Geotechnical engineering and research
Engineering the Ground We Build On
I investigate how unsaturated and tropical soils respond to changing environmental and loading conditions, and what this means for geotechnical design and resilient infrastructure.
Explore My ResearchView Publications
Research focus
Understanding Ground Behaviour
Changes in moisture, temperature, suction, loading and chemical conditions can significantly affect the ground beneath foundations, slopes, highways and containment systems.
My work connects these changes to safer, more sustainable engineering decisions.
Specialisms
Research Areas
Unsaturated and Tropical Soils
Investigating soils influenced by suction, moisture variation and environmental exposure, including lateritic soils found in tropical regions.
Critical State Soil Mechanics
Using critical state principles to understand soil behaviour under different stress, density and loading conditions.
Soil Microstructure
Exploring how particle arrangement, pore structure and microscopic interactions influence behaviour at the engineering scale.
Compacted Soil Mixtures
Examining the hydraulic, mechanical and shrinkage behaviour of compacted materials used in barriers and liners.
Geo-Environmental Engineering
Investigating interactions between soils, contaminants and environmental systems, including the effects of leachate.
Numerical Modelling
Using computational methods to investigate complex behaviour, test assumptions and interpret experimental results.
Methods and capabilities
Connecting Evidence Across Different Scales
I combine experimental, microstructural and numerical methods to connect laboratory observations with engineering behaviour and practical application.
Climate and infrastructure
Engineering for Changing Environmental Conditions
Rainfall, drought, temperature variation and changing groundwater conditions can influence soil strength, volume change and long-term performance.
My research supports more resilient infrastructure and contributes to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 13.
Current work
Research Themes
Hydro-Mechanical Behaviour of Tropical Soils
Exploring how suction, moisture variation, soil fabric and mineralogy influence water retention, permeability, shear strength, settlement and foundation performance.
Thermo-Mechanical Behaviour of Tropical Soils
Investigating how temperature influences stiffness, strength, thermal conductivity and stress-strain behaviour under climate-driven thermal variations.
Microstructural Evolution During Extreme Wetting
Examining changes in pore structure, particle arrangement and bonding during extreme wetting, and connecting these changes to volume change, permeability and strength loss.
Teaching and geotechnical education
Making Technical Knowledge Useful
I turn research and technical concepts into clear learning resources for students, researchers and practising engineers.
Explore Geotechnical ResourcesKnowledge exchange
From Research to Learning
Clear technical communication connects laboratory findings, engineering practice and the development of future professionals.
Selected work
Engineering Publications
A selection of peer-reviewed research covering critical state behaviour, compacted soil mixtures, geo-environmental engineering, unsaturated soils and soil-water retention.
Critical State Parameters for a Saturated Lateritic Clay
View Publication
Effect of Specimen Preparation on Shrinkage Behaviour of Compacted Bentonite-Sand Mixtures
View Publication
Impact of Leachate on Soil Permeability
View Publication
Influence of Suction on the Dilatancy of an Unsaturated Lateritic Sandy Lean Clay
View Publication
Reliability of HCT-Based Soil Water Retention Curves
View PublicationPractice and industry
Research Grounded in Real Projects
The questions I research come from ground I have actually worked on: tunnelling on the NEOM Mountain Running Tunnel Project in Saudi Arabia, infrastructure and soil mechanics at AECOM in Hong Kong, and civil and geotechnical design with Black Edge Nigeria.
That practice keeps the research honest, and it shapes the problem sets and worked solutions I publish for engineers meeting the same conditions on site.
See Industry Experience and Problem SetsResearch collaboration
Let’s Advance Ground Engineering Together
I welcome collaboration in soil behaviour, environmental change, technical education and resilient infrastructure.
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