Skip to:

  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to accessibility
City, University of London
  • Student Hub
  • Staff Hub
Search
Menu
Home
  • Prospective students
    • Courses
      • Undergraduate degrees
      • Apprenticeships
      • Foundation courses
      • Postgraduate taught degrees
      • Postgraduate research degrees
      • Short courses
      • Professional development courses
      • City Health courses
    • Apply
      • Entry requirements
      • How to apply
        • Undergraduate
        • Apprenticeship
        • Information for teachers
        • Postgraduate taught
        • Postgraduate research
          • Preparing your application
            • Preparing your research proposal
          • All PhD research projects
        • Short courses
          • The Novel Studio published alumni
      • Prospectus
        • Undergraduate
        • Postgraduate
        • Short courses
      • Visas
        • Student visas
          • Applying from outside the UK
          • Applying from within the UK
          • Applying for a dependant visa
          • Preparing your application
          • Working in the UK
        • Standard Visitor visas
          • How to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa
          • Non-visa nationals
        • ATAS certificates
        • Brexit and European nationals
      • Study abroad programmes
        • Partnership programme
      • Clearing
        • Applying through Clearing
      • Alternative entry routes
        • Foundation programmes
        • Second-year students
        • Work experience
      • Contact Admissions
    • Finance
      • Funding options
      • Earn while you learn
      • How to pay
        • Payment methods
        • Fee schedules
        • Deposit refunds
      • Additional expenses
    • Accommodation and housing
      • Compare residential halls
      • Applying for halls
        • Undergraduate
        • Postgraduate
        • Clearing
      • Paying for halls
      • Private accommodation
        • Finding a place to live
        • Accommodation for families
      • Short-term accommodation
    • Open events and fairs
      • Campus tours
      • Online chats
        • Undergraduate online events
        • Postgraduate online events
        • Ask a student
      • University fairs
    • Student life
      • London experience
      • Local area
      • Sports
        • Sport clubs
        • Non-competitive sport
        • Competitive sport
      • Social activities and groups
      • Religion
      • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus
      • Volunteering
      • Student wellbeing
        • Mental health counselling
        • Learning support
        • Young, estranged students
        • Care leavers
        • Young adult carers
        • Personal tutoring programme
      • Learn another language
    • Career development
      • Placements, internships and employment opportunities
        • Micro-placements
      • Career pathways
      • Job prospects and graduate destinations
      • Careers team
    • Subjects
  • Research
    • Research centres and groups
    • Research impact
      • Research Excellence Framework
      • Research case studies
    • Research strategy
    • Research support
      • Grants and funding
      • Integrity and ethics
        • Research ethics
          • Principles
          • Approval process
          • Approval outcomes and appeals
          • External ethics approvals
        • Ethics guidance and resources
          • Participant information and consent
          • Recruiting participants from City
          • Records management
          • Research conducted abroad
          • FAQ
        • Research integrity
          • Framework for good practice in research
          • Research misconduct
      • Research data
        • Managing active research data
        • Digital research data and Figshare
      • Researcher development
    • Doctoral College
      • Funding and scholarships
      • Essential information
      • Meet the Team
      • Training and Development
        • Researcher Development Programme (DRDP)
      • Research Supervisors
  • For businesses
    • Start your business
      • Develop your startup idea
        • One-to-one startup advice
        • The Good Entrepreneur Festival
        • Startup Camp
        • Startup Seminars
        • Side Hustle
        • CitySpark Workshops
      • Launch your startup
        • Start-up visa
        • Launch Lab
    • Grow your business
      • Fund your business
      • Hire an academic consultant
      • Purchase our intellectual property
      • Companies formed
    • Develop your people
      • Bespoke training
      • My Home Life England
      • Degree apprenticeships for business
        • What is the apprenticeship levy?
    • Business impact case studies
    • Access our student talent
      • Recruit with us
      • Meet and support our students
        • Become a mentor
        • Employer engagement events
        • Micro-Placements
        • Industry Led Projects
      • Information for placement partners
        • Speech and Language Therapy training
  • Alumni and supporters
    • Alumni benefits
    • Global alumni network
      • Networks and Groups
        • City Alumni LinkedIn groups
        • MENA Alumni Board
        • US Alumni Board
      • Alumni Ambassadors
      • Special Interest Groups
      • Alumni News and stories
    • Contact Alumni Relations
    • Support City
      • Donate to City
      • Volunteering
      • Your impact
  • News and events
    • News
    • Events
    • Social media directory
      • City social accounts
        • WeChat social accounts
      • School and Departmental accounts
  • About us
    • Schools and Departments
      • School of Policy & Global Affairs
        • About the School
          • Athena SWAN
          • English for academic purposes (EAP)
        • Department of International Politics
        • Department of Sociology and Criminology
          • Postgraduate Sociology at City
        • Department of Economics
      • School of Communication & Creativity
        • About the School
          • Athena SWAN
        • Department of Journalism
          • James Cameron Memorial Lecture
            • Lectures
            • Special awards
            • Winners
        • Department of Media, Culture and Creative Industries
          • English, Publishing and Creative Writing
          • Culture and the Creative Industries
          • Library and Information Science
          • Media and Communications
        • Department of Performing Arts
      • Bayes Business School
      • School of Health & Psychological Sciences
        • About the School
          • Athena SWAN
          • Selection Process
          • Occupational Health Checks
          • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced check (formerly CRB)
          • MSc Nursing - RPL
          • Reference request
        • Department of Health Services Research and Management
          • Health Services Management at City
        • Department of Language and Communication Science
        • Department of Midwifery and Radiography
          • Radiography undergraduate learning contract
          • Midwifery at City
          • Radiography at City
        • Department of Nursing
        • Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences
        • Department of Psychology
      • School of Science & Technology
        • About the School
          • Athena SWAN
          • Aviation Management at City
          • Civil Engineering at City
          • Computer Science at City
          • Cyber Security MSc courses at City
          • Energy MSc courses at City
          • Library and Information Science at City
          • Maritime Management at City
          • Placements and internships
            • Placement and internship schemes
        • Department of Computer Science
        • Department of Mathematics
          • Potential PhD projects
        • Department of Engineering
      • The City Law School
        • Academic programmes
        • Professional programmes
        • About the School
          • Contact the City Law School
          • How to find us
          • Legal careers
          • Careers advice
            • Pupillage Advice Service
            • Training Contract Advisory Service
          • Courses
            • Undergraduate
            • Professional courses
            • Master of Laws (LLM)
            • The Solicitor’s Qualifying Exam (SQE)
            • Continuing Professional Development courses
          • Global Engagement
          • Pro-Bono
            • The School Exclusion Project
            • Start-Ed Commercial Law Clinic
          • Research
            • Working Paper Series
            • ESRC Project
            • Ethics
            • Global Law@City
            • The Critical Corporation Project
            • Academic Visitor Programme
            • International Trade Law and Regulation
          • Support
            • Financing your study
          • Athena SWAN in the Law School
      • Dubai Centre
    • History
    • People
      • Academics
      • Research students
      • Students
      • Honorary graduates
      • Past students
      • Professional Services staff
      • International agents and representatives
      • Senior people
      • Extraordinary women
    • Facilities
      • Campuses
      • Libraries
      • Gym
      • University of London facilities
      • Specialist facilities
    • Work for us
      • Apply
      • Benefits
      • Career development
    • Vision and Strategy
      • Vision
      • Strategy
        • Better
        • Bigger
        • Partnerships
        • Living the values
      • Performance
      • Academic excellence
        • Rankings
        • Education
          • Flexible learning spaces
          • Active and collaborative learning
          • Term dates
        • Student statistics
      • Equality, diversity and inclusion
        • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
        • Data and objectives
        • Staff networks
      • Sustainable development
        • Get involved
        • Environmental Impact and Performance
      • Civic engagement
    • Governance and legal
      • Charter and Statutes
      • Rector
      • Council
        • Audit and Risk Committee
        • Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee
        • Remuneration Committee
        • Strategy, Implementation and Performance Committee
      • Senate
        • Board of Studies
        • Collaborative Provision Committee
