Research Overview

We study the mechanics and multiphysics of soils, rocks, and other granular and porous media and how their behavior governs interactions with natural and engineered systems. These processes span multiple spatial and temporal scales and involve complex material response, large deformation, and coupled mechanical, hydraulic, thermal, and chemical effects, presenting fundamental challenges for mechanistic understanding and predictive modeling.

To address these challenges, we integrate physics-based theory, advanced numerical methods, laboratory experiments, and data-enabled approaches. By linking material-scale mechanisms with system-level behavior, our work advances predictive geomechanics and supports informed engineering decisions in complex environments.

Areas of Research

Most of our research is organized around the following interconnected areas described below.

Continuum and Discrete Mechanics of Geomaterials

Unified descriptions of deformation and failure in soils and rocks, spanning elasto–plastic behavior, creep, strain localization, fracture, and post-failure response.

Constitutive modeling · Anisotropy · Fracture mechanics · Discontinuities · Large deformation · Granular flow and rheology

Multiphysics of Porous and Fractured Media

Coupled interactions between solid deformation, fluid flow, heat transfer, and chemical effects that govern the evolution of geomaterials over time.

Poromechanics · Unsaturated soil mechanics · Fractured rocks · Thermo-hydro-mechanics · Chemo-hydro-mechanics

Computational Methods for Geomechanics and Multiphysics

Robust and scalable numerical methods for simulating highly nonlinear, multiscale geomechanical phenomena.

Finite element method · Material point method · Phase-field models · Contact and interface mechanics · High-performance computing

Data-Enabled and Knowledge-Guided Modeling

Hybrid approaches that integrate physical laws, constitutive structure, and data to enhance prediction, inference, and uncertainty quantification in geotechnical systems.

Physics-informed machine learning · Inverse analysis · Surrogate modeling · Model discovery

Ground–System Interaction and Engineering Applications

Mechanics of interaction between geomaterials and structures, machines, and natural hazards, linking material behavior to system-level performance and risk.

Soil–structure interaction · Ground–machine interaction · Geohazards · Energy geostructures · Terramechanics · Mobility on deformable terrain

Sponsors

Our research has been supported by a range of sponsors, and we are deeply grateful for their support.

Funding Agencies

  • Digital Twin Simulation of Soil–Machine Interactions for Smart Construction, Outstanding Young Researcher and Innovative Laboratory Schemes (2023–2028)

    Accurate and Efficient Analysis Technique for Large-deformation Interaction between Soil and Structure with Complex Shape, Basic Research Scheme (2022–2023)

  • Development and Realization of Materials and Equipment for Vacuum Insulation Systems of LH2 Tanks (2024–2030)

  • Experimental Infrastructure for Revealing Soil-Structure Interface Shear Behavior in Next-generation Geoengineering (2024–2025)

  • Energy Rock Cavern Systems in Hong Kong – Feasibility Study through Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Analysis (2021–2022) (Terminated due to departure from Hong Kong)

  • Thermally-Induced Deformation of Clays: Combined Experimental and Numerical Investigations Toward a Unified Predictive Framework, General Research Fund (2021–2024) (Withdrawn due to departure from Hong Kong)

    3D Cracking Behavior of Rocks under True Triaxial Stress Conditions: Mechanistic Modeling and Investigations, General Research Fund (2020–2022) (Transferred due to departure from Hong Kong)

    Waterless Fracturing for Unconventional Energy Production: Coupled Geomechanics–Flow Modeling and Investigations, Early Career Scheme (2019–2021)

Research Institutes and Universities

Industry and Others

  • Development of Airless Tire Durability Performance Prediction Tool (2024–2025)

    Development of an In-house Tool for Particle-based Simulation of Tire Braking on Snow (2023–2026)