alexandria, Egypt, 2009, pp. 225-228.


Awards

2024: Robert and Mitchell Landreth “Steward of the Environment” Award in 2024 by the Geosynthetic Institute: Award presented annually to an assistant professor for their outstanding research and teaching on the subjects of geoenvironmental and geotechnical engineering.

2020: Editor’s choice for Canadian Geotechnical Journal in 2020: Rowe, R.K., Abdelaal, F.B., Zafari, M., Morsy, M., and Priyanto, D. (2020). An approach to geomembrane selection to meet challenging design requirements. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 57(10): 1550-1565.

2019: Geosynthetics International Award for the best paper published in the journal in 2019: Abdelaal, F.B. and Rowe, R.K. (2019). Degradation of an HDPE geomembrane without HALS in chlorinated water. Geosynthetics International, 26(4):354-370.

2015: Geosynthetics International Award for one of the best three papers published in the journal in 2014: Abdelaal, F. B., Rowe, R. K., and Brachman, R. W. I. (2014). Brittle rupture of an aged HDPE geomembrane at local gravel indentations under simulated field conditions. Geosynthetics International, 21(1): 1-23.

2014: Geosynthetics International Award for the best paper published in the journal in 2013: Rowe, R.K., Abdelaal, F.B. & Brachman, R.W.I. (2013). Antioxidant depletion of HDPE geomembrane with sand protection layer. Geosynthetics International, 20, No. 2, 73-89.   

2015: Editor’s choice for Geosynthetics International in 2015: Abdelaal, F.B., Rowe, R.K, Hsuan, Y.G. and Awad, R. (2015). Effect of high temperatures on the physical and mechanical properties of HDPE geomembranes in air, Geosynthetics International, 22(3):207-224.

2012: Graduate Student Presentation Award: Canadian Geotechnical Society’s (CGS) national competition for 2012 (2nd Prize).


Grants

  • NSERC Discovery Grant
  • NSERC Alliance-Mitacs Grant
  • NSERC Alliance Grants
  • NSERC Applied Research and Development grants -Mitacs
  • NSERC Strategic Partnership Grant
  • Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund
  • Ontario Research Fund-Small Infrastructure fund
  • Queen’s Wicked Ideas

 

 



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