About the Project
Water conveyed through buried pipe networks is lost through leakage, representing not only a major resource inefficiency but also a serious hazard. Persistent leakage can erode surrounding soils, progressively forming underground voids that may evolve into sinkholes. These ground instabilities pose a direct threat to shallow foundations supporting buildings, transport infrastructure, and utilities, with potential consequences ranging from costly service disruptions to risks to public safety. Despite the prevalence of pipe leakageāinduced ground deterioration, the stability of shallow foundations affected by erosion voids remains poorly understood. Existing research has predominantly relied on numerical modelling, with several important limitations.
This project will use experimental investigation into the stability of shallow foundations subjected to erosion voids generated by pipe leakage. By reproducing realistic leakage-induced soil deterioration under controlled laboratory conditions, the research will generate physical evidence to address critical knowledge gaps in both mechanism understanding and design practice. A comprehensive parametric experimental programme will be undertaken, examining the influence of key variables.
The experimental findings will be complemented by numerical modelling, calibrated and validated against the physical data. Building on this combined evidence base, the project will develop practical design tools for engineering assessment. This assessment will offer engineers a clear, quantitative measure of stability loss due to leakage-induced erosion, supporting risk-informed decision-making for inspection, intervention, and asset management. This research will contribute directly to improving the resilience and safety of buried infrastructure systems.
Name of primary supervisor/CDT lead:
Haitao Lan h.h.lan@lboro.ac.uk
https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/abce/staff/haitao-lan/
Name(s) of secondary supervisor:
Alister Smith
https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/abce/staff/alister-smith/
Entry requirements:
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, a first-class/high 2:1 degree in a relevant engineering or physical science discipline and must be self-motivated and enthusiastic about the project. A relevant masterās degree and/or employment experience will be an advantage.
English language requirements:
Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website (http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/applicants/english/).
Funding information:
The studentship is for three years and provides a tax-free stipend of Ā£20,780 per annum for the duration of the studentship plus university tuition fees. Funding for this studentship is awarded on a competitive basis and is not guaranteed; availability will depend on the outcome of the selection process and is subject to final approval by the university.
Bench fees required: No
Closing date of advert: 22nd February 2026
Start date: October 2026
Full-time/part-time availability: Full-time 3 years
Who is eligible to apply?: Both UK and International
How to apply:
All applications must be made online and must include a completed studentship application form (instead of a personal statement) and a 2-3 page research proposal based on the project description, outlining how you would approach the project and what methods you would use. Under programme name, please select āArchitecture, Building and Civil Engineeringā. Please quote advert reference ABCE26-HL.
To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents including an up-to-date CV, but a personal statement is not required.
ABCE will use these selection criteria to make a decision on your application.
Project search terms:
civil engineering
Email Address ABCE:
