Dr Andrea Diambra

Summary

Dr Andrea Diambra is a Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering at University of Bristol. His research interests span across a wide range of geotechnical problems, with particular focus on two main areas: 1) new geotechnical solutions for offshore energy systems and 2) development of novel ground improvements techniques. His research uses an approach across the length scales involving a range of techniques from experimental element testing, constitutive modelling, numerical analyses and full-scale testing.

Recent and current research projects include:

1)      Offshore geotechnics

-          Development of new macro-element models for plate anchoring systems;

-          Full-scale axial and lateral testing of driven steel piles in chalk;

-          Polypropylene pipe – seabed interaction;

-          Review of available methods for spudcan penetration assessment;

-          Development of constitutive modelling for cyclic behaviour of granular soils;

-          Evolution of stiffness of granular soils under very large number of  multiaxial loading cycles using the Hollow Cylinder Torsional apparatus;

-          Stress and time dependent behaviour of remoulded chalk.

2)      Ground improvements

-          Experimental and numerical studies of fibre reinforced soils;

-          Experimental and numerical modelling of artificially cemented soils;

-          Extension of modelling techniques for fibre reinforced soils to root-soil systems;

Dr Diambra has extensive teaching experience at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. He is willing to supervise new postgraduate students to work in the above mentioned and/or related topics.

Recent awards:

• Best paper in Géotechnique Letters Volume 5, Q2 (February) 2015: Chow S.H., O’Loughlin C.D., Corti R., Gaudin C. & Diambra A.  2015 “Drained cyclic capacity of plate anchors in dense sand: Experimental and Theoretical Observations”, Géotechnique Letters, 5, 80-85. DOI: 10.1680/geolett.15.00019
• Best paper in Géotechnique LettersVolume 4, Q3 (June-September) 2014:  Diambra A., Ciavaglia F., Harman A., Dimelow C., Carey J., Nash D.  2014 “Performance of cyclic cone penetration tests in chalk”, Géotechnique Letters, 4, 230-237. DOI: 10.1680/geolett.14.00050. 
• EPSRC research grant 2012: "Anisotropy of fibre reinforced sands under generalised loading conditions"(http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/J010022/1).

Biography

Dr Andrea Diambra is a Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering at University of Bristol. His research interests span across a wide range of geotechnical problems, with particular focus on two main areas: 1) new geotechnical solutions for offshore energy systems and 2) development of novel ground improvements techniques. His research uses an approach across the length scales involving a range of techniques from experimental element testing, constitutive modelling, numerical analyses and full-scale testing.

Memberships

Organisations

Department of Civil Engineering

Other sites

• Civilengineering

Research Groups

• Bristol Composites Institute
• Dynamics and Control
• Earthquake and Geotechnical Engineering - Core

Recent publications

• Luo, S, Ibraim, E & Diambra, A, 2019, ‘Acoustic Emission monitoring of crushing of an analogue granular material’. Géotechnique Letters, vol 9., pp. 305?313
• Diambra, A, Liu, HY, Pisano, F & Abell, J, 2019, ‘Comparison of new memory surface hardening models for prediction of high cyclic loading’. in: Haraldur Sigursteinsson, Sigurður Erlingsson, Bjarni Bessason (eds) Proceedings of the XVII ECSMGE-2019. Icelandic Geotechnical Society
• Diambra, A, Ibraim, E & Tauta, JC, 2019, ‘Effect of orientation of principal stress axes on cyclic liquefaction potential of soils’. in: Haraldur Sigursteinsson, Sigurður Erlingsson , Bjarni Bessason (eds) Proceedings of the XVII ECSMGE-2019. The Icelandic Geotechnical Society
• Tsiavos, A, Alexander, N, Diambra, A, Ibraim, E, Vardanega, P, Gonzalez-Buelga, A & Sextos, A, 2019, ‘A sand-rubber deformable granular layer as a low-cost seismic isolation strategy in developing countries: Experimental investigation’. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, vol 125.
• Mandolini, A, Diambra, A & Ibraim, E, 2019, ‘Theoretical and experimental investigation of the multiaxial soil response around monopile foundations’.
• Sargent, P, Rouainia, M, Diambra, A, Nash, D & Hughes, PN, 2019, ‘Small to large strain mechanical behaviour of an alluvium stabilised with low carbon secondary minerals’. Construction and Building Materials.
• Liu, H, Abell, JA, Diambra, A & Pisano, F, 2019, ‘Modelling the cyclic ratcheting of sands through memory-enhanced bounding surface plasticity’. Géotechnique, vol 69., pp. 783-800
• Mandolini, A, Diambra, A & Ibraim, E, 2019, ‘Strength anisotropy of fibre-reinforced sands under multiaxial loading’. Géotechnique, vol 69., pp. 203-216
• Leeuw, LWd, Diambra, A, Dietz, M, Mylonakis, G & Milewski, H, 2019, ‘Cyclic polypropylene pipeline coating interface strength with granular materials at low stress’.
• Spencer, CA & Diambra, A, 2019, ‘Laboratory measurement of strength of weak clay samples’. in: ECSMGE 2019, Reykiavik, Iceland.

View complete publications list in the University of Bristol publications system