Raied Refaei

Profile

Research focus: My PhD research explores the complex behaviour of saline soils under wetting and drying cycles, with an emphasis on their unique properties compared to conventional soils. This work involves the development of a constitutive model to better understand their behaviour, particularly in the context of unsaturated soil mechanics, soil cyclic loading, and embankment applications.

Academic background: I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, in 2016. Building on this foundation, I completed a Master’s in Civil Engineering (Geotechnical) from Oregon State University, USA, in 2023. During my academic journey, I developed a strong interest in the challenges of saline soils and their impact on infrastructure.

Inspiration and goals: Growing up in a region heavily affected by saline soils, I often wondered why building settlements and structural deterioration were more prevalent than other areas. This early curiosity about the role of salts in these issues became the driving force behind my research. Through my PhD at the University of Leeds, I aim to provide innovative insights into saline soil behaviour and contribute to developing resilient geotechnical engineering practices.

Supervisory team: My research is supported by the guidance of Dr. Ana Heitor (Primary Supervisor) and Prof. Peter Woodward (Co-Supervisor).

Research interests

undefined