Creep and Durability of Weakly Stabilised Clays (Ref: ABCE-ICM-MF)

About the Project

Traditionally stabilised materials in infrastructure are used near the top of earthworks to create increased performance of the overlying pavement or railway track structures. However more recently, stabilised clay fill materials are being used in lower layers of large embankments to improve stability and reduce settlements of the embankment. Additionally materials are being treated with lower levels of stabilising agents than may have been traditionally used to reduce costs.

While the behaviours of such materials are understood in pavement applications (under low normal stresses), little is know about the durability and creep performance of weakly stabilsed materials subject to high overburden and confinement stresses, (as occurs deep in embankments). Additionally little is known about the impact of changes in environmental conditions (such as the availability of free water) over time on the durability of such materials.

This PhD aims to develop current work into stabilised materials to investigate these issues.

Name of primary supervisor/CDT lead:
Dr Matthew Frost m.w.frost@lboro.ac.uk

Name of secondary supervisor:
Dr Ashraf El-Hamalawi https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/abce/staff/ashraf-el-hamalawi/

Entry requirements:
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. A relevant master’s degree and/or experience is desirable. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Civil, Geotechnical, Infrastructure or Materials engineering, or Engineering Geology/GeoEnvironmental Science. Experience of earthworks construction or soils testing/soil chemistry will also be considered.

English language requirements:
Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website (http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/applicants/english/).

Bench fees required: Yes - Bench fee value: £1500

Full-time/part-time availability: Full-time 3 years, Part-time 6 years

Fee band: 2025/26 Band RB (UK £5,006, International £28,600)

Project search terms:
applied geology, civil engineering, geoscience, geotechnical engineering, soil science

Email Address ABCE:
abce.pgr@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk