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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Antonio CarraroSenior Lecturer, PhD, MSc, BScFundamental soil mechanics; Advanced laboratory testing of soils; Sustainable geomaterials; Intermediate soils; Offshore sediments. |
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Richard JardineProfessor of Geomechanics, FREng, MSc, DIC, PhD, FICE, FCGIDeputy Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Soil 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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Stavroula KontoeReader in Soil Dynamics, MSc, DIC, PhD, CEng, MICEDirector of MSc in Soil Mechanics Computational geomechanics; Earthquake engineering; Site response; Dynamic behaviour of soils and earth structures. |
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James LawrenceSenior Lecturer, PhDUpper 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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Catherine O'SullivanProfessor of Particulate Soil Mechanics, PhD, MIEIDiscrete 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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Jamie StandingReader in Ground Engineering, PhD, CEng, MICESoil-structure interaction; Tunnelling and deep excavations; Field monitoring; Piles; Model testing; Partly saturated soils and residual soils. |
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David TabordaSenior Lecturer, DIC, PhDComputational 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, PhDTHM 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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Lidija ZdravkovicProfessor of Computational Geomechanics, DIC, PhDHead of Geotechnics Section Development and application of FEM in geotechnical engineering; Constitutive modelling; Unsaturated soils; THM modelling of geomaterials; Soil-structure interaction; Laboratory testing of soils. |
| 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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Peter AdesinaStarted Oct 2018Improving the resilience of Africa's dams and levees to internal erosion Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C.; Sufian, A. Email Peter |
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Stewart AgarStarted October 2016DInSAR for Analysis of Ground Deformation in the Rural UK As part of the CDT in Nuclear Energy Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A; Ghail, R.C. Email Stewart |
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Sara BanderaStarted Oct 2017Fundamental analysis of the influence of structure on clay behaviour Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C.; Angioletti-Uberti, S.; Tangney, P. Email Sara |
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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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Sihua ChenStarted Oct 2017Thermo-hydro-mechanical characterisation of London clay Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Carraro, JAH. Email Sihua |
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Camelia DominguezStarted Oct 2017Advanced experimental characterisation of offshore sediments subjected to multidirectional loading Supervised by: Carraro, JAH.; Zdravkovic, L. |
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Justyna EdgarStarted Oct 2016The origins of Harwich formation As part of the CDT in Sustainable Civil Engineering Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A; Ghail, R.C. Email Justyna |
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Luai ElhusainStarted Jan 2018Experimental investigation into collapsible soils from Sudan Supervised by: Standing, J.R. Email Luai |
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Giulia Marianna GhiadistriStarted Oct 2015Numerical study of bentonite buffers homogenisation upon re-saturation Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Potts, D.M.; Tsiampousi, A. Email Giulia |
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Benjamin GuoStarted Oct 2016The re-use and sustainability of flood defences As part of the CDT in Sustainable Civil Engineering Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Tsiampousi, A.; Onof, C. Email Benjamin |
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Hendarto HendartoStarted Jan 2016Assessing local and global displacements from tunnelling and water extraction in Jakarta Supervised by: Standing, J.R. Email Hendarto |
