The University of Nottingham

The world’s leading experts in the field of geomechanics gathered at the University of Nottingham to celebrate a decade of research excellence.

The University hosted more than 80 experts from the USA, China, Brazil, Australia, Canada and Europe at a high-level, two-day event on campus.

The 3rd International Workshop on Modern Trends in Geomechanics brought top academics and industry experts together to discuss the latest research in the field.

Nottingham Centre for Geomechanics

The conference marked the ten year anniversary of the Nottingham Centre for Geomechanics (NCG), which is based at the University. The Centre has grown over the last decade to become one of the biggest and most active geotechnical research groups in the UK and internationally.

Delegates and speakers at the 3rd International Workshop covered a wide range of topics from fundamental mechanics, laboratory testing, to engineering applications and practice in geotechnical engineering. During the conference, a Poster session was held to showcase the current research by some of the researchers within the NCG.

The Chairman of the conference organising committee was Professor Hai-Sui Yu of The University of Nottingham.

Professor Yu, Founding Director of the NCG, said: “I was very delighted to see that so many world class researchers and engineers from around the globe attended the workshop and joined the celebration of the ten year anniversary of the Nottingham Centre for Geomechanics. This is clear evidence of high standing and reputation of the NCG within the international community.

“It was also great to see that the 20 posters presented by some of the NCG researchers have greatly impressed the conference participants for their high quality and wide range of topics covered.”

Mitigating natural hazards

Geomechanics is a fundamental subject that plays a key role in developing novel and effective techniques for mitigation and prevention of natural hazards and disasters including landslides and earthquakes.

Professor Yu has published extensively and has been awarded numerous international medals and prizes for his research work, which include the Chandra Desai Medal of the International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics in 2008, the first James K Mitchell Lecture of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in 2004, the Prakash International Research Award in 2003, the Telford Medal of the Institution of Civil Engineers London in 2000, and the Trollope Medal of the Australian Geomechanics Society in 1998.

In July 2011, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to engineering both in the UK and internationally.