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Dr Sam Divall

Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering

School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering Department of Civil Engineering

Contact details

Address

Dr Sam Divall CG12, Tait Building
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom

About

Overview

Dr Divall undertook his doctoral within the internationally recognised Geotechnical Engineering Research Centre at City University London. This research investigated the grounds' response when constructing pairs of tunnels in clay, sequentially. Geotechnical centrifuge modelling techniques were used during this parametric study to observe differences in the surface, subsurface settlements and stress changes over a range of centre-to-centre spacings.

A year later following the successful award from the Leverhulme Trust by colleagues within the Research Centre for Multi-scale Geotechnical Engineering; Dr Divall worked as a Research Fellow on the project 'Interaction between new and existing underground infrastructure'. This research programme explored the ground behaviour and movement when constructing circular and elliptical shafts within clay and their effect on the close existing infrastructure. Dr Divall has worked on many collaborative research projects, both numerical and physical modelling based, with visiting international researchers. Dr Divall was appointed to the role of Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering within the School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering in 2015.

He is an invited member of the ISSMGE technical committee for Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (TC104), a graduate member of both the BGA and ICE, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Dr Divall is also part of the Centre of Excellence in Temporary Works and Construction Method Engineering which is run in partnership with the Temporary Works Forum (TWf).

Qualifications

  1. PhD in Geotechnical Engineering, City, University of London, United Kingdom, Oct 2009 – May 2013
  2. MEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering, City, University of London, United Kingdom, Sep 2005 – May 2009

Postgraduate training

  1. Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (Technology Enabled), City, University of London, United Kingdom, Oct 2015

Employment

  1. Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering, City, University of London, Oct 2015 – present
  2. Geotechnical Research Fellow, City, University of London, Oct 2013 – Sep 2015
  3. Academic Fellow in Civil Engineering, City, University of London, Oct 2012 – Sep 2013
  4. Visiting Lecturer, City, University of London, 2009 – 2012

Awards

  1. City, University of London, SMCSE (2020) SMSCE Teaching and Learning Prize
  2. City, University of London, Civil Engineering Department (2015) Teaching Award
  3. The ICE QUEST (2013) Travel Award
  4. International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (2013) The ISSMGE Foundation Award
  5. 12th BGA Young Geotechnical Engineers’ Symposium (2012) Winning Presentation

Teaching

Educational Leadership

Admissions Tutor for Engineering UG Programmes
Deputy Programme Director, MSc in Temporary Works & Construction Method Engineering
Module Leader, CV3502 Civil Engineering Management
Module Leader, EPM614 Geotechnical Temporary Works

Modules Taught

ET1090 Design I
CV2501 Geology & Soil Mechanics
CV2500 Design II
CV3502 Civil Engineering Management
CVM431 Civil Engineering Systems
ET3106 Individual Project
EPM614 Geotechnical Temporary Works

Major Project Students

Idris Sarwar - Oedometer tests on layered samples (19/20 & 20/21)
Gizem Karacam - Permeameter tests on layered samples (19/20 & 20/21)
Noshin Ahmed - Triaxial testing on different sample preparations (19/20)
Syed Danyaal Ahmed - Slope Stability Using Soil Nails in Clay (19/20)
Vimbainashe L Kanyangarara - Influence of pile stiffness on ultimate and working capacity (19/20)
Riya Patel - Influence of pile stiffness on ultimate and working capacity (18/19)
Mohannad Romman - Permeameter test on layered samples (18/19)
Amira Hussain - Case Histories: The effect of new tunnels on existing tunnels (17/18)
Mohammed Karim - Influence of pile stiffness on ultimate capacity (17/18)
Lakhvinder Singh - Development of layered models for centrifuge modelling (17/18)
Mohammed Alkhorsan - Influence of permeability on the long-term ground movements in clay (16/17)
Henry Kirkbride - Shear box tests on ribbed piles for increased capacity (16/17)
Eric Ritchie - Development of layered models for centrifuge modelling (16/17)
Ali Taha - Shaft-induced ground movements in clay (16/17)
Craig Ihezie - Modelling of tunnelling with embedded forepoles (16/17)
Hassan Butt - Centrifuge modelling of tunnelling with embedded forepoles (2015/16)
Carlota Requena - Centrifuge modelling of pore-water pressure generation around a tunnel construction (2015/16)
Sunil Vaghela - Case Histories: The effect of new deep circular and non axisymmetric excavations on existing underground services and structures (2014/15)
Junley Chan - Settlement from the Construction of Shafts in Clay (2013/14)
Rashik Bhanderi - Analysis of the subsurface deformations during a tunnel construction where forepoling has been utilised (2013/14)
Ken Hy - Case Histories: The effect of new tunnels on existing tunnels (2013/14)
Daniel Girmay - Centrifuge testing of twin-tunnelling induced settlements (2012/13)

