About
My research work focuses on geotechnical solutions to support renewable energy development. The bulk of my work so far has been on sustainable foundations for offshore wind turbines, either floating or bottom-fixed, such as screw piles, suction piles, or clusters of jacked piles. I am continuing in this direction at the University of Southampton, with several projects on anchors for floating wind, such as shared anchors.
My research rationale has always been to uncover the fundamental physical mechanisms that drive the macroscopic behaviour of a foundation or geo-structure. To achieve this goal, I have used a combination of advanced numerical and/or physical modelling techniques such as finite elements, advanced constitutive models, DEM, and centrifuge modelling.
I love hillwalking, particularly in Scotland, reading non-scientific books, and playing badminton. I am active on LinkedIn, so please feel free to connect with me for updates
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Offshore renewable energy - wind, tidal and wave
- Numerical and Physical Modelling of infrastructure for renewable energy
- Constitutive modelling of geomaterials for cyclic loading
Research projects
Active projects
Completed projects
Publications
Pagination
External roles and responsibilities
Biography
I am Associate Professor in geotechnical engineering at the University of Southampton, where I am developing innovative foundations and ground probing methods to unlock cheaper offshore renewable energy.
Before joining Southampton, I was MSCA individual fellow at the University of Dundee (2017-2020), where I worked on silent piling foundations through geotechnical centrifuge and DEM modelling. I worked on screw piles as a silent and efficient way to anchor floating offshore wind turbines.
I obtained my PhD at the University of Liège (Belgium) in 2014, focused on hydro-mechanically coupled finite element modelling of suction caissons for offshore wind turbine foundations. I continued my work on infrastructures for renewable energy applications with some numerical modelling of Pumped Storage hydroelectricity caverns.
Prizes
- Geotechnical Research Medal (2023)
- Bright Spark Lecture Award (2023)
- Discrete Element Modelling of silent piling group installation for offshore wind turbine foundations (2021)
- Telford Gold Medal (2011)