PhD in Civil Engineering – Capillary Barriers: Sustainable Climate Adaptation for Resilient Infrastructure

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 “Capillary Barriers: Sustainable Climate Adaptation for Resilient Infrastructure”. Extreme weather and flooding present major challenges to our society and economy, often damaging essential infrastructure such as slopes, embankments, roads and railways. As a result, one of the key challenges for major civil infrastructure operators is designing and building resilient infrastructure to withstand such events. At the same time, it is essential to reduce the use of CO2-intensive materials like concrete and steel in retaining structures, instead prioritising sustainable alternatives such as natural and renewable resources. Capillary Barriers (CBs) offer a promising solution to climate resilience and adaptation challenges. CBs are typically composed of multiple soil layers with specific water-holding and drainage properties. When used as covers for geotechnical infrastructure, they help to retain rainwater and reduce surface runoff, thereby mitigating flood risks. They also help to drain excess water and limit rainwater infiltration into underlying soils, thereby reducing the risk of rainfall-induced failures. 

However, the optimal design of CBs has not yet been systematically formalised due to the complex interplay of factors that influence their effectiveness, including the capillary and breakthrough mechanisms at the interfaces between layers. A comprehensive understanding of these factors is essential for accurately evaluating the performance of CBs, particularly regarding the materials, layering arrangements and geometries used. The primary aim of the project is to identify the key factors influencing the performance of CBs. The key objectives are: (i) developing an experimental setup for accurately monitoring capillary and breakthrough mechanisms within CBs under simulated rainfall conditions, and (ii) evaluating the interactions between soil layers and the role of their hydraulic properties in achieving optimal performance. The findings from this research will provide valuable insights to support the design of capillary barrier systems for infrastructure by simplifying material selection and streamlining the design process. 

Within the James Watt School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow, this project aligns with the research themes of the Environment and Infrastructure Research Division and the Geotechnics Group. You will have access to advanced geomaterial testing facilities in the recently developed and continuously expanding geotechnical laboratory at the university. 

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