Research

Research Interests

Nationally and internationally recognised research involving physical model testing using a geotechnical centrifuge to investigate the distribution of ground movements. Main areas of expertise and interest are as follows:
• the ground’s response when sequentially constructing pairs of tunnels in clay and how existing prediction methods for tunnelling-induced ground movements needed to be modified when considering schemes involving multiple tunnels
• ground movements associated with shaft construction in clay influenced by the geometry of the excavation
• undertaking parametric studies on the interaction of geotechnical events in the congested underground space and relating the observed differences in surface and subsurface
• the development of new concepts and experimental procedures for geotechnical physical modelling
• improvements to close-range photogrammetry techniques for recording the movements within the ground mass
• research on health and safety-critical areas of civil engineering; namely pile design and using piling platforms

Research students

Eric Ritchie

Attendance: Oct 2018 – present, full-time

Thesis title: Development of layered models for centrifuge testing

Role: 2nd Supervisor

Greta Tanghetti

Attendance: Mar 2017 – present, full-time

Thesis title: Safety of working platforms for tracked plant

Role: 2nd Supervisor

Publications

Featured publications

  1. Divall, S., Goodey, R.J. and Stallebrass, S.E. (2018). Twin-tunnelling-induced changes to clay stiffness. In Zdravković, L. (Ed.), Tunnelling in the Urban Environment (pp. 37–44). London, UK: ICE Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7277-6377-8.

Publications by category

Book

  1. McNamara, A.M., Divall, S., Goodey, R.J., Taylor, R.N., Stallebrass, S.E. and Panchal, J.P. (Eds.), (2018). Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG 2018). London, UK: CRC Press/Balkema. ISBN 978-1-138-55975-2.

Conference papers and proceedings (14)

