Nazanin Mahboobi Motlagh
- HDR Student
- UNSW Sydney
- h.mahboobi_motlagh@unsw.edu.au
Thesis Topic
Experimental and DEM analysis of behaviour of unsaturated soil-structure interaction
About
I am a PhD candidate at the University of New South Wales, Australia, within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering under the supervision of Professor Nasser Khalili and Doctor Arman Khoshghalb. My research focuses on the behaviour of unsaturated soil-structure interaction experimentally and numerically which aligns with RIIS theme 3 – Modelling, Simulations and Prognostics.
This exploration aims to enhance our understanding and prediction capabilities of such interactions through both experimental and numerical approaches.
My educational background includes a master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering from Shahid Beheshti University, achieved with an impressive GPA of 3.8 in 2017.
During my academic pursuits, I have made significant contributions to the development of a three-dimensional bond contact model. This innovative model is designed to analyse the behaviour of cemented granular materials using the discrete element method. Through rigorous testing, including drained static and cyclic triaxial tests on cemented specimens, I demonstrated the effectiveness of this model in predicting the characteristics of cemented soils.
I am interested in experimental geomechanics and soil stabilization and improvement methods. One notable project involved a collaborative effort to assess and compare the shear strength and lifecycle performance of volcanic ash-based geopolymers versus cement-stabilized soils. Additionally, I have conducted extensive experimental work to determine the shear strength parameters of clay interfaces treated with lime and geosynthetic materials, employing direct shear tests to validate these findings.