Research
Geotechnical Research
Academic and research staff research interests
Geotechnics Academic and Teaching Staff A-Z
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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
Geotechnics Research Staff A-Z
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Hanqiao CheResearch Associate, PhDCFD-DEM investigation of seepage induced geotechnical instability Email Hanqiao |
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Wenjie CuiICFEP Research Associate, PhDNumerical investigation of large-scale ground source energy systems and their interaction with other nearby systems or with existing structures Email Wenjie |
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Alexandros PetalasResearch Associate, PhDClimate Adaption Control Technologies for Urban Spaces (CACTUS). EPSRC funded. Email Alexandros |
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Emil UshevDevelopment of experimental techniques for the thermo-hydro-mechanical characterisation of soilsEmail Emil |
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Budi ZhaoResearch Associate, PhDParticle-scale investigation of seepage induced geotechnical instability Email Budi |
| Geotechnics Research Staff A-Z | |
An overview of our research outputs and measures of esteem
Award Winning Research Papers and Research Awards
2019 David Hislop Award: The David Hislop Award (also known as the Offshore award) for best paper on offshore matters was awareded to Ageing and cyclic behaviour of axially loaded piles driven in chalk; R. M. Buckley, R. J. Jardine, S. Kontoe, D. Parker and F. C. Schroeder: Géotechnique (2018): https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/full/10.1680/jgeot.17.P.012
2019 R. M. Quigley Award: This award is given to the best paper published in the Canadian Geotechnical Journal in the preceding year.“Undrained behaviour of intact soft clay under cyclic paths that match vehicle loading conditions” (Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 2018, 55(1): 90-106, https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2016-0636
2018 Soils and Foundations Best Paper Award: This was awarded in May 2019 for Experimental and DEM assessment of the stress-dependency of surface roughness effects on shear modulus Otsubo, M. and O'Sullivan, C. Soils and Foundations. Volume 58, Issue 3, June 2018, Pages 602-614 : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038080618300349
2018 Telford Gold Medal: Wan, M.S.P., Standing, J.R., Potts, D.M. and Burland, J.B. (2017). Measured short-term subsurface ground displacements from EPBM tunnelling in London Clay. Géotechnique, Vol. 67, No. 9, pp. 748-779.
2017 Soils and Foundations Best Paper Award: HF Taylor, C O'Sullivan, WW Sim, SJ Carr (2017) Sub-particle-scale investigation of seepage in sands Soils and Foundations 57 (3), 439-452
Canadian Geotechnical Journal Editor's Choice recognition: A paper co-authored by Prof. Richard Jardine has been selected as one of the “Editor’s Choice” papers for 2018 by the Canadian Geotechnical Journal in recognition of its high caliber and topical importance. The paper authored by Cai et al. (2018) is entitled "Undrained behaviour of intact soft clay under cyclic paths that match vehicle loading conditions". doi:10.1139/cgj-2016-0636 (Spiral http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/45598).
2017 BGA Fleming Award
The PISA Project was awarded the BGA Fleming Award in Dec. 2017.
2016 Geotechnical Research Medal
Avgerinos, V. Potts D. M. & Standing, J. R. (2016) The use of kinematic hardening models for predicting tunnelling-induced ground movements in London Clay Géotechnique 66(2) 106-120
2013 Outstanding Paper International Journal of Geo-Engineering Case Histories
Burland, J.B., Jamiolkowski, M.B., Viggiani, C. (2012) Leaning Tower of Pisa: Behaviour after Stabilization Operation International Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories Vol. 1, No. 3, Paper # IJGCH_1_3_2
2012 Geotechnical Research Medal
Puzrin, A.M, Burland, J.B., Standing, J. R. (2012) Simple approach to predicting ground displacements caused by tunnelling in undrained anisotropic elastic soil Géotechnique 62(4), 341 –352
2012 BGA Medal
Potts D. M. & Zdravkovic L. (2012), Accounting for partial material factors in numerical analysis Geotechnique 62 (12): 1053-1065.
2010 Manby Prize
S. Nishimura, C. J. Martin, R. J. Jardine and C. H. Fenton (2009) A new approach for assessing geothermal response to climate change in permafrost regions Geotechnique 59(12): 213-227
2010 BGA Medal
Potts, V. J. and Zdravkovic, L. (2010) Finite-element study of arching behaviour in reinforced fills Proc. ICE - Ground Improvement 163, Issue GI4, 217–229
2008 BGA medal
Kontoe S, Zdravkovic L, Potts DM, Menkiti C.O. (2008) Case study on seismic tunnel response, Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 2008, Vol:45, Pages:1743-1764.
2008 ICE Geotechnical Research Medal
Hight, D.W., Gasparre, A., Nishimura, S., Anh-Minh, N., Jardine, R.J. & Coop, M.R. (2007) Characteristics of the London clay from the Terminal 5 site at Heathrow Airport. Symposium in Print on Stiff Sedimentary Clays Geotechnique, 57(2), pp 3-18.