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Hoang NguyenStarted February 2016Micromechanics of shear wave propagation and small-strain stiffness in granular soil Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C. Email Hoang |
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Andrew KirkhamStarted Oct 2016Numerical study of bentonite buffers homogenisation upon re-saturation Supervised by: Tsiampousi, A.; Potts, D.M. Email Andrew |
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Marios KoronidesStarted Oct 2018Numerical investigations of field real-scale experiments involving dynamic soil-structure interaction Supervised by: Kontoe, S.; Zdravkovic, L. Email Marios |
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Ryan LiuStarted Oct 2017Advanced thermo-hydro-mechanical interactions in underground structures Supervised by: Taborda, D. Email Ryan |
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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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Gosia MiderStarted Oct 2017Understanding 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. Email Gosia |
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Julia Katharina MoellerStarted Mar 2018Seismic response of foundations for offshore wind turbine generators Supervised by: Kontoe, S.; Taborda, D. Email Julia |
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Tom MorganStarted Oct 2016The role of faulting in London: How tectonic-scale processes influence site-scale geotechnical behaviour As part of the CDT in Sustainable Civil Engineering Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A.; Ghail, R.C. Email Tom |
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Tokio MorimotoStarted Nov 2019A DEM analysis of thermal effects on micromechanics of packed granular beds Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C.; Taborda, D. Email Tokio |
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Santiago Quinteros AraujoStarted Oct 2017Influence of sampling techniques and fabric on sand behaviour Supervised by: Carraro, JAH.; Jardine, R. Email Santiago |
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Agustin Ruiz LopezStarted Oct 2017Development of advanced numerical models for cast iron tunnel linings Supervised by: Tsiampousi, A.; Standing, J.R. |
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Eleonora SailerStarted Oct 2015Numerical analysis of thermo-active retaining structures Supervised by: Taborda, D.; Zdravkovic, L. Email Eleonora |
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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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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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Jennifer ScoularStarted Oct 2017Monitoring tunnel induced ground movements using satellite InSAR, verified with traditional surveying As part of the CDT in Sustainable Civil Engineering Supervised by: Lawrence, J.A.; Mason, P.; Ghail, R.C. Email Jennifer |
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David SolansStarted Mar 2018Seismic performance and design of tailing dams Supervised by: Kontoe, S.; Zdravkovic, L. Email David |
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Ken VinckStarted Oct 2016Advanced laboratory testing to enable sustainable and cost-effective offshore wind turbine design As part of the CDT in Sustainable Civil Engineering Supervised by: Jardine, R.J. Email Ken |
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Kai WenStarted Oct 2019Driveability and axial capacity of piles for offshore wind turbines Supervised by: Kontoe, S.; Jardine, R. Email Kai |
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Shawn XueStarted Nov 2018Ground response to tunnelling with an emphasis on arching mechanisms Supervised by: Standing, J.R. Email Shawn |
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Ding ZhouStarted Oct 2017Numerical analysis of double-O-tube tunnelling Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L. Email Ding |
| Geotechnics Research Students A-Z | |
View completed PhD research titles
Geotechnics Alumni 2010-2019
2019
| Name | Title and supervisor |
|---|---|
| Abadias Gomez, David | Constitutive modelling of cyclically loaded soils for application in offshore engineering Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Taborda D M G; |
| Bischoff, Christine | Monitoring ground movements and infrastructure in London, UK, using Permanent Scatterer Interferometry As part of the CDT in Sustainable Civil Engineering Supervised by: Ghail, R.C., Mason, P. |
