Geomechanics Micro-to-Macro
Research Group (GM2M)
We are an active research group at the School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment. We study the mechanical behaviour of soils and other granular materials, using a micro-to-macro approach involving advanced laboratory testing, numerical simulation and phenomenological approaches to modelling. We have extensive experience using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) for micro-scale simulation and advanced continuum models to investigate macro-scale behaviour. Some of our work has involved complex materials such as rubber-sand-mixtures, dissolving soils, and biodegradabale materials, amongst others.
We also use techniques such as x-Ray micro-computed tomography, soil element and model testing of soils and soil-structure interaction, and advanced statistical concepts (i.e. grading entropy) to understand how micro-scale (particulate) properties affect macro-scale soil behaviour such as that observed for shallow and deep foundations, retaining walls, and landfill facilities, amongst others.
We are located at Edinburgh Napier University, assessed in REF2021 as the top Scottish modern university for both research power and research impact with 68 per cent of our research now assessed as “internationally excellent” or “world leading”. We also exchange ideas and work with our colleagues from the Geotechnical Seismic Isolation Global Network, and Edinburgh Napier’s Centre for Conservation and Restoration Science.
We are always looking for passionate new PhD students, Postdocs, and Master students to join the team
We are grateful for funding received for our research projects including, BE-ST, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society of Edinburgh), and Hungarian Academy of Sciences, amongst others.
News
June 9th, 2023
COST Action CA22132 - Open Network on DEM Simulations (ON-DEM) led by Dr Barreto has been approved and it is now open! More info here.
June 5th, 2023
Prediction of permeability for coarse-grained soils. Paper published in Transportation Geotechnics.
May 20th, 2023
Dr Leak and Dr Barreto Barreto attended the Numerical Analysis of Geomaterials Symposium dedicated to the memory of Prof. G.N. Pande. They presented their work on “Numerical and experimental investigations into force chain networks in soils - a grading entropy approach” and “The computation of soil water retention curves from particle size distributions - assessing the assumptions”, respectively. Extended abstracts here.
May 3rd, 2023
James Leak wins prize at the School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment PhD paper competition 2022-23!
April 20th, 2023
Dr McDougall becomes member of the International Advisory Committee for CREST 2023 (2nd Construction Resources for Environmentally Sustainable Technologies) at Kyushu University, Japan.
April 18th, 2023
Dr Leak granted internal funding for a project on “Predicting phase transformations in coarse grained soils”
April 14th, 2023
New paper by Dr Bernal-Sanchez! “Carbon impact & mitigation of housing developments on peatlands in the UK - A case study” has been accepted for the 9th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics.
April 11th, 2023
Success all around in latest round of internal funding! Projects on “An experimental investigation on the mechanical behaviour and sustainability of stabilised peats with rock flour” (led by Dr Bernal-Sanchez) and “Portable monitoring system for soil-water contamination using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) associated with deep learning” (led by Dr Barreto) have been approved.
April 2nd, 2023
Sand-rubber mixtures to mitigate liquefaction potential. Our new paper in the Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering uses the grading entropy concept to assess their susceptibility to liquefaction.