An overview of the research activities of the geotechnical research group at Aarhus University, Department of Enginering, civil and Architectural eng. section. We are looking for researchers who can strengthen our research group within experimental geotechnics - contact for further info about possibilities.

1. Geotechnical Engineering
The Geotechnical Engineering Research group primarily focuses on experimental geotechnics (lab and field testing, model
testing), constitutive modelling and FEM analysis of soil-structure interaction. The research is carried out to achieve a greater
understanding of the mechanical/engineering behaviour of soils and to link the behaviour at micro- and macro scale.
CIVIL AND ARCHITECHTURAL ENGINEERING GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Laboratory soils element testing, time- and rate
dependent behaviour of soils, field monitoring,
strength and deformation behaviour of high plasticity
clays
Kenny Kataoka Sørensen, PhD, DIC, MSc
Senior Assoc. Prof. (Docent), kks@eng.au.dk,
Room: N 04.106
Head of the Geotechnical Research Group
Smectite, 1D deformation behaviour of high plasticity
clays,
Michael Lodahl (COWI A/S)
Industrial PhD student, mirl@eng.au.dk, Room: N 04.106
Pore water changes and permeability of high plasticity
clays, driven piles, deep excavations, field monitoring
Thomas Rye Simonsen (Geo)
Industrial PhD student, thrs@eng.au.dk, Room: N 04.106
RESEARCH
Civil and Architectural Engineering (CAE)
Experimental Geotechnics
Research directions:
Strength and deformation behaviour of high plasticity clays, time-and
rate effects, soil element testing, field testing/monitoring
“A deeper understanding of the soil mechanical behaviour of soils
(stress-strain and flow behaviour) is crucial for predicting the
interaction between full scale geotechnical structures and the soil,
which ultimately can lead to a safer and more economical design”
The Geotechnical Research Lab
Research directions:
Provide facilities for high level research and teaching purposes within
geotechnical engineering and soil mechanics
Location: Navitas, Room: 00.093
Head of Lab: Kenny K. Sørensen
• Standard and advanced triaxial stress path testing
• Incremental and constant rate of strain 1D compression tests,
using both fixed and floating ring setup
• Direct shear testing
• Simple CBR and UCS testing
• Field monitoring; e.g. inclinometer measurements,
measurements of pore water pressure, ground deformations
and pile strains
• Model testing
Soil-structure interaction / FEM
Research directions:
Soil-structure interaction, 2D and 3D Finite Element modelling (Plaxis),
development of adv. constitutive models
Examples of research topics:
• Progressive failure in high plasticity clays
• Development of adv. constitutive models to incorporate
effects of time, rate and structure/destructuration
“The challenges associated with
the interaction between soil and
engineering structure (e.g.
basement structures, pile
foundations, retaining walls, rail
road embankments) increases as
the structures increase in size and
complexity”
The research group uses
2D and 3D FEM (Plaxis) to
achieve a greater
understanding of the
complex interaction
between soil and structure
Examples of recent/current research
projects:
• Influence of smectite on the
deformation behaviour of clays, PhD
project in collaboration with COWI
A/S (1D oedometer testing), 2014-
2017
• Soil-structure interaction in soft soil
with focus on negative skin friction
on driven piles. PhD project in
collaboration with cp test a/S and
Per Aarsleff A/S (Full-scale testing
and monitoring of soil-structure
interaction), 2016-2019
• Strength and stiffness development
in cement-bentonite mixtures, MSc
project (Triaxial testing), 2014-2016
• Pore pressure changes in
Palaeogene clays in relation to deep
excavations and driven piles, PhD
project in collaboration with Geo
(Full scale testing and monitoring of
soil-structure interaction), 2015-2018
• Residual strength of high plasticity
clays, R&D project in collaboration
with Geo (Direct shear testing),
2013-2014
The research group utilises a
combination of laboratory
soil element testing, model
testing and field
testing/monitoring to achieve
an insight into the stress-strain
and flow behaviour of
various natural and artificial
soils.
http://www.minersoc.org/photo.php?id=127
Femern 2011
Femern 2011