Postgraduate research (PhD)
Numerical Research
Numerical Research
PhD students enjoying geotechnical finite element analysis
PhD students
PhD students and researchers in geotechnics: Autumn 2017
Laboratory research
PhD students working in the Bishop lab
PhD students are engaged across all of the main research activities in the Geotechnics Section and enjoy many other oppotunities during their time here. Our PhD alumni are spread across the world working in both industry and academia.
For information on current research vacancies, please contact either Dr Stavroula Kontoe or Sue Feller. For more information about the PhD programme, please visit the For more information about the PhD programme, please visit the Department's postgraduate research pages. This page includes details of fees, what to put into an application, and how to apply.
View potential PhD supervisors
Geotechnics Academic and Teaching Staff A-Z
Photo | Details |
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Richard JardineProfessor of Geomechanics, FREng, MSc, DIC, PhD, FICE, FCGISoil mechanics; Constitutive behaviour; Laboratory and field experiments; Instrumentation; Geotechnical design; Soft Ground engineering; Deep foundations; Offshore geotechnics; Geohazards; Cold region geotechnics. |
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James LawrenceReader in Geological Engineering, PhDUndergraduate Year 1 Coordinator Upper cretaceous carbonates (Chalk); Geological disposal of radioactive waste; Geomechanics; Structural geology; Petroleum reservoir characterisation; Modelling slope instability; Coastal recession related to the impact of climate change and weathering of rock. |
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Truong LeLecturer, PhDSoil properties, advanced laboratory testing, soil characterisation, soft and stiff clayey soils, geotechnical instrumentation. Email Truong |
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Catherine O'SullivanProfessor of Particulate Soil Mechanics, PhD, MIEIHead of Geotechnics Section Discrete element modelling; Particulate soil mechanics; Micro-computed tomography; Internal erosion; Stress wave propagation; Cyclic soil response; Validation of discrete element models (DEM). |
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Dave PottsGCG Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, PhD, FREng, CEng, FICEApplication of FEM to geotechnical problems; Geotechnical numerical analysis; Constitutive modelling; Soil-structure interaction. |
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David Solans RoaTeaching Fellow in Geotechnics, PhDNumerical modelling of geotechnical infrastructure under static and seismic loading conditions. |
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Jamie StandingProfessor of Ground Engineering, PhD, CEng, MICEChair of the Undergraduate Exam Board Soil-structure interaction; Tunnelling and deep excavations; Field monitoring; Piles; Model testing; Partly saturated soils and residual soils. |
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David TabordaReader in Geomechanical Modelling, DIC, PhDDepartment ICT Representative Computational geomechanics; Constitutive modelling of soils; Soil dynamics; Cyclic soil behaviour; Soil-Structure interaction; Geothermal energy systems; Thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of soils; Optimisation algorithms. |
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Katerina TsiampousiSenior Lecturer, PhDDirector of the MSc Programme in Civil and Environmental Engineering THM modelling of geo-materials; Behaviour of partially saturated media in deep nuclear repositories; Reliability and risk of geotechnical structures (excavations, tunnels, slopes, foundations); Behaviour of railway embankments under seasonal changes in suction. |
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Ken VinckLecturer in Geotechnics, MSc, DIC, PhDDirector of MSc in Soil Mechanics Advanced laboratory testing and field experiments, Soil and Site characterisation; Offshore geotechnics; Hydraulic fill; Soil improvement; Planetary geotechnics; Carbonate soils. |
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Lidija ZdravkovicProfessor of Computational Geomechanics, DIC, PhDDevelopment and application of FEM in geotechnical engineering; Constitutive modelling; Unsaturated soils; THM modelling of geomaterials; Soil-structure interaction; Laboratory testing of soils. |
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Geotechnics Academics A-Z |
Download our Departmental Research Brochure
View current researchers and their research topics
Geotechnics Research Students A-Z
Photo | Details |
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Stamatina AlexandropoulouStarted Oct 2021Modelling the behaviour of compacted bentonite at high temperatures (up to 200°C) Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Potts, D.M. As part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Nuclear Energy Futures and Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) Email Stamatina |
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Clive AppleyardStarted 2019Pile interceptions of Major Tunnelling projects Supervised by: Standing, J.R. Email Clive |
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Sinead BirksStarted Oct 2020Geological and geomorphological characterisation of West Cumbria Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A; Coleman, C. Email Sinead |
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Marina Schnaider BortolottoStarted Nov 2019Investigation on the thermal behaviour of granular materials Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C.; Taborda, D. Email Marina |
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Anthony CarpenterStarted Sep 2019Long-term nuclear decommissioning InSAR monitoring Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A; Ghail, R.C. Email Anthony |
