PhD in Civil Engineering – Investigating the effects of climatic and train-induced loads on railway embankments

Start date: October 2025

The School of Engineering of the University of Glasgow is seeking a highly motivated graduate to undertake an exciting 3.5-year PhD project entitled “Investigating the effects of climatic and train-induced loads on railway embankments”.  

Climate change is responsible for the increase in more intense precipitation events and greater amplitude of warm temperatures. These changes result in frequent cycles of wetting and drying, referred to as “climatic loading”, which can significantly impact the performance of civil infrastructure, including railway embankments. Railway subgrade soil is particularly vulnerable as it can undergo swell-shrinkage due to moisture variations driven by changing climatic conditions. In addition to climatic loading, the subgrade is subjected to cyclic loads from passing trains which become more critical with the growing demand for high-speed trains and the resulting increase in loading frequencies on railway embankments. The combined effects of climatic and train-induced loading can degrade the subgrade soil, placing railway infrastructure at a heightened risk of premature failure and loss of serviceability, as these systems were not originally designed to withstand such complex loading conditions. 

This project aims to evaluate the cyclic response of railway subgrade soil under both climatic and train-induced loading. It involves conducting experiments to characterise the swell-shrinkage behaviour of soil under drying-wetting cycles, as well as its accumulated deformations and resilience when subjected to combined drying-wetting and cyclic loading. At the James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, you will have access to advanced geomaterial testing facilities designed for studying soils under varying water content and cyclic loads. These experiments will be complemented by the development of predictive constitutive models based on experimental data, enabling accurate predictions of subgrade soil behaviour under these combined loading conditions. The findings will provide valuable insights to inform railway design protocols, enhancing long-term serviceability while mitigating climate risks, thereby contributing to the development of sustainable infrastructure systems. 

The deadline for application is end of January 2025, and a second round in May 2025. Please refer to the following website for details on how to apply: Link 

Please note that this application is to gain admission to our PGR programme, and an offer of admission may be issued before a decision on this Scholarship is made. Candidates applying for this Scholarship will most likely have an interview/discussion with the supervisor before any decision is made. 

For informal enquiries, please contact the first supervisor arash.azizi@glasgow.ac.uk