| Knight, Christopher | Multiscale analysis of liquefaction phenomena in soils Supervised by: O’Sullivan C., Daniele, D., Haynes, P., Van Wachem, B. |
| Liu, T. | Advanced laboratory testing of Offshore Wind Turbine foundations under lateral loading Supervised by: Jardine, R.; Kontoe, S. |
| Mantikos, Vasileios | Development of novel apparatus for establishing swelling and water retention characteristics of Bentonite Supervised by: Standing, J.R.; Tsiampousi, A. |
| Skiada, Evangelia | Consistent incorporation of topography effects into ground motion prediction equations Supervised by: Kontoe, S.; Stafford, P.J. |
2018
| Name | Title and supervisor |
|---|---|
| Buckley, R.M. | The axial behaviour of displacement piles in chalk Supervised by: Jardine, R.; Kontoe, S. |
| Tallett-Williams, Sarah | Site classification for seismic hazard assessment Supervised by: Stafford, P.; Fenton, C.H. |
| Ushev, Emil | Laboratory investigation of the mechanical properties of Cowden Till under static and cyclic conditions Supervised by: Jardine, R. |
2017
| Name | Title and supervisor |
|---|---|
| Gawecka, Klementyna | Numerical analysis of geothermal piles Supervised by: Taborda D M G; Potts D M |
| Kawano, Kenichi* | Numerical evaluation of internal erosion due to seepage flow Supervised by: O’Sullivan C.; Shire, T. |
| Martinez Calonge, Daniel | Experimental investigation of Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical behaviour of soils Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Sim, W.W. |
| Otsubo, Masahide | Particle scale analysis of soil stiffness and elastic wave propagation Supervised by: O’Sullivan C.; Sim, W.W. |
| Tsaparli, Vasiliki | Numerical modelling of earthquake-induced liquefaction under irregular and multi-directional loading. Supervised by: Kontoe, S., Taborda D M G |
| Taylor, Howard | Assessing the potential for suffusion in sands using x-ray micro-CT images Supervised by: O’Sullivan C. |
*MPhil
2016
| Name | Title and supervisor |
|---|---|
| Han, Jeong Min | Comprehensive macroseismic analyses for probabilistic seismic hazard assessment in intraplate regions Supervised by: Fenton, C.H. |
2015
| Name | Title and supervisor |
|---|---|
| Aghakouchak, Amin | Advanced laboratory studies to explore the axial cyclic behaviour of driven piles Supervised by: Jardine, R.; Sim, WW. |
| Cui, Wenjie | Development, implementation and application of thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling for soils in finite element analysis Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Potts, D.M. |
| Han, Bo | Hydro-mechanical coupling in numerical analysis of geotechnical structures under multi-directional seismic loading Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Kontoe, S. |
| Lessi Cheimariou, Angeliki | Optimal treatment of nonlinear site response through a set of novel methodologies Supervised by: Kontoe, S.; Stafford, P. |
| Summersgill, Freya | Numerical modelling of stiff clay cut slopes with nonlocal strain regularisation Supervised by: Kontoe, S.; Potts, D.M. |
| Wan, Siu Pong | Field monitoring of ground response to EPBM tunnelling close to existing tunnels in London Clay Supervised by: Standing, J.R.; Burland, J.B.; Potts, D.M. |
2014
| Name | Title and supervisor |
|---|---|
| Alhaj Abdalla, Khalid M.A. | Mechanical response of two plastic clay soils from Sudan Supervised by: Standing, J.R. |
| Avgerinos, Vasileios | Numerical Investigation of tunnelling beneath existing tunnels Supervised by: Potts, D.M.; Standing, J.R. |
| Huang, Xin | Exploring critical-state behaviour using DEM Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C.; Kwok, F. (University of Hong Kong) |
| Newman, Tim | Causes of confined space hypoxia during underground construction in the Lambeth Group beneath London Supervised by: Ghail, R.C; Standing, J.R. |
| Ní Bhreasail, Aine | An investigation of the micromechanical response of soil to one dimensional compression in varied thermal conditions. Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C.; Fenton, C.H., Lee, P.D. |
| O'Donovan, John | Micromechanics of Wave Propagation through Granular Material. Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C. |
| Pelecanos, Loizos | Seismic performance, analysis and design of earth dams Supervised by: Kontoe, S.; Zdravkovic, L |
| Shire, Thomas | Micro-scale modelling of granular filters Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C., Van Wachem, B. |
| Yu, Jessica | Assessing ground interaction effects and potential damage on existing tunnels before and after new excavation works Supervised by: Standing, J.R.; Vollum, R.; Potts, D.M.; Burland, J.B. |