  1. Le, B.T., Nguyen, N.T., Divall, S., Goodey, R. and Taylor, R.N. (2022). Modified Gap Method for prediction of tunnelling-induced soil settlement in sand - a case study. 10th International Symposium on Geotechnical Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground 27-29 June, Cambridge, UK.
  2. Ritchie, E., Lalicata, L., Divall, S. and Goodey, R. (2020). Tests of varied sample preparation methods for centrifuge modelling. 4th European Physical Modelling Conference in Geotechnics-ECPMG 2020 7-8 September, Luleå, Sweden.
  3. Tanghetti, G., Goodey, R., Divall, S., McNamara, A. and Mckinley, B. (2019). Design and development of a large shear box for testing working platform material. XVII European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 2-6 September, Reykjavik, Iceland.
  4. Panchal, J.P., McNamara, A., Halai, H. and Divall, S. (2019). Centrifuge modelling to determine the influence of pile stiffness on pile capacity. XVII European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 2-6 September, Reykjavik, Iceland.
  5. Divall, S., Stallebrass, S.E., Goodey, R.J., Taylor, R.N. and McNamara, A.M. (2018). Geotechnical centrifuge facility for teaching at City, University of London. 9th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics 17-20 July, London, UK.
  6. Divall, S., Stallebrass, S.E., Goodey, R.J. and Ritchie, E.P. (2018). Development of layered models for geotechnical centrifuge tests. 9th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics 17-20 July, London, UK.
  7. Divall, S., Taylor, R.N., Stallebrass, S.E. and Goodey, R.J. (2017). Predictions of changes in pore-water pressure around tunnels in clay. 9th International Symposium on Geotechnical Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground 4-5 April, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
  8. Divall, S. and Goodey, R.J. (2016). An apparatus for centrifuge modelling of a shaft construction in clay. 3rd European Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (Eurofuge 2016) 1-3 June, Ifsttar, Nantes, France.
  9. Nadimi, S., Divall, S., Fonseca, J., Goodey, R.J. and Taylor, R.N. (2016). An addendum for particle image velocimetry in centrifuge modelling. Eurofuge 2016: 3rd European Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics 1-3 June, IFSTTAR, Nantes, France.
  10. Le, B.T., Divall, S. and Taylor, R.N. (2015). The effect of a forepole umbrella system on the stability of a tunnel face in clay. 16th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 13-17 September, Edinburgh, Scotland.
  11. Divall, S., Goodey, R.J. and Taylor, R.N. (2014). The influence of a time delay between sequential tunnel constructions. 8th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics 14-17 January, University of Western Australia, Australia.
  12. Divall, S., Goodey, R.J. and Taylor, R.N. (2012). Ground movements generated by sequential Twin-tunnelling in over-consolidated clay. 2nd European Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics 23-24 April, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.
  13. McNamara, A.M., Divall, S., Goodey, R.J., Gorasia, R.J., Halai, H., Rose, A.V. … Xu, M. (2012). The London Geotechnical Centrifuge Centre at City University London. 2nd European Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics 23-24 April, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.
  14. Divall, S. (2010). Design and development of instrumentation and modelling equipment for simulating multi-tunnel volume loss in clay. 11th BGA Young Geotechnical Engineers' Symposium 6-8 July, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Journal articles (9)

  1. Le, B.T., Goodey, R.J. and Divall, S. (2019). Subsurface ground movements due to circular shaft construction. Soils and Foundations, 59(5), pp. 1160–1171. doi:10.1016/j.sandf.2019.03.013.
  2. Zhang, T., Taylor, R.N., Divall, S., Zheng, G., Sun, J., Stallebrass, S.E. … Goodey, R.J. (2019). Explanation for twin tunnelling-induced surface settlements by changes in soil stiffness on account of stress history. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 85, pp. 160–169. doi:10.1016/j.tust.2018.12.015.
  3. Li, Y., Chen, X., Divall, S. and Zhang, X. (2017). A study into the behaviour of the formation level of an excavation under different unloading patterns in soft deposits. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 10(19). doi:10.1007/s12517-017-3227-2.
  4. Divall, S., Goodey, R.J. and Stallebrass, S.E. (2017). Twin-tunnelling-induced changes to clay stiffness. Géotechnique, 67(10), pp. 906–913. doi:10.1680/jgeot.sip17.P.151.
  5. Divall, S., Taylor, R.N. and Xu, M. (2016). Centrifuge modelling of tunnelling with forepoling. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 16(2), pp. 83–95. doi:10.1680/jphmg.15.00019.
  6. Divall, S. and Goodey, R.J. (2015). Twin-tunnelling-induced ground movements in clay. Proceedings of the ICE - Geotechnical Engineering, 168(3), pp. 247–256. doi:10.1680/geng.14.00054.
  7. Divall, S. and Goodey, R.J. (2012). Apparatus for centrifuge modelling of twin-tunnel construction. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 12(3), pp. 102–111. doi:10.1680/ijpmg.11.00014.
  8. Divall, S. and Goodey, R.J. (2012). Novel apparatus for generating ground movements around sequential twin tunnels in over-consolidated clay. Online publication by Proceedings of the ICE – Geotechnical Engineering pp. 10–11.

    [publisher’s website]

  9. Goodey, R., Divall, S. and Le, B. The prediction of soil surface displacements arising from elliptical shaft excavation in clay. Canadian Geotechnical Journal.