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Emilia Castillo FuentesStarted June 2021Foundation systems for offshore wind developments in deep waters Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Potts, D.M. Email Emilia |
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Han Ming LaiStarted Oct 2023Ground water composition in the design of nuclear waste disposal Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Potts, D.M. Email Han Ming |
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Hsuan-Yi LiStarted Oct 2022SAR and multi-spectral integration for unsupervised crop type mapping to predict yield and biomass Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A Email Hsuan-Yi |
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Jiaming LiuStarted Oct 2022Numerical study of tunnel-raft interaction in soft clays Supervised by: Tsiampousi, A.; Taborda, D. Email Jiaming |
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Shengjie MaStarted Mar 2022Seismic response of structures within interbedded layers of distinct hydro-mechanical features Supervised by: Kontoe, S.; Taborda, D. Email Shengjie |
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Alison ProvostStarted Nov 2022TBC Supervised by: Taborda, D. Email Alison |
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Tony MaherStarted Sep 2019Retardation of radionuclides and contaminants in weathered chalk Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A.; Ghail, R.C. Email Tony |
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Christos MiltiadisStarted Mar 2021Effect of climate change projections on infrastructure assets Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Tsiampousi, A.; Onof, C. Email Christos |
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Tokio MorimotoStarted Sep 2022A DEM analysis of thermal effects on micromechanics of packed granular beds Supervised by: Email Tokio |
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Yohei NakamichiStarted Oct 2021Particle-scale simulation of clay using moleculer dynamics Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C.; Angioletti-Uberti, S.; Tangney, P. Email Yohei |
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Fabian Ortiz WallStarted Sep 2023Modeling foundations for Offshore Wind Turbines subjected to complex loading conditions Supervised by: Taborda, D.; Kontoe, S. Email Fabian |
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Jose SalomonStarted Apr 2021Undrained instability in saturated sands: Coupled DEM-CFD Analyses Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C. Email Jose |
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Tara SasselStarted Oct 2018Simulating the build-up of soil pressures behind integral bridges As part of the CDT in Sustainable Civil Engineering Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C. Email Tara |
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Hassan Abdullatif SindiStarted Oct 2021Development of new sustainable geo-materials with a focus on desert soils and construction waste Supervised by: Carraro, JAH. Email Hassan |
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Pishun TantivangphaisalStarted Mar 2022Evaluation, development and practical application of constitutive models for sands under cyclic loading Supervised by: Taborda, D. Email Pishun |
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Yongxin WangStarted Nov 2023Particle-scale simulation of soil-polymer interaction in sand Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C. Email Yongxin |
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Ahmad Agus WidodoStarted Nov 2023Flood embankment deterioration Supervised by: Le, T. Email Agus |
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Jamie Wills SaninStarted Mar 2020Influence of particle level variability in soil stochastic behaviour Supervised by: Standing, J.R.; O'Sullivan, C. Email Jamie |
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Han YangStarted Oct 2022Effect of ash cover in infrastructure embankments on their life cycle stability and serviceability Supervised by: Standing, J.R.; Zdravkovic, L. Email Han |
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Isabella (Shihan) ZhangStarted Feb 2023Satellite Remote Sensing of Agriculture With Combined Multispectral and InSAR Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A. Email Shihan |
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Geotechnics Research Students A-Z |
View completed PhD research titles
Geotechnics 2008-2009
2009
Name | Title and supervisor |
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Abela, J | Blinding struts in cut & cover excavations Supervised by: Professor D. Potts/Dr R. Vollum/Professor B. A. Izzuddin |
Aldama Bustos, G | An exploratory study of parameter sensitivity, representation of results and extensions of PSHA: Case Study - United Arab Emirates Supervised by: Professor J. Bommer |
Barreto Gonzalez, D | Numerical and experimental investigation into the behaviour of granular materials under generalised stress states. Supervised by: Dr C. O'Sullivan/Dr L. Zdravkovic |
Cavarretta, I | The Influence of Particle Characteristics on the Engineering Behaviour of Granular Materials Supervised by: Professor M. Coop; Dr C. O'Sullivan |
Zolghadr Zadeh Jahromi, H | Nonlinear Soil-Structure Interaction Supervised by: Professor B. A. Izzuddin; Dr L. Zdravkovic |
2008
Name | Title and supervisor |
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Bodas Freitas, T M | Numerical Modelling of the Time Dependent Behaviour of Clays Supervised by: Professor D. Potts |
Zabidi, H | Studies of karst in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Supervised by: Dr M. de Freitas |
Pre-2008 Information about completed PhD research prior to 2009 may be available from the section but is only available to registered members of the Department. Please contact Sue Feller.
