David Richards
Professor
Engineering and the Environment
University of Southampton
United Kingdom
Biography
David Richards is a Professor in Ground Engineering and Associate Dean (Infrastructure) of the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton . His main technical areas of interest are the geotechnical aspects of ageing infrastructure, large-scale field monitoring, the engineering behaviour and characterisation (pre and post processed) of landfill wastes and the performance of large diaphragm type cofferdams. David's work on ageing infrastructure is currently focused on the behaviour of electricity transmission tower (shallow) footing systems and, in particular, the influence of loading rates typically seen in service. This has been undertaken through an extensive model testing programme using scaled physical modelling techniques in a geotechnical centrifuge. Large-scale field monitoring of the dynamic performance of electricity transmission towers and the assessment of footings loads/rates have enabled representative loading rates to be applied in the modelling tests. Full-scale field testing of concrete truncated pyramid and chimney and steel grillage type foundations is currently in development for National Grid.
Research Interest
Research interests Geomechanics, Geotechnical engineering, Geotechnical investigations, Geotechnical models, Landfills, Soil mechanics, Waste management,
