Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Michael Brown is currently the Professor of Geotechnical Engineering in the Geotechnics Research Group at the University of Dundee. He graduated from the University of Bradford in 1995 with a first-class Honours degree in Civil & Structural Engineering, and obtained his doctorate from the University of Sheffield in 2004 for work on the rapid load testing (RLT) of piles in fine grained soils (Statnamic). He worked at the University of Sheffield as a research associate, firstly in the Geotechnical Engineering Research Group and then as consortium manager of the SUBR:IM project in the Groundwater Protection and Restoration Group. Prior to this he spent 5 years in industry working for specialist geotechnical contractors and consultants. He is a previous editor of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Proceedings: Geotechnical Engineering. He is currently a member of ISSMGE Technical Committee TC212 on Deep Foundations, Secretary of TC104 on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics and recent past chair of CEN/TC 341/WG 7: Non-static tests on piles, an executive member of the SUT Offshore Site Investigation Group (OSIG) and a member of the EPSRC Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Research Alignment Group (RAG). He is a founding member of the Scottish Marine and Renewables Test centre (SMART) at the University of Dundee. He is a recipient of the ICE Geotechnics Research Medal and the ICE Telford Gold Medal. He was also part of the team that won the BGA Fleming Award for work on the Seagreen Suction Caisson foundations.
Professional Biography
• BSc (Hons) Civil & Structural Engineering (1st Class), University of Bradford, 1995
• PhD, University of Sheffield, 2004
Research
Rapid load Pile testing (Statnamic)
Rate Effects in fine grained soils
Offshore Geotechnics
Pipeline and cable ploughing and installation
Debris Flows and Landslides
Anchoring and foundations for marine energy converters
Alternative and silent foundation & anchoring systems for offshore wind
Anchoring for floating wind
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Rapid testing of piles in fine grained soils, University of Sheffield
Award Date: 1 Jan 2004
Bachelor of Engineering, Investigation of the Geotechnical Properties of Weathered Granitic Soil, University of Bradford
Award Date: 1 Jan 1995
Keywords
- TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Efficient Ground Energy Systems For Deployment In Diaphragm Walls Under Challenging Application Scenarios (Joint With University of Leeds and University of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Brown, M. (Investigator) & Knappett, J. (Investigator)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/08/23 → 31/01/27
Project: Research
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Braced Excavations: What About The Corners (Joint with University of Durham)
Brown, M. (Investigator) & Knappett, J. (Investigator)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/07/23 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
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Accelerated Development Of Screw Anchors For Floating Wind (Joint with Industrial Partner Geowynd)
Brown, M. (Investigator)
1/09/22 → 1/03/26
Project: Research
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Offshore Cable Burial: How deep is deep enough? (Joint with Durham University and British Geological Survey)
Brown, M. (Investigator)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/02/22 → 31/03/26
Project: Research
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EPSRC PBIAA: Accelerating Impact in the Forth & Tay Offshore Wind Cluster
Bonafe, E. (Investigator), Brown, M. (Investigator), Dinnie, K. (Investigator), Newlands, M. (Investigator) & Onyango, V. (Investigator)
Project: Research
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3D DEM simulation of plain and rotary axial jacking of piles
Cerfontaine, B. (Lead / Corresponding author), Ciantia, M., Brown, M., Sharif, Y. & White, D., 2025, Proceedings of the 5TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON FRONTIERS IN OFFSHORE GEOTECHNICS. Abadie, C. N., Li, Z., Blanc, M. & Thorel, L. (eds.). International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 9 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Open AccessFile13 Downloads (Pure) -
Centrifuge Modeling of the Installation Advancement Ratio Effect on the Cyclic Response of a Single-Helix Screw Pile for Floating Offshore Wind
Wang, W. (Lead / Corresponding author), Brown, M., Sharif, Y. U., Davidson, C. & Ciantia, M. O., 1 Jan 2025, In: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. 151, 1, 18 p., 04024133.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile147 Downloads (Pure) -
Centrifuge modelling of drag embedment anchors subjected to inclined loading for floating wind
Sharif, Y., Davidson, C., Brown, M., Brennan, A., Coombs, W. M., Bird, R. E., Augarde, C., Carter, G., Macdonald, C. & Johnson, K. R., 9 Jun 2025, Proceedings of the 5TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON FRONTIERS IN OFFSHORE GEOTECHNICS. Abadie, C. N., Li, Z., Blanc, M. & Thorel, L. (eds.). International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 7 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Open AccessFile14 Downloads (Pure) -
Effect of installation advancement ratio on two-way cyclic response of a single-helix screw pile for offshore wind
Wang, W. (Lead / Corresponding author), Brown, M., Sharif, Y., Davidson, C. & Ciantia, M., 2025, Proceedings of the 5TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON FRONTIERS IN OFFSHORE GEOTECHNICS. Abadie, C. N., Li, Z., Blanc, M. & Thorel, L. (eds.). International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 7 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Open AccessFile12 Downloads (Pure) -
