Colm O'Beirne

Colm O'Beirne is a Senior Research Fellow at the School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, within the Department of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering. He is also the deputy director of the National Geotechnical Centrifuge Facility (NGCF), where he leads commercially funded research in offshore geotechnics and physical modelling. His expertise spans centrifuge testing, soil-structure interaction, and anchoring systems for marine infrastructure.

His research interests include:

• Offshore Geotechnical Engineering
• Centrifuge and Physical Modelling
• Soil-Structure Interaction
• Analytical Modelling
• Anchoring Systems
• Sustainable Energy Infrastructure

His work supports UN Sustainable Development Goals in Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, Affordable & Clean Energy, and Life Below Water.

The recent articles show a strong focus on offshore foundation systems, particularly suction caissons and mooring lines, using centrifuge and physical modelling to assess installation resistance, capacity performance, and seabed interaction. These studies are directly applicable to offshore wind farms, oil & gas infrastructure, and marine renewable energy projects.

Scientific awards received:

• 21st Dr Baden Clegg Award (2nd place, 2022)
• C.A. Hogentogler Award (2017)
• Three Minute Thesis (3MT) 2nd Place, UWA (2013)

Colm O'Beirne has been a key investigator on eight major research grants, primarily focused on centrifuge modelling for offshore and mining infrastructure. He advises on commercial research projects and collaborates with industry partners such as Arup, Oceaneering International, and Ocean University of China. He also mentors early-career researchers and contributes to peer-reviewed publications and technical reports.

He is actively involved in professional networks and committees, including the IOMRC Management Committee, OceanWorks Committee, and the Society for Underwater Technology (Perth Subcommittee), promoting collaboration in offshore site investigation and geotechnics.