David Richards

David Richards is a Professor in Ground Engineering and Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Southampton. He serves as Director of the UKCRIC National Infrastructure Laboratory and UKCRIC Coordination Node Director of Strategy, overseeing national research test facilities.

• Technical Focus: Ageing infrastructure, landfill waste behavior, chalk characterization via CT imaging, and geotechnical centrifuge modeling
• Leadership: £26M BEIS/EPSRC funded UKCRIC projects, Civil Engineering Part 1 Constructionarium

His research emphasizes large-scale field monitoring and mechanical characterization of materials like chalk using cyclic simple shear tests. Industrial collaboration drives his teaching approach, particularly in engineering design.

Scientific Awards

• Gledden Senior Visiting Fellowship (2001)
• IMechE Thomas Hawksley Gold Medal (2007)
• John F Alcock Memorial Prize (2007)
• ICE Telford Premium (2009)
• ICE Curtin Medal (2016)

As Principal Investigator for the UKCRIC National Infrastructure Laboratory, Richards integrates advanced research infrastructure with educational initiatives, including scaled physical modeling and field monitoring programs.