Dr Chuhan Deng

After completing his MEng (Tianjin University) and BEng (Tongji University) in Geotechnical Engineering (both with Distinction) in China, Chuhan Deng completed PhD research on experimental soil mechanics and retaining structure design at Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge from 2016 to 2020, followed by postdoctoral research on environmentally-friendly urban underground space creation and offshore wind turbine foundations at Cambridge.

His research is characterised by applying fundamental mechanical principles to the behaviour of geotechnical systems, particularly utilising physical modelling. His PhD research results have been introduced in detail by his supervisor, Prof Haigh, in the 2021 Géotechnique Lecture (a biennial top lecture in geotechnical engineering). His research also shows direct engineering impact with an original design software Prowd (Program of Retaining Wall Design) being developed for industry and an innovative environmentally-friendly underground construction technique being utilised in the field.

Research

Soil Mechanics

Soil Deformation Mechanisms

Earth Pressure Mobilisation Mechanisms

Geotechnical Engineering

Performance-Based Design for Earth Retaining Structures

Environmentally-Friendly Urban Underground Space Creation

Cyclic Performance of Offshore Wind Turbine Foundations

Publications

Key publications:

Journal papers

[J9] Deng, C. and Haigh, S. K. (2022). Sand deformation mechanisms and earth pressures mobilised with passive rigid retaining wall movements. Géotechnique, https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.21.00058.

[J8] Deng, C. and Haigh, S. K. (2022). Sand deformation mechanisms mobilised with active retaining wall movement. Géotechnique 72, No. 3, 260-273.

[J7] Deng, C., Haigh, S. K., Ma, X. and Xu, J. (2021). A design method for flexible retaining walls in clay. Géotechnique 71, No. 2, 178-187.

[J6] Deng, C. and Haigh, S. K. (2021). Earth pressures mobilised in dry sand with active rigid retaining wall movement. Géotechnique Letters 11, No. 3, 202-208.

[J5] Cheng, X. S., Zheng, G., Diao, Y., Huang, T. M., Deng, C., Nie, D. Q. and Lei, Y. W. (2017). Experimental study of the progressive collapse mechanism of excavations retained by cantilever piles. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 54, No. 4, 574-587.

[J4] Cheng, X. S., Zheng, G., Diao, Y., Huang, T. M., Deng, C., Lei, Y. W. and Zhou, H. Z. (2017). Study of the progressive collapse mechanism of excavations retained by cantilever contiguous piles. Engineering Failure Analysis 71, 72-89.

[J3] Zheng, G., Deng, C., Cheng, X. S., Huang, T. M. and Lei, Y. W. (2016). Influence of space effect on progressive collapse in excavations retained by cantilever piles. Journal of Tianjin University Science and Technology 49, No. 10, 1016-1026.

[J2] Cheng, X. S., Zheng, G., Huang, T. M., Deng, C., Nie, D. Q. and Liu, J. (2016). Experimental study on mechanism of progressive collapse along length of excavation retained by cantilever contiguous piles. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 38, No. 9, 1640-1649.

[J1] Cheng, X. S., Zheng, G., Deng, C., Huang, T. M. and Nie, D. Q. (2015). Mechanism of progressive collapse induced by partial failure of cantilever contiguous retaining piles. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 37, No. 7, 1249-1263.

Conference papers

[C1] Deng, C. and Haigh, S. K. (2018). Soil movement mobilised with retaining wall rotation in loose sand. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG 2018), 17-20 July 2018, London, UK, pages 1427-1432.

Dissertations

[D1] Deng, C. (2020). Sand Deformation Mechanisms and Earth Pressures Mobilised with Retaining Wall Movements. PhD thesis, Cambridge University, UK.

Technical reports

[T1] Chan, D. Y. K., Deng, C., Haigh, S. K. and Madabhushi, S. P. G. (2019). Calibration of tactile pressure sensing mats for static geotechnical centrifuge applications. Technical report, D-SOILS-TR349, Cambridge University Engineering Department.

Software

[S1] Deng, C., Haigh, S. K. and Zhang, Q. (2021). PROWD: Program of Retaining Wall Design. http://www.prowd.uk/.