Geomechanics Research Group

Geomechanics covers activities related to the characterisation of granular materials, soil, clays etc and understanding, and modelling, their behaviour under a range of conditions and time scales.

Particular areas of interest are the modelling of soil-structure interactions including soil-vehicle interactions for extra-terrestrial applications and the behaviour of liquefiable soils subject to seismic and other dynamic effects.

Our research areas

  • Mechanics and micro-mechanics of granular materials including image analysis
  • Discrete Element Modelling (DEM) of granular materials including laboratory validation
  • Physical modelling of geotechnical problems including soil-structure interaction with particular emphasis to off-shore wind turbines
  • Soil-Vehicle interactions including extra-terrestrial applications
  • Wave propagation in, and constitutive models for, nonlinear materials
  • Pipelines and piles in seismic areas including liquefiable soils
  • Study of soil liquefaction using element tests.

Get in contact

We can carry our advanced soil testing as well as bespoke scaled model tests of geotechnical problems. Please contact Professor Suby Bhattacharya if you need any further information.

Study with us

Pursue a career in the geotechnical engineering sector with our masters course.

Engineers in a mine

Advanced Geotechnical Engineering MSc

Surrey Advanced Geotechnical Engineering (SAGE) Laboratory

The SAGE Lab is a geotechnical testing facility to carry out advanced laboratory testing of soils and scaled model tests of geotechnical problems. The following are our capabilities.  

  1. Advanced Laboratory testing of soil: We are fully capable of carrying out all types of soil testing including Triaxial testing with local strain measurements (bender element), Cyclic Triaxial, Resonant column and Dynamic Simple Shear.
  2. Scaled model tests for different geotechnical problems: Example problem studies are: behaviour of offshore wind turbines under cyclic and dynamic loading, behaviour of pipelines crossing a fault and other Dynamic Soil-Structure Interaction (DSSI) problems. We also can carry out vibration monitoring of small scale models using non-contact devices, shaking table tests for small scale models and also can develop of customized sensors (e.g. water proof MEMS accelerometers).

Some examples of advanced soil testing

  • Cyclic Triaxial Apparatus: We can carry out element testing of soil to understand the cyclic behaviour including liquefaction susceptibility and also multi-stage test (for example cyclic testing of soil to liquefaction and then applying monotonic loading).
  • Using the tests results we can construct bespoke p-y curves (Winkler Springs for pile-soil analysis) for any soils. Currently codes of practice provides methodology to constructy p-y curves for standard soils (such as sand, soft clay, stiff clay). We can construct continuous p-y curves for a soil from the element test data based on our published research.
  • Resonant Column Apparatus: We can carry out Shear Modulus and Damping characteristics of soils.
  • Dynamic Simple Shear Apparatus: We can carry out cyclic simple shear tests on soils applying hundreds of thousands of cycles.
  • Triaxial with Local Measurement (Bender Element): Our monotonic triaxial apparatus is also equipped with bender element equipment and we can also carry out other local measurements.

Physical modelling in geotechnical engineering

We have two calibration chambers with transparent sides for visualization purposes-

  1. Large Calibration Chamber: (2.4m × 1.4m × 2.6m) with a transparent front. This chamber has been used before to carry out shaking table tests.
  2. Small Calibration Chamber: (450mm × 200mm × 400mm) with a transparent front. This has been used before to carry out 1-g and shaking table tests

Examples of small scale testing

  • Small scale models of Offshore Wind Turbine Foundations: We carried out wind turbine model tests to understand the dynamic soil structure interactions as well as long term performance. Apart from standard measuring devices, we are able to monitor the structure frequency during shaking using non-contact device such as Laser Vibrometer. See the above photograph.
  • Some examples of pipeline testing: Models to investigate the effects of fault movements or landslides on buried pipelines: we carried out model test to study the effect of fault movement (both reverse and thrust) on pipeline behaviour.
  • Examples of Micro Mechanical Behaviour of Soil: We developed a custom made inter-particle friction apparatus. This has been used to carry out inter-partical friction test on irregular surface under different normal loads.
  • Physical model of retaining wall: We are able to carry out shearing tests on granular material confined by a moving wall.

Take a look at our SAGE Laboratory brochure (PDF) to find out more.

People

Please find a list of the academic, research and support staff that make up the Group.

Head of the Group

Academic staff

Research staff

Technical staff

Postgraduate research students

Click on our student profiles below to read all about their research projects.

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Address
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 7XH