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
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)
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):
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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
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SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SDG 13 Climate Action
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SDG 14 Life Below Water
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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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)
1/11/24 → 31/10/28
Project: Research
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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)
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)
1/07/23 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
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Centrifuge testing of the lateral pull-over of 4 different Trident support design
Brown, M. (Investigator)
Project: Other
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Innovative Rock Anchors for Aquaculture (joint with Sustainable Marine Energy Ltd and Gael Force Group Ltd)
Brown, M. (Investigator) & Knappett, J. (Investigator)
Project: Research
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1g and Centrifuge scaled modelling of embedded mooring lines for deployment of a novel offshore anchoring system in rock strata
Riccio, T., Smith, R., Caucis, K., Strong, P., Shiner, P., Alessandri, M., Nuri, H., Brown, M. & Davidson, C., 8 Jun 2026. 9 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Open AccessFile7 Downloads (Pure) -
A new apparatus for centrifuge modelling of 3D braced excavations
Alagha, A., Knappett, J., Brown, M., Augarde, C., Coombs, W. M., Petalas, A. & Ouyang, M., 8 Jun 2026. 9 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Open AccessFile14 Downloads (Pure) -
A reduced order model framework suitable for geotechnical problems
Ouyang, M., Augarde, C. (Lead / Corresponding author), Coombs, W. M., Petalas, A., Knappett, J., Brown, M. & Alagha, A., 27 Aug 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Acta Geotechnica. 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure) -
Centrifuge modelling of 3D energy wall systems embedded in unsaturated soil
Guan, G., Knappett, J. & Brown, M., 8 Jun 2026. 8 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Open AccessFile8 Downloads (Pure) -
Characterising shallow subsurface variability in the UK North Sea: a regional analysis using geotechnical records
Macdonald, C., Stevens, D., Carter, G., Johnson, K., Coombs, W. M., Bird, R. E., Augarde, C., Brown, M. & Sharif, Y., 5 Jul 2026, British Geological Survey. 39 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
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 -
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 -
The variation of large strain viscous rate effects from undrained triaxial element testing of Kaolin clay - Measured Data
Robinson, S. (Creator), Brown, M. (Supervisor), Knappett, J. (Contributor), Brennan, A. (Contributor), Duran Caballero, D. (Contributor) & Arroyo, M. (Contributor), University of Dundee, 15 Oct 2025
DOI: 10.15132/10000274
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
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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), Durham University, 11 Jul 2019
DOI: 10.15128/r2pk02c977f, http://collections.durham.ac.uk/files/r2pk02c977f
Dataset
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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Invited presentation: NEXANS Lunch & Learn, Cable Protection Teams European Subsea Cables Association, Cable Burial Risk Assessment (CBRA) Modelling.
Brown, M. (Speaker) & Coombs, W. M. (Speaker)
27 Jan 2026Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Tongji University
Lin, X. (Visiting researcher) & Brown, M. (Visiting researcher)
22 Jun 2026 → 23 Jun 2026Activity: Visiting an external institution types › Visiting an external academic institution
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Tianjin University
Lin, X. (Visiting researcher) & Brown, M. (Visiting researcher)
25 Jun 2026 → 27 Jun 2026Activity: Visiting an external institution types › Visiting an external academic institution
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Invited Presentation: Tongji Geotechnics Research Group, Tongji University, China: Combining Numerical and Physical modelling to enhance geotechnical success for offshore renewable energy
Brown, M. (Speaker)
22 Jun 2026Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Zhejiang University
Lin, X. (Visiting researcher) & Brown, M. (Visiting researcher)
23 Jun 2026 → 25 Jun 2026Activity: Visiting an external institution types › Visiting an external academic institution
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