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Peyman Aela

Peyman Aela

  • Position: Research Fellow
  • Areas of expertise: Railway geotechnics; Ballasted tracks; Numerical modelling; Lateral resistance; Sleeper sustainable development; Energy harvesting; Recycled materials
  • Email: P.Aela@leeds.ac.uk
  • Website: LinkedIn | Googlescholar | Researchgate | ORCID

Profile

I am a Chartered Railway Engineer (CEng MRailEI) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellow in Railway Engineering at the School of Civil Engineering, working under the supervision of Prof. David P Connolly. I obtained my PhD in Highway and Railway Engineering from Beijing Jiaotong University, China, in 2021. I previously served as a postdoc researcher at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2021–2025.

I was recognised with the 2024 BRE Outstanding Young Researcher Award (1st place) at PolyU and the UK Global Talent visa (endorsed by the Royal Academy of Engineering), and I am an active contributor to international railway research, teaching, and knowledge exchange.

Research interests

  • Climate-resilient and circular-economy solutions for railway components
  • Railway geotechnics and the mechanical behaviour of ballasted railway tracks
  • Lateral resistance and stability analysis of tracks and sleepers
  • Discrete Element Modelling (DEM) and advanced numerical simulations of granular materials
  • Sleeper technology, geometry optimisation and innovative sleeper designs
  • Sustainable and recycled materials in railway infrastructure
  • Vibration energy harvesting from railway tracks and sleepers

Key Research Projects & Links

  • Climate-Resilient Railway Sleepers to Mitigate Track Buckling Risk (CRRS) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship project developing novel sleeper designs with recycled rubber coatings and climate-adapted geometry to reduce track buckling risk. Project Page
  • Circular Sleepers UIC-funded research project (Co-Investigator) focused on the reuse and recycling of concrete sleepers to support a circular railway economy and develop new international guidelines. Project Details

Qualifications

  • PhD in Highway and Railway Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, China (2021)

Professional memberships

  • Chartered Engineer (CEng MRailEI), Railway Engineering Institution (2025–Present)
  • Graduate Member, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), United Kingdom (2023–Present)
  • Member, American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), United States (2022–Present)