Geotechnics 2020-2024
2023
Name | Title and supervisor |
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Koronides, Marios | Numerical and field investigation of dynamic soil-structure interaction at full-scale Supervised by: Kontoe, S.; Zdravkovic, L. |
Morimoto, Tokio | Particle-scale numerical study on thermal behaviour of granular materials Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C. |
Solans Roa, David | Seismic performance of tailings sand dams Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C. |
Wang, Zixiao | An Investigation of ongoing displacements of active faults in the Gobi Desert using persistent scatterer interferometric synthetic aperture radar technique to support the permanent disposal of high-level waste in Beishan, China Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A |
Wen, Kai | Dynamic and monotonic axial loading responses of piles driven for offshore wind turbines Supervised by: Kontoe, S.; Jardine, R. |
Xue, Shawn | Ground response to tunnelling with an emphasis on arching mechanisms Supervised by: Standing, J.R. |
Xue, Shuai | Transient ground response during and after tunnelling Supervised by: Carraro, JAH. |
2022
Name | Title and supervisor |
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Adesina, Peter | The effects of particle shape and sample grading on the behaviour of granular materials Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C. |
Bandera, Sara | Fundamental analysis of the influence of structure on clay behaviour Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C.; Angioletti-Uberti, S.; Tangney, P. |
Chen, Sihua | Thermo-hydro-mechanical characterisation of London clay Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Carraro, JAH. |
Dominguez Quintans, Camelia | Static and cyclic characterisation of sandy and silty soils deposited underwater Supervised by: Carraro, JAH.; Zdravkovic, L. |
Edgar, Justyna | Addressing infrastructure challenges posed by the Harwich Formation through understanding its geological origins As part of the CDT in Sustainable Civil Engineering Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A; Ghail, R.C. |
Elhusain, Luai | Experimental study of collapse mechanisms in gravelly soils Supervised by: Standing, J.R. |
Guo, Benjamin Wei Li | Reuse and sustainability of flood defences As part of the CDT in Sustainable Civil Engineering Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Tsiampousi, A.; Onof, C. |
Liu, Deyun | The influence of particle size distribution on measures of states for granular materials and implications for small strain stiffness Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C.; Carraro, JAH. |
Liu, Ryan Yin Wai | Numerical modelling of complex thermo-hydro-mechanical interactions in thermo-active pile foundations Supervised by: Taborda, D. |
Mider, Malgorzata | Understanding geological evolution of chalk cliffs and coastal processes using InSAR As part of the CDT in Sustainable Civil Engineering Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A.; Ghail, R.C. |
Moeller, Julia | Seismic response of monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines in liquefiable deposits Supervised by: Kontoe, S.; Taborda, D. |
Quinteros Araujo, Vicente Santiago | On the initial fabric and triaxial behaviour of an undisturbed and reconstituted fluvial sand Supervised by: Carraro, JAH; Jardine, R. |
Ruiz Lopez, Agustin | Development of advanced numerical models for grey cast iron tunnel linings Supervised by: Tsiampousi, A.; Standing, J.R. |
Zhou, Ding | Numerical analysis of Double-O-Tube shield tunnelling Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L. |
2021
Name | Title and supervisor |
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Kirkham, Andrew | Development of a new temperature-controlled oedometer Supervised by: Tsiampousi, A.; Potts, D.M. |
Morgan, Tom | Major faulting in London: Relating tectonic-scale processes to site-scale engineering geology As part of the CDT in Sustainable Civil Engineering Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A.; Ghail, R.C. |
