MRes in Geomechanics in Edinburgh United Kingdom | Heriot-Watt University

The Geomechanics team conducts research spanning multiple disciplines, from laboratory experiments and microstructure examination to constitutive modeling and geotechnical engineering applications. A key focus involves investigating unsaturated soils' behavior at both microscopic and macroscopic levels. Recent studies have emphasized soil testing under varying suction and temperature conditions while analyzing correlations between micro and macro responses. These findings prove particularly significant for analyzing densely compacted clays around nuclear waste containment systems, along with applications involving underground high-voltage cable installation, deep-sea drilling operations, and temperature-affected foundation designs. Unsaturated soil research marks an emerging field in geotechnical engineering, gaining urgency due to climate change impacts. Current investigations emphasize the thermo-hydro-mechanical properties of soil-water-air systems, with ongoing international collaborations. For years, the team has studied cyclic moisture variations' effects on soil properties - research that proves invaluable for understanding flood impacts on soil microstructure and performance.