Dr Sam Clarke

Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering

Department of Civil and Structural Engineering
Sir Frederick Mappin Building
Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD

Telephone: +44 (0) 114 222 5703
Fax: +44 (0) 114 222 5700
Email: sam.clarke@sheffield.ac.uk
Room: E108

Qualifications

MEng (Hons), PhD, PGcert, FHEA

Profile

Sam Clarke graduated from The University of Sheffield with a MEng (Hons) degree in Structural Engineering and Architecture in 2006. He then joined the Geotechnical Engineering Group and completed his PhD in 2009. During his doctorate studies Sam spent a number of periods working with Arup Geotechnics' Numerical Skills Team in London and the university spin-out company LimitState. He spent a short period as a Research Assistant before taking up the post of Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering in November 2009.

Over the past 3 years Sam has spent much time investigating the role of soil in blast events. This has led to many research collaborations with the Defence Science & Technology Laboratory. He is currently investigating the high stress, high strain-rate response of geomaterials experienced in blast loading events.

His main research interests focus on:

• The role of soil in explosive events
• Numerical modelling of geotechnical problems
• Development of advanced constitutive models for soils
• Soil reinforcement and remediation techniques
• Quantification of rate effects is soils

Activities and Distinctions

• Recipient of the IStructE prize 1st year performance in 2002/03
• Awarded Jacobs Babtie prize for best UG dissertation in 2005/06
• ICE Yorkshire & Humber Student Papers Competition winner, 2006/07
• Senate Award for Learning and Teaching, 2011/12
• Faculty Awards for Excellence in Teaching, 2011/12, 2012/13
• Referee for “Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Geotechnical Engineering”
• Member of ISSMGE technical committee for safety and serviceability in geotechnics (TC205)

Grants

• 2014-2016: "The role of soil in explosive events" funded by EPSRC with additional support from DSTL and Blastech. Investigators: SD Clarke and A Tyas. Value: £125,180.
• 2013-2014: "Characterisation of Adobe Clay" funded by QinetiQ. Investigators: A Tyas, M Petkovski and SD Clarke. Value: £90,374.
• 2012-2016: "Characterisation of Blast Loading" funded by DSTL. Investigators: A Tyas, SD Clarke and J Warren. Value £480,000 (UoS £163,000).
• 2010: "Development of a Small-Scale Teaching Centrifuge" funded by HE Stem Award. Investigators: JA Black and SD Clarke. Value £10,000

Teaching

• Staff member responsible (SMR) for 1st year Geotechnical Engineering Module, CIV150
• Staff member responsible (SMR) for 1st year Civil Engineering Skills, CIV1900/CIV1900

Selected Publications