Scoular, Jennifer | Using InSAR to identify potential geotechnical hazards for Tideway East and other tunnelling projects in London As part of the CDT in Sustainable Civil Engineering Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A |
Vinck, Ken | Advanced geotechnical characterisation to support driven pile design at chalk sites As part of the CDT in Sustainable Civil Engineering Supervised by: Jardine, R. |
2020
Name | Title and supervisor |
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Ghiadistri, Giulia Marianna | Numerical study of bentonite buffers homogenisation upon re-saturation Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Potts, D.M.; Tsiampousi, A. |
Nguyen, Hoang | Micromechanics of shear wave propagation and non-linear stiffness of granular materials Supervised by: O’Sullivan C. |
Sailer, Eleonora | Numerical modelling of thermo-active retaining walls Supervised by: Taborda, D.; Zdravkovic, L. |
Salim, Hendarto | Assessing local and global displacements from tunnelling and water extraction in Jakarta Supervised by: Standing, J.R. |
Geotechnics 2008-2009
2009
Name | Title and supervisor |
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Abela, J | Blinding struts in cut & cover excavations Supervised by: Professor D. Potts/Dr R. Vollum/Professor B. A. Izzuddin |
Aldama Bustos, G | An exploratory study of parameter sensitivity, representation of results and extensions of PSHA: Case Study - United Arab Emirates Supervised by: Professor J. Bommer |
Barreto Gonzalez, D | Numerical and experimental investigation into the behaviour of granular materials under generalised stress states. Supervised by: Dr C. O'Sullivan/Dr L. Zdravkovic |
Cavarretta, I | The Influence of Particle Characteristics on the Engineering Behaviour of Granular Materials Supervised by: Professor M. Coop; Dr C. O'Sullivan |
Zolghadr Zadeh Jahromi, H | Nonlinear Soil-Structure Interaction Supervised by: Professor B. A. Izzuddin; Dr L. Zdravkovic |
2008
Name | Title and supervisor |
---|---|
Bodas Freitas, T M | Numerical Modelling of the Time Dependent Behaviour of Clays Supervised by: Professor D. Potts |
Zabidi, H | Studies of karst in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Supervised by: Dr M. de Freitas |
Pre-2008 Information about completed PhD research prior to 2009 may be available from the section but is only available to registered members of the Department. Please contact Sue Feller.
Our academic standing
Accreditation
MEng Accredited CEng (Full)
Our degrees are accredited as fully satisfying the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
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League table rankings
National Student Survey
- Overall Satisfaction, 90.2 (2022), 89.9 (2021); 78.1 (2020); 88% (2019)
QS World Universities rankings
- Subject Ranking. Civil Engineering = 6th (2022); 6th (2021); 5th (2020); 6th (2019)
- Overall, Imperial was voted 7th best university in the world in the 2022 rankings.
Guardian University Guide (UK)
- Subject Ranking. Engineering: Civil = 3rd (2022); 4th (2021); 1st (2020); 1st (2019)
- Overall, Imperial was ranked 7th in this year's Guardian university guide.
The Times Higher Education world ranking
- Subject Ranking. Engineering and Technology = 14th (2021); 11th (2020); 12th (2019)
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The Sunday Times Good University Guide (UK)
- Subject Ranking. Civil Engineering = 1st (2022); 4th (2021); 4th (2020); 3rd (2019); 1st (2018)
Complete University Guide
- Subject Ranking. Civil Engineering = 2nd (2023), 8th (2022); 7th (2021); 6th (2020); 2nd (2019); 1st (2018)
- Overall, Imperial ranked 5th best university in this year's rankings.
Research assessments
- REF 2021. 75% of our research was considered 4* (highest rating), and the remaining 25% at 3* (unit of assessment: engineering).
- REF 2014. 47% of our research assessed to be 4* (highest rating), 48% assessed to be 3* and 5% assessed as 2* (unit of assessment: civil and construction engineering).
- RAE 2008. 40% of our research assessed to be 4* (highest rating), 55% assessed to be 3* and 3% assessed as 2* (unit of assessment: civil engineering).