Thesis/dissertation

  1. Divall, S. Ground movements associated with twin-tunnel construction in clay. (PhD Thesis)

Other (2)

  1. Divall, S. (2013). Major project motivator.

    [publisher’s website]

  2. Divall, S. (2010). “London 2012: Lessons Learned” BGA Evening Meeting Report.

Professional activities

Editorial activity

  1. Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG 2018), Co-Editor.

Events/conferences (21)

  1. XVII European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. (Conference) Reykjavik, Iceland (2019).
    Paper: Centrifuge modelling to determine the influence of pile stiffness on pile capacity
    Author: Panchal, J.P.
    Co-authors: McNamara, A., Halai, H. and Divall, S.
  2. XVII European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. (Conference) Reykjavik, Iceland (2019). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Design and development of a large shear box for testing working platform material.
    Author: Tanghetti, G.
    Co-authors: Goodey, R., Divall, S., McNamara, A. and Mckinley, B.
  3. 9th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics. (Conference) London, UK (2018). Organising Committee. Invited speaker.
    Paper: Development of layered models for geotechnical centrifuge tests.
    Author: Divall, S.
    Co-authors: Stallebrass, S.E.; Goodey, R.J.; Ritchie, E.P.
  4. 9th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Getechnics. (Conference) London, UK (2018). Organising Committee. Invited speaker.
    Paper: Geotechnical centrifuge facility for teaching at City, University of London.
    Author: Divall, S.
    Co-authors: Stallebrass, S.E.; Goodey, R.J.; Taylor, R.N.; McNamara, A.M.
  5. Geotechique Symposium in Print 2017: tunnelling in the urban environment. (Conference) London, UK (2017). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Twin-tunnelling-induced changes to clay stiffnesses
    Author: Divall, S
    Co-authors: Goodey, RJ & Stallebrass, SE
  6. 14th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. (Conference) London, UK (2017).
  7. 13th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. London, UK (2016).
    Description: (Invited speaker)
  8. 3rd European Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics. IFSTTAR, Nantes, France (2016). Invited speaker.
    Paper: An apparatus for centrifuge modelling of a shaft construction in clay
    Author: Divall, S.
    Co-authors: Goodey, R.J.
    Description: (Reviewer)
  9. 16th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Edinburgh, Scotland (2015).
    Description: (Delegate)
  10. Tunnelling in London: learning lessons from Crossrail. (BGA half day seminar). Imperial College, London (2015).
    Description: (Delegate)
  11. 12th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. London, UK (2014).
    Description: (Delegate)
  12. 8th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics 2014. Perth, Australia (2014). Invited speaker.
    Paper: The influence of a time delay between sequential tunnel constructions
    Author: Divall, S
    Co-authors: Goodey, R.J.
    Description: (Delegate and Reviewer)
  13. 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Paris, France (2013).
    Description: (Invited Speaker)
  14. 11th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. London, UK (2013).
    Description: (Delegate)
  15. 10th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. London, UK (2012).
    Description: (Invited Speaker)
  16. 12th BGA Young Geotechnical Engineers Symposium. Leeds, UK (2012). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Novel apparatus for generating ground movements around sequential twin tunnels in over-consolidated clay.
    Author: Divall, S.
    Co-authors: Goodey, R.J.
    Description: (Presented Research Paper)
  17. 2nd European Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics. Delft, Netherlands (2012). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Ground movements generated by sequential Twin-tunnelling in over-consolidated clay.
    Author: Divall, S.
    Co-authors: Goodey, R.J.
    Description: (Presented Research Paper)
  18. 9th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. London, UK (2011).
    Description: (Delegate)
  19. 11th BGA Young Geotechnical Engineers Symposium. Bristol, UK (2010). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Design and development of instrumentation and modelling equipment for simulating multi-tunnel volume loss in clay
    Author: Divall, S.
    Description: (Presented Research Paper)
  20. 7th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics. Zurich, Switzerland (2010).
    Description: (Research Poster Presented)
  21. 8th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. London, UK (2010).
    Description: (Presented Research Paper)