Salina Yong, Ph.D.

Dr. Yong specializes in rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering. In her doctoral dissertation, she investigated excavation-induced damage around tunnels in indurated shale rock within the context of deep geological disposal of nuclear waste in Switzerland. Her master’s research focused on identifying slope instability mechanisms in shale bedrock along a railway section in Canada. Her experience includes field- and laboratory-scale investigations and testing to ascertain index, physical, and strength properties of geo-materials; site characterization through integration and interpretation of spatial, physical, and strength data; and development and analysis of numerical models based on engineering behavior.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Yong worked as a geotechnical engineer at Thurber Engineering and as a structural/civil engineer at Techna-West Engineering Limited (now part of Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.). In her postdoctoral research, she was involved in the investigation of a shallow tunnel collapse in sweetwater molasse in Switzerland. During her doctoral research, she managed and liaised within an international setting that was diverse in culture, language, and scientific expertise as the principal investigator of her field program, which entailed construction of a test tunnel and data collection. Additionally, she was a teaching assistant in introductory civil engineering materials and computer-aided design courses.

Yong S, Kaiser PK, Loew S, Fidelibus C. The role of heterogeneity on the development of excavation-induced fractures in the Opalinus Clay. In: GeoEdmonton'08, 61st Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 9th Joint CGS/IAH-CNC Groundwater Conference, Vol. 1, pp. 654–661, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, September 21–24, 2008.

Yong S, Loew S, Fidelibus C. Characterizing excavation-induced perturbations around a short tunnel in an overconsolidated clay shale. Proceedings, 42nd US Rock Mechanics Symposium and 2nd US-Canada Rock Mechanics Symposium, San Francisco, CA, June 29–July 2, 2008. Paper 08-360 on CD.

Yong S. A three-dimensional analysis of excavation-induced perturbations in the Opalinus Clay at the Mont Terri Rock Laboratory.  Ph.D. dissertation, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, 2007.

Lemy F, Yong S, Schulz T. Assessment of laser-based displacement mapping in an underground opening. In: Rock Mechanics Meeting Society’s Challenges and Demands. 1st Canada-US Rock Mechanics Symposium, Vol. 1, pp. 85–92,Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, September 17–20, 2007.

Lemy F, Yong S, Schulz T. A case study of monitoring tunnel wall displacement using laser scanning technology. Proceedings, 10th International Congress of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment, Nottingham, England, September 6-10, 2006. Paper 0482 on CD.

Yong S, Loew S, Fidelibus C, Frank E, Lemy F, Schuster K. Induced fracturing in the Opalinus Clay: An integrated field experiment. In: Rock Mechanics in Underground Construction. 4th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium, Singapore, November 8-11 2006. Printed abstract, pp. 418. Paper A0296 on CD.

Schulz T, Lemy F, Yong S. Laser scanning technology for rock engineering applications. In: Optical 3-D Measurement Techniques VII. 7th Conference on Optical 3D Measurement Techniques, Vol. 1, pp. 50–59.Vienna, Austria, October 3-5, 2005.

Yong S. A slide in the Harrowby Hills. M.Sc. thesis, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2003.

Yong S, Martin CD, Sego DS, Bunce C. The Harrowby Hills slide. Proceedings, 3rd Canadian Conference on Geotechnique and Natural Hazards, pp. 219–226, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, June 8–10, 2003.

Biggar KW, Yong S. Monitoring well casing material behaviour subject to different groundwater contaminants. Proceedings, 1st International Conference on Geotechnical Site Characterization, pp. 341–346, Atlanta, GA, April 19–22, 1998.
Published Abstracts

Yong S, Loew S, Fidelibus C, Lemy F, Frank E. Disturbance in the EDZ in the Opalinus clay at Mont Terri. Printed abstract, 3rd International Meeting on Clays in Natural and Engineered Barriers for Radioactive Waste Confinement, Lille, France, May 27–31, 2007. Poster P/EDZ/9, pp. 537–539.

Presentations

Yong S. A three-dimensional analysis of excavation-induced perturbations in the Opalinus clay at the Mont Terri Rock Laboratory. Seminar presentation at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, July 11, 2008.

Yong S. EZ-B experiment: Results. Presentation at the Mont Terri Technical Meeting 26, St. Ursanne, Switzerland, February 21, 2008.

Loew S, Yong S, Button, E, Hansmann J. Engineering geology numerical tools overview. Presentation to the Division for Transport and Waste Management Safety, Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (HSK), Zurich, Switzerland, August 21, 2007.

Yong S. EZ-B experiment: The challenges of characterizing an EDZ. Presentation at the Mont Terri Technical Meeting 25, St. Ursanne, Switzerland, February 21, 2007.

Yong S. Mont Terri EZ-B experiment, induced fracturing in the Opalinus Clay: An integrated field experiment. Seminar presentation to Department B2.2, Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hannover, Germany, February 14, 2007.

• Postdoctoral Researcher in Engineering Geology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, 2008
• Geotechnical Engineer, Thurber Engineering Limited, Calgary, Canada, 2003
• Structural/Civil Engineer, Techna-West Engineering Limited, Edmonton, Canada, 1998–2000
  

• Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists (member)
• American Rock Mechanics Association (member)
• ASCE and Geo-Institute (associate member)
• Canadian Geotechnical Society (member)
• International Society for Rock Mechanics (member)
• International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (member)