| Kimpritis, Thomas | The control of column diameter and strength in Jet Grouting processes and the influence of ground conditions (MPhil) Supervised by: Standing, J.R. |
2013
| Name | Title and supervisor |
|---|---|
| Pedro, António M. G. | Geotechnical investigation of Ivens shaft in Lisbon Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L. |
| Rimoy, Siya, P. | Ageing and axial cyclic loading studies of displacement piles in sands Supervised by: Jardine, R. |
2012
| Name | Title and supervisor |
|---|---|
| Brosse, Amandine Marie | Study of the anisotropy of three British mudrocks using a hollow cylinder apparatus. Supervised by: Jardine, R. |
| Hosseini Kamal, R | Experimental study of the geotechnical properties of U.K mudrocks. Supervised by: Coop, M. Jardine, R. |
| Shen, C.-K | A micromechanical investigation of drained simple shear tests on dense sand using discrete element simulations Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C.; Jardine, R. |
2011
| Name | Title and supervisor |
|---|---|
| Wilkinson, Stephen | The Microstructure of UK Mudrocks Supervised by: Fenton, C., Coop, M. |
| Fonseca, J | The evolution of morphology and fabric of a sand during shearing Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C.; Coop, M. |
| Giannopoulos, Konstantinos | Numerical analysis of the reuse of piled raft foundations Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Potts, D.M. |
| Taborda, David | Development of constitutive models for application in soil dynamics. Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Kontoe, S. |
| Tsiampousi, Aikaterini | Numerical analysis of slopes in unsaturated soils. Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Potts, D.M. |
2010
| Name | Title and supervisor |
|---|---|
| Barreto Gonzalez, Daniel | Numerical and experimental investigation into the behaviour of granular materials under generalised stress states Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C.; Zdravkovic, L. |
| Arango-Gaviria, Maria Cristina | Ground-motion prediction for subduction-zone earthquakes: Insights from South and Central American data Supervised by: Bommer, J., Strasser, Fleur |
| Papaspiliou, Myrto-Ioanna | On the incorporation of site response in probabilistic seismic hazard analyses Supervised by: Kontoe, S.; Bommer, J. |
| Cavarretta, Ignazio | The influence of particles characteristics on the engineering behaviour of granular materials Supervised by: Coop, M.; O'Sullivan, C. |
| Cheung, L.-Y.G. | Micromechanics of sand production in oil wells Supervised by: O'Sullivan, C.; Coop, M. |
| Schutz, Reinhard | Numerical modelling of shotcrete for tunnelling Supervised by: Potts, D.M.; Zdravkovic, L. |
| Shipton, B | The Mechanics of transitional soils Supervised by: Coop, M. |
Geotechnics 2008-2009
2009
| Name | Title and supervisor |
|---|---|
| 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).
See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.
MSc (Technical)
Our degrees are accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree.
See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.
League table rankings
National Student Survey
- Overall Satisfaction, 88% (2019); 84% (2018); 94% (2017); 96% (2016)
QS World Universities rankings
- Subject Ranking. Civil Engineering = 6th (2019); 3rd (2018); 4th (2017); 5th (2016); 4th (2015); 9th (2014); 1st (2013).
- Overall, Imperial was voted 8th best university in the world in this year's QS rankings.
Guardian University Guide (UK)
- Subject Ranking. Engineering: Civil = 1st (2020); Civil = 1st (2019); 1st (2018); 1st (2017); 1st (2016); 2nd (2015); 2nd (2014)
- Overall, Imperial was ranked 7th in this year's Guardian university guide.
The Sunday Times University Guide (UK)
- Subject Ranking. Civil, Chemical and other Engineering = 1st (2017); 1st (2016).
The Times Higher Education world ranking
- Subject Ranking. Engineering and Information Technology = 7th (2018); 7th (2017); 9th (2016); 6th (2014/15); 9th (2013/14)
- Overall, Imperial was ranked 9th best university in this year's Times Higher Education world rankings.
Complete University Guide
- Subject Ranking. Civil Engineering = 1st (2018); 2nd (2017), 2nd (2016), 2nd (2015)
- Overall, Imperial ranked 5th best university in this year's Complete University Guide.
Research assessments
- REF-14. 47% of research assessed to be 4* (highest rating), 48% assessed to be 3* and 5% assessed as 2*.
- RAE 2008. 40% of research assessed to be 4* (highest rating), 55% assessed to be 3* and 3% assessed as 2*.