        • Educational Quality Committee
        • Research and Enterprise Committee
        • Senate Research Ethics Committee
      • Executive leadership
      • Financial statements
        • Financial Summary
      • Legal documents and policies
      • Committees
    • Global City
    • Contact us and find us
      • Find us
      • Contact us
      • Staff directory
    • Guidance on Coronavirus
      • Admissions advice during coronavirus
        • Coronavirus accommodation information
      • Latest updates
      • Advice for visitors to our campus
  • Student Hub
  • Staff Hub
  • Prospective students
    Prospective students
    • Courses
      • Undergraduate degrees
      • Apprenticeships
      • Foundation courses
      • Postgraduate taught degrees
      • Postgraduate research degrees
      • Short courses
      • Professional development courses
      • City Health courses
    • Apply
      • Entry requirements
      • How to apply
      • Prospectus
      • Visas
      • Study abroad programmes
      • Clearing
      • Alternative entry routes
      • Contact Admissions
    • Finance
      • Funding options
      • Earn while you learn
      • How to pay
      • Additional expenses
    • Accommodation and housing
      • Compare residential halls
      • Applying for halls
      • Paying for halls
      • Private accommodation
      • Short-term accommodation
    • Open events and fairs
      • Campus tours
      • Online chats
      • University fairs
    • Student life
      • London experience
      • Local area
      • Sports
      • Social activities and groups
      • Religion
      • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus
      • Volunteering
      • Student wellbeing
      • Learn another language
    • Career development
      • Placements, internships and employment opportunities
      • Career pathways
      • Job prospects and graduate destinations
      • Careers team
    • Subjects
  • Research
    Research
    • Research centres and groups
    • Research impact
      • Research Excellence Framework
      • Research case studies
    • Research strategy
    • Research support
      • Grants and funding
      • Integrity and ethics
      • Research data
      • Researcher development
    • Doctoral College
      • Funding and scholarships
      • Essential information
      • Meet the Team
      • Training and Development
      • Research Supervisors
  • For businesses
    For businesses
    • Start your business
      • Develop your startup idea
      • Launch your startup
    • Grow your business
      • Fund your business
      • Hire an academic consultant
      • Purchase our intellectual property
      • Companies formed
    • Develop your people
      • Bespoke training
      • My Home Life England
      • Degree apprenticeships for business
    • Business impact case studies
    • Access our student talent
      • Recruit with us
      • Meet and support our students
      • Information for placement partners
  • Alumni and supporters
    Alumni and supporters
    • Alumni benefits
    • Global alumni network
      • Networks and Groups
      • Alumni Ambassadors
      • Special Interest Groups
      • Alumni News and stories
    • Contact Alumni Relations
    • Support City
      • Donate to City
      • Volunteering
      • Your impact
  • News and events
    News and events
    • News
    • Events
    • Social media directory
      • City social accounts
      • School and Departmental accounts
  • About us
    About us
    • Schools and Departments
      • School of Policy & Global Affairs
      • School of Communication & Creativity
      • Bayes Business School
      • School of Health & Psychological Sciences
      • School of Science & Technology
      • The City Law School
      • Dubai Centre
    • History
    • People
      • Academics
      • Research students
      • Students
      • Honorary graduates
      • Past students
      • Professional Services staff
      • International agents and representatives
      • Senior people
      • Extraordinary women
    • Facilities
      • Campuses
      • Libraries
      • Gym
      • University of London facilities
      • Specialist facilities
    • Work for us
      • Apply
      • Benefits
      • Career development
    • Vision and Strategy
      • Vision
      • Strategy
      • Performance
      • Academic excellence
      • Equality, diversity and inclusion
      • Sustainable development
      • Civic engagement
    • Governance and legal
      • Charter and Statutes
      • Rector
      • Council
      • Senate
      • Executive leadership
      • Financial statements
      • Legal documents and policies
      • Committees
    • Global City
    • Contact us and find us
      • Find us
      • Contact us
      • Staff directory
    • Guidance on Coronavirus
      • Admissions advice during coronavirus
      • Latest updates
      • Advice for visitors to our campus
Some of our Schools and departments are changing. Find out more.
  1. Home
  2. …
  3. Finance
  4. Funding options
  5. The influence of pile stiffness on pile capacity at working load
Finance
  • Funding options
  • Earn while you learn
  • How to pay
    • Payment methods
    • Fee schedules
    • Deposit refunds
  • Additional expenses

The influence of pile stiffness on pile capacity at working load

The research project investigates alternative low stiffness pile loads. The potential benefits could be the reduction in carbon heavy materials and the ability to repurpose existing sites during redevelopment.

  • Qualification Type: PhD
  • Title of project: The influence of pile stiffness on pile capacity at working load
  • Closes: Friday 15th July, or until places have been filled.

The doctoral studentship will provide:

  • An annual bursary (£16,000)
  • 100% Home equivalent Tuition Fees. Applications from international applicants are welcome but the applicant must make appropriate arrangements to cover the difference between the international and home tuition fee.

Overview

Conventional bored concrete piles are designed to transfer loads from a structure into the ground. In order for a concrete pile to generate capacity the pile is required to displace. Therefore, the stiffness of a pile is of great importance.

Piles are usually designed as very stiff inclusions where the modulus of elasticity of an uncracked concrete pile typically varies between 30-40kN/m2. However, this results in low mobilisation of shaft friction as the stiff pile displaces uniformly.

In addition, base resistance of deep piles is mobilised at very high loads which may exceed the working load of the pile shaft. It is accepted that the adhesion factor, α, used in design for bored piles in London Clay may range between 0.45 and 0.6.

Thus indicating that a significant proportion of the soil strength cannot be mobilised. The proposed research project will investigate the behaviour of alternative low stiffness piles under axial load.

The potential benefits of utilising low stiffness piles could be the reduction in carbon heavy materials (i.e. concrete) and the ability to more easily repurpose an existing site during its redevelopment.

Research objectives

This research proposal is subdivided into the following components:

  • To compare the capacity of a conventional solid shafted stiff pile against a lower stiffness pile of equal dimensions,
  • Establish the effect of varying the effective length of the lower stiffness sections,
  • Quantify the range of adhesion factor, α, and how this can be incorporated into practice.

Eligibility and requirements

The studentships will be awarded on the basis of outstanding academic achievement and the potential to produce cutting edge-research. Prospective applicants must:

  • Hold a good honours degree (normally no less than a good upper-second class honours degree or an equivalent qualification) in an appropriate subject. Exceptionally, if the first degree is in a different subject area, we can consider applications from those with a good Master’s Degree in a relevant subject or extensive professional experience in the area of their proposed research
  • Be able to demonstrate proficiency in the use of oral and written English
  • Applicants whose mother tongue is not English must meet any one or a combination of the following:
    • A minimum IELTS average score of 6.5; with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the four components
    • The award of a Masters’ degree, the teaching of which was in English from an English Speaking country.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying, you are strongly encouraged to discuss your application in advance with either Dr Sam Divall or Dr Andrew McNamara.

Visit our Civil Engineering research degree web page for further information on making a formal application.

When submitting your application, enter the title “The influence of pile stiffness on pile capacity at working load” and you will automatically be considered for this studentship.

You do not need to submit a proposal as part of your application as the project has already been outlined.

The online application can be found in the ‘How to apply section’ in the web link above and should include the following supporting documents:

  • Copies of Degree Certificates and Transcripts in official English translation - original will be requested before an offer is made.
  • Official work e-mail addresses (not private ones) for two referees (one of which must be an academic).
  • Proof of English Language proficiency (minimum average score of 6.5 IELTS, with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the four components) if English is not your first language.
  • Passport.

The outcome of the selection process should be announced by the end of July. The successful candidate will formally start their doctorate in October 2022.

For queries regarding the application process, please email the School.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

City, University of London is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all its activities, processes, and culture, for our whole community, including staff, students and visitors.

We welcome applications regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or social class. For more information on our approaches to encouraging an inclusive environment, please see our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion pages.

Help us to improve this page

City, University of London

  • Library Services
  • Moodle
  • Email
  • Staff directory
  • Term dates
  • Book a room
  • Schools and departments

Back to top

Contact us

+44 (0)20 7040 5060
Make an enquiry

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Weibo
  • Youku
  • WeChat
Social media directory

Find us

City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom

Campus map

Our global campuses

  • London
  • Dubai
  • Athena SWAN: Bronze Award
  • UKRI Research England logo

Useful links

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies
  • City Store
  • Support City
  • Work for City
  • City Magazine
  • 中文

© 2022 City, University of London

University of London