2008 ICE Bill Curtin Medal for innovation
Bourne-Webb P.J., Potts D.M. & Rowbottom D.(2007) Plastic bending of steel sheet piles, Geotechnical Engineering 160, Issue GE3, 2007, 129-140.
2008 IACMAG Outstanding Contributions Award
Awarded to Prof. David Potts for contributions throughout his career by the Int. Assoc. for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics.
Funded Research Projects
EPSRC Grants
(2017-2021) Climate Adaptation Control Technologies for Urban Spaces (CACTUS) D. Potts, L.Zdravkovic, K.Tsiampousi
(2017-2019) ALPACA: Axial-Lateral Chalk Analysis for Piles Applying multi-scale field and laboratory testing R. Jardine (PI) S. Kontoe (CI)
(2017-2020) Particle-scale investigation of seepage induced geotechnical instabilities. C. O'Sullivan (PI)
(2015-2016) Effect of time on the evolution of soil behaviour: new advanced triaxial creep cell experimentsW.W. Sim (PI)
(2010-2014) Assessing ground interaction effects and potential damage on existing tunnels before and after new excavation works JR Standing (PI), J. Burland (CI), D.M. Potts (CI), R. Vollum (CI) Link to project website.
(2009-2013) Micromechanics of seismic wave propagation in granular materials C. O'Sullivan (PI), P. Kelly (CI)
(2007-2010) The Properties and Structure of British Stiff Clays and Mudrocks R. Jardine (PI), C. Fenton (CI), M. Coop
(2006-2011) Platform Grant for Laboratory Soil Mechanics Research R. Jardine (PI), D.M. Potts (CI), M. Coop
(2006-2009) Using blinding as struts in cut and cover excavations R. Vollum (PI), B. Izzuddin (CI), D.M. Potts (CI)
Horizon 2020
(2017-2021) BEACON (Bentonite Mechanical Evolution Prof. Lidija Zdravkovic, Prof. David Potts, Dr. Aikaterini Tsiampousi, Dr. Jamie Standing
Invited Prestige Lectures
2016 British Geotechnical Association Rankine Lecture, London
Prof. Richard Jardine
2015 British Geotechnical Association Géotechnique Lecture, London
Dr. Catherine O'Sullivan
2014 17th Sowers Lecture, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Prof. Richard Jardine
2013 British Geotechnical Association Géotechnique Lecture, London
Prof. Lidija Zdravkovic
2013 Bishop Lecture - International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris
Prof. Richard Jardine
2012 The Lymon C. Reese Distinguished Lecture at University of Texas, Austin
Prof. John Burland
2012 The Jennings Memorial Lecture tour, South Africa
Prof. John Burland
2012 Zeevarat Lecture, Mexico
Prof. David Potts 2011
28th Manuel Rocha Lecture, Lisbon, 2011
Prof. John Burland
2010 Liddiard Lecture of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
Prof. John Burland
2009 British Geotechnical Association Géotechnique Lecture, London
Dr. Jamie Standing
2008 7th Lovell Lecture, USA
Prof. David Potts
2008 Sixth Athenian Geotechnical Lecture, Athens
Prof. John Burland
Recorded lectures
Members of staff in the section are often invited to deliver invited lectures, some of which are recorded for subsequent broadcasting. Links to these lectures are given here:
2016
On March 16 2016 Prof. Richard Jardine delivered the BGA Rankine lecture Energy & Geotechnics
2015
On Nov 17 2015 Prof. Catherine O'Sullivan delivered the BGA Géotechnique lecture "A Particulate Perspective on Soil Mechanics"
On June 25 2015 Prof. Lidija Zdravkovic delivered her inaugural lecture "Advanced geomechanics: hot, dehydrated and shaken"
2014
Expedition Workshed have recorded Prof. Burland giving an Introduction to Soil Mechanics.
On 19th February Prof. Burland spoke at a BGA Young Career Group Meeting: The title was "Good practice for young geo-engineers: Boots, computers and engineering judgement." The recording is available here.
2013
On 13th November Prof. Lidija Zdravkovic delivered the BGA Geotechnique Lecture Dr Lidija Zdravkovic. The title was: Geotechnical numerical analysis: a road map. The recording is available here.
Spin out company
Geotechnical Observations
A company formed by Professor Vaughan and Doctors Dineen and Ridley, previous members of the academic staff here, specialising in the measurement and monitoring of soil suctions using the Imperial College Suction Probe.
Completed PhD Research
Geotechnics Alumni 2010-2019
2020
| Name | Title and supervisor |
|---|---|
| Salim, Hendarto | Assessing local and global displacements from tunnelling and water extraction in Jakarta Supervised by: Standing, J.R. |
| Ghiadistri, Giulia Marianna | Numerical study of bentonite buffers homogenisation upon re-saturation Supervised by: Zdravkovic, L.; Potts, D.M.; Tsiampousi, A. |
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 |
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| Han, Jeong Min | Comprehensive macroseismic analyses for probabilistic seismic hazard assessment in intraplate regions Supervised by: Fenton, C.H. |
2015
| Name | Title and supervisor |
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| 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.