People

We are always looking for students with strong physics and mechanics background to join my multidisciplinary research group. Students can choose to study either in the Geotechnical Engineering and Geomechanics track or the Engineering Science track in the CEAE department. The former focus more on applying geomechanics to geotechnical and energy geotech problems. The Engineering Science track focus more on the physics of porous and granular materials with the goal of advancing fundamental science. Those interested can send their detailed resume to Yida.Zhang@Colorado.edu. The email should include a brief description of research background and interests.

The deadline for graduate student applications is typically in early December. More information on the graduate student application process can be found on the Department website. Graduate student applicants are also encouraged apply for external fellowships, such as those available from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor, Geotechnical Engineering and Geomechanics

Email: yida.zhang@colorado.edu Tel: +1 303-492-0962


Current graduate students

Yazeed Kokash

Doctoral student, July. 2022 - Current

  • Thermo-mechanical testing of plastic-bonded granular materials

  • Breakage mechanics modeling of plastic-bonded granular materials

Hooman Dadras

Doctoral student, Jan. 2023 - Current

  • Surface-based fracture theory for calcite cracking and healing

  • Large-deformation surface poromechanics theory

Mohammadali Behboodi

Doctoral student, Incoming

  • Surface poromechanics theory considering capillary condensation

  • Damage and plasticity induced by adsorption

Wanqi Yu

Master student, May. 2022 - Current

  • DEM investigation of cyclic ratcheting of granular soils

  • Image analysis of post-creep tailings sand

Past group members

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Jan. 2022 - Dec. 2022

Ph.D., June. 2019 - Dec. 2021.

  • Mechanics of adsorption-deformation coupling in microporous solids;

  • Role of surface forces in subcritical fracture propagation

Yuxuan Wen

Doctoral student, Aug. 2018 - Dec. 2022

  • Critical fabric theory for the quasi-static mechanical behavior of granular materials

  • Critical fabric surface in pre- and post- liquefaction regime of granular soils

Andrea Tyrrell

M.S., Jan. 2021 - July 2022

  • Thermo-triaxial testing on Mancos Shale

  • Damage mechanics modeling of the stress-strain behavior of Mancos Shale

Mitul Sisodiya

Ph.D., Aug. 2017 - Dec. 2021

  • Caisson drilling fluid interaction with clay-bearing bedrocks

  • Directional microcrack damage theory for brittle rocks under THMC loading

Xiang Zhou

Ph.D., Aug. 2016 - June. 2021

  • Effect of grain breakage on the hydromechanical performance of rockfill dams

  • THMC modeling of underground nuclear waste repositories

  • Finite element implementation of adsorption-deformation coupling in fractured coals

Yao Wang

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Feb. 2020 - Sept. 2021

  • Thermo-triaxial testing on Mancos Shale

  • Relative humidity-controlled creep tests on rock salt

Shubjot Singh

M.S., Sept. 2018 - Aug. 2020

  • Grain crushing and permeability reduction of tailing underflow materials

  • Numerical simulation of wetting-induced reduction of caisson capacity

Andrew Joseph Philpott

M.S., Jan. 2017 - June 2018

  • Design of a one-dimensional soil column device for gas-water flow under blast loading

Joon Soo Park

M.S., Jan. 2017 - April 2018

  • Grain size evolution of coarse sand under high-pressure isotropic compression

Rebecca Scheetz

M.S., Jan. 2017 - July 2017

  • Numerical Simulations of Two-Phase Flow in Rigid Porous Media

Undergraduate researchers

Tao Wang, Jan. 2018 – May 2018.

Trinity Payne, Jan. 2019 – May 2019.

Noah Traynor, Jan. 2019 – May 2019.

Visiting scholars

Zheng Hu

Visiting student, Zhejiang University, China (9. 2017-9. 2018)

Now Assistant Professor at Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

  • Micromechanics of suffusion in gap-graded soils and its mechanical consequences