Helically embedded plate anchors for floating offshore wind: potential and proof of concept
Hidayat, W., Nieiedt, J., O’Loughlin, C. D., Watson, P., Gaudin, C., Bertalot, D., Rattley, M., Whyte, S. & Brown, M., 9 Jun 2025, Proceedings of the 5TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON FRONTIERS IN OFFSHORE GEOTECHNICS. Abadie, C. N., Li, Z., Blanc, M. & Thorel, L. (eds.). International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 7 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Open AccessFile4 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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A CPT approach to cable plough performance prediction based upon centrifuge model testing - Measured Data
Robinson, S. (Creator), Brown, M. (Creator), Matsui, H. (Creator), Brennan, A. (Creator), Augarde, C. (Creator), Coombs, W. M. (Creator) & Cortis, M. (Creator), University of Dundee, 30 Nov 2020
DOI: 10.15132/10000161
Dataset
File -
On Lagrangian mechanics and the material point method for large deformation elasto-plasticity [dataset]
Coombs, W. M. (Creator), Augarde, C. E. (Creator), Brennan, A. J. (Creator), Brown, M. (Creator), Charlton, T. J. (Creator), Knappett, J. A. (Creator), Ghaffari Motlagh, Y. (Creator), Wang, L. (Creator), University, D. (Contributor), University, D. (Contributor) & Council, E. A. P. S. R. (Contributor), Durham University, 2019
DOI: 10.15128/r2pk02c977f, http://collections.durham.ac.uk/files/r2pk02c977f
Dataset
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Centrifuge dataset for screw pile cyclic performance
Wang, W. (Creator), Brown, M. (Contributor), Davidson, C. (Contributor), Ciantia, M. (Contributor) & Sharif, Y. (Contributor), University of Dundee, 21 May 2025
DOI: 10.15132/10000269
Dataset
File -
University of Dundee Test Data for the EPSRC Supergen Wind Hub Grand Challenges Project: Screw Piles for Wind Energy Foundations (Grant no. EP/N006054/1)
Davidson, C. (Creator), Brown, M. (Creator), Knappett, J. (Creator) & Brennan, A. (Creator), University of Dundee, 23 Feb 2022
DOI: 10.15132/10000176, https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.18.P.311 and one more link, https://www.screwpilesforoffshorewind.co.uk/#:~:text=Screw%20(or%20helical)%20piles%20are,good%20tensile%20and%20compressive%20resistance. (show fewer)
Dataset
File
Prizes
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JGS Soils and Foundations Journal 2019 Editorial Board Member Award
Brown, M. (Recipient), 22 Jul 2020
Prize: National/international honour
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Japanese Geotechnical Society. Journal paper prize. Best of research 2016, English category
Brown, M. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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SSE Learning and Teaching Awards 2019: Winner, Innovation in Teaching
Brown, M. (Recipient), 18 Jun 2019
Prize: Other distinction
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Best paper award
Loli, M. (Recipient), Knappett, J. (Recipient), Brown, M. (Recipient) & Anastasopoulos, I. (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Best Research Paper Award ICPE2021
Cerfontaine, B. (Recipient), Brown, M. (Recipient), Ciantia, M. (Recipient), Huisman, M. (Recipient) & Ottolini, M. (Recipient), Jun 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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External PhD examiner University of Melbourne , Rene Kurniadi: Cyclic responses of horizontal circular plate anchors in sand
Brown, M. (Examiner)
26 Feb 2025Activity: Examination types › Examination
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Invited talk: Chalmers University Geotechnics Group Research seminar- Enhancing the design and sustainability of overhead line (OLE) foundations in tension
Brown, M. (Speaker)
6 Mar 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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ICE Scottish Geotechnical Group Invited evening lecture
Brown, M. (Speaker)
25 Mar 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Lecture
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External PhD examiner TU Delft, Holland, Kevin Duffy: Axial Capacity of Piles in Sand, A field investigation using distributed fibre optic sensing
Brown, M. (Examiner)
13 May 2025Activity: Examination types › Examination
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Invited Talk: University of Bristol Geotechnics Group, Physical & Numerical modelling to enhance the design and sustainability of overhead line (OLE) foundations in tension
Brown, M. (Speaker)
14 Mar 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Press/Media
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£2.5 Million UKRI Place-Based Impact Accelerator Funding Programme Officially Launched at Edinburgh Futures Institute
Newlands, M., Brown, M., Dinnie, K., Onyango, V. & Bonafe, E.
12/06/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Other
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Dundee projects and academics recognised in Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2025
Rodriguez, A., Nic Daeid, N. & Brown, M.
12/02/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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A Ghost Ship’s Doomed Journey Through the Gate of Tears
1/04/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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How we stop floating wind turbines the size of skyscrapers from drifting away
23/05/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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New floating wind farm research could increase installation depth
24/06/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research