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Dr Sam Divall

Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering

School of Science & Technology Department of Engineering

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About

Overview

Dr Divall is a Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering within the Department of Engineering at the School of Science & Technology and has been a Lecturer since 2015. He is an active researcher and teaches at both undergraduate and MSc level.

Dr Divall has published papers mostly in the area of the ground's response to construction in a congested underground space. Dr Divall has worked on many collaborative research projects, both numerical and physical modelling based, often with international researchers. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). He is also an invited member of the ISSMGE Technical Committee for Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (TC104) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.  Currently, Dr Divall is Chair of the Consortium for Research into Congested Underground Space (CoRCUS), Director of the Civil Engineering Laboratory and Giant Shear Box facility and Director of the Research Group into Transforming Urban Environments (TrUE).

Qualifications

  • Chartered Engineer, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), United Kingdom, April 2022
  • PhD in Geotechnical Engineering, City, University of London, United Kingdom, October 2009 - May 2013
  • MEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering, City, University of London, United Kingdom, September 2005 - May 2009

Postgraduate training

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (Technology Enabled), City, University of London, United Kingdom, October 2015

Employment

  • Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering, City, University of London, UK, August 2023 - present
  • Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering, City, University of London, United Kingdom, October 2015 - July 2023
  • Geotechnical Research Fellow, City, University of London, United Kingdom, October 2013 - September 2015
  • Academic Fellow in Civil Engineering, City, University of London, United Kingdom, October 2012 - September 2013
  • Visiting Lecturer, City, University of London, United Kingdom, 2009 - 2012

Administrative roles

  • Director of the Civil Engineering Laboratory, City St George's, University of London, September 2023 - present
  • Director, Research Group for Transforming Urban Environments, May 2023 - present
  • Admissions Tutor for Engineering UG Programmes, City, University of London, October 2017 - July 2023
  • Deputy Programme Director, MSc in Temporary Works & Construction Method Engineering, City, University of London, October 2017 - present

Memberships of committees

  • Scientific Committee for 11th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG 2026), December 2024 - June 2026
  • Member, TWf Working Group 5 Granular Working Platforms, October 2023 - present
  • International Advisory Committee for Asiafuge-2021, November 2021
  • Chair, Consortium for Research into Congested Underground Space (CoRCUS), January 2021 - present
  • Vice-chair, Local Organising Committee for the 9th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG 2018), July 2018

Awards

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

Teaching

Educational Leadership

Module Leader, EG3505 Construction Management

Taught Modules

EG2701 Geology & Soil Mechanics
EG3702 Geotechnical Engineering
EG3705 Construction Management
CVM431 Advanced Civil Engineering Systems
EG3000 Individual Research Project (Dissertation)

Major Project Students

Kishon Jeevakan - Quantification of long-term tunnelling-induced ground movements (25/26)
Haider Khawar - Characterisation of recycled aggregates "6F5" through particle size distribution (25/26)
Alister Noronha - Characterisation of recycled aggregates "6F5" through constituents (25/26)
Miguel Trujillo-Pickett Mendoza - Shear box tests on "binary soils" (25/26)

Hamada Ahmed - Quantifying axial stiffness of novel model pile materials (24/25)
Hamad Abdulla A A Al-Theyab - Survey and critical assessment of underground accessibility issues (24/25)
Alia Baker - Analytical methods for assessing shaft "breakouts" (24/25)
Philip Foster - Analysis of long-term tunnelling behaviour from centrifuge test data (24/25 & 25/26)
Chun Kan - Shear vane vs water content measurement of layered soils (24/25)
Amaan Rahman - Shear box tests on mixed clay sample (24/25 & 25/26)
Rahna Ramzeen - Analytical methods for pile stiffness in foundation design (24/25 & 25/26)

Daniel Biney - Analysis of long-term tunnelling behaviour from case studies (23/24 & 24/25)
Zainab Ibrahim - Stiffness of Novel Model Piles (23/24 & 24/25)
Hamza Ali - Shear box testing on 6F5 site samples (23/24)
Hamza Moalim - Permeability test on mixed clay soils (23/24)
Mark Cariga - Oedometer test on mixed clay samples (23/24)
Ossama Bouafy - Quantifying the difference of 6F5 site samples (23/24)
Said Mohamed - Shear Box test on Novel Model Pile Materials (23/24)
Ayesha Basit - Granular Working Platform Materials Friction Angle, Bearing Resistance and Platform Depth Based on BR470, TWf2019:02 and ABAQUS (23/24) - MSc

Sarya Taqawi - Permeameter tests on Speswhite:Polwhite samples (22/23)
Jayna Gorasia - Triaxial tests on Speswhite:Polwhite samples (22/23)
Khalid Hajiali - Analysis of Strains from Elliptical Shaft Construction (22/23)
Nahom Ermeas - Slope stability using soil nails ( 21/22 & 22/23)
Umar Ahmed - Long term tunnelling induced settlements (22/23)

Bahy Khoury - Survey of congested underground space (21/22)
Paul Challinor - Openings in shafts (in London Clay) (21/22) - MSc

Richard Jabara - Long-term tunnelling-induced settlements: case studies (20/21)
Mary Davies - Slope stability using soil nails (20/21)
Abdurrahman Tamimi - Analysis of strains during twin-tunnel construction (20/21)
Fawzyah Zankawi - Does TBM face overpressure lead to excessive ground movements? (20/21)
Mouawiah.Bushaiba - Shaft-induced ground movements in clay: case studies (20/21)
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)
Tim O'Connell - An Assessment of Stabilised Platform Performance in Promotion of Alternative Piling Platform Techniques (19/20) - MSc

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) - MSc
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

Areas of expertise:
• the interaction of geotechnical events in the congested underground space; including tunnelling-induced ground movements, shaft-sinking, piled foundations, and soil nailing in clay slopes
• the development of new concepts and experimental procedures for geotechnical physical modelling
• research on health and safety-critical areas of civil engineering; namely pile design and using piling platforms

Research students

Reshuni Limbu

Attendance: October 2024 - present, full-time

Thesis title: Reducing tunnel volume loss using data processing techniques

Role: 1st Supervisor

Mayda Ucur

Attendance: October 2023 - present, full-time

Thesis title: An investigation into underground openings from shafts to tunnels

Role: 1st Supervisor

Pai Liu

Attendance: October 2023 - present, full-time

Thesis title: Muti-scale characteristics of free surface effects on sediment transport

Role: 2nd Supervisor

Greta Sabaliauskaite

Attendance: October 2022 - present, full-time

Thesis title: The influence of pile stiffness on pile capacity at working load

Role: 1st Supervisor

Eric P Ritchie

Attendance: October 2018 - March 2024, full-time

Thesis title: Development of anisotropic clay soil beds for geotechnical centrifuge testing

Role: 1st Supervisor

Greta Tanghetti

Attendance: March 2017 - July 2021, full-time

Thesis title: Safety of working platforms for tracked plant

Role: 1st Supervisor

Publications

Publications by category

Book

  • 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 9781138559752.

Chapter

Conference papers and proceedings (33)

Journal articles (15)

Thesis/dissertation

Other (2)

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

    [New Civil Engineer]

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

Professional activities

Collaboration (academic)

  • Lead partner of MOU with Ho Chi Minh city University of Transport project (May 2021 - May 2022), Viet Nam
    Other partners: Dr Le

Editorial activity

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

Events/conferences (26)

  • British Tunnelling Society: Industry-University forum. (Conference) University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK (2025). Invited speaker.
    Paper: City St George's Tunnelling & Underground Space Research
  • British Geotechnical Association (BGA) Annual Conference 2025. (Conference) Institution of Civil Engineers, London, UK (2025). Invited speaker.
    Paper: TWf - Working Platform Guide Update
  • 10th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG 2022). (Conference) Daejeon, Korea. (2022). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Centrifuge Modelling of Long-term Tunnelling Ground Movements
    Author: Divall, S.
    Co-authors: Goodey, R.J., Lalicata, L.M. and Davies, M.C.R.
  • 10th International Symposium on Geotechnical Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground. (Conference) Cambridge, UK (2022).
    Paper: Modified gap method for prediction of TBM tunnelling-induced soil settlement in sand - a case study
    Author: Le, B.T.
    Co-authors: Nguyen, N.T., Divall, S., Goodey, R.J. and Taylor, R.N.
  • BGA Annual Conference 2022. (Conference) Institution of Civil Engineers, One Great George Street, London, UK (2022).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 14th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. (Conference) London, UK (2017).
  • 13th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. London, UK (2016).
    Description: (Invited speaker)
  • 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)
  • 16th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Edinburgh, Scotland (2015).
    Description: (Delegate)
  • Tunnelling in London: learning lessons from Crossrail. (BGA half day seminar). Imperial College, London (2015).
    Description: (Delegate)
  • 12th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. London, UK (2014).
    Description: (Delegate)
  • 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)
  • 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Paris, France (2013).
    Description: (Invited Speaker)
  • 11th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. London, UK (2013).
    Description: (Delegate)
  • 10th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. London, UK (2012).
    Description: (Invited Speaker)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • 9th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. London, UK (2011).
    Description: (Delegate)
  • 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)
  • 7th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics. Zurich, Switzerland (2010).
    Description: (Research Poster Presented)
  • 8th Annual British Geotechnical Association Conference. London, UK (2010).
    Description: (Presented Research Paper)

Other (2)

  • 61st TWf Quarterly Meeting. (Industry engagement event) ICE, London, UK (2023). Invited speaker. , Temporary Works Forum (TWf) (March 2025).
  • 55th TWf Quarterly Meeting. (Industry engagement event) ICE, London, UK (2023). Invited speaker. , TWf (September 2023).