Doctor Joel Smethurst

Dr Joel Smethurst

 BEng PhD GMICE FHEA
Associate Professor

Research interests

  • The effects of vegetation and climate on the performance of earthworks (cuttings and embankments)
  • The stabilisation of both infrastructure slopes and large landslides using discretely spaced piles
  • The mechanical stabilisation of soil by plants roots

More research

Accepting applications from PhD students.

Connect with Joel

About

Dr Joel Smethurst is an Associate Professor in Geotechnical Engineering within Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton. He is member of the Infrastructure Research Group and is currently the Director of Programmes for Civil Engineering.

"Geotechnical Engineering underpins the transport infrastructure that we all rely on every day – my research is about ensuring that as it ages, it continues to perform for society."

His main technical interest is in geotechnical transport infrastructure, including the long-term performance, deterioration/aging, and failure of geotechnical structures, and their upgrade and repair.

Joel completed his PhD in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Southampton in 2004, and was previously a Research Fellow (2004-2012), and Lecturer (2012-2018) at the University.

He is a member of the Editorial Board of Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, has been a reviewer for more than 20 international scientific journals, and for research councils in the UK and abroad. Joel is also a member of the Insitution of Civil Engineers South Branch committee.

His Publons